Page 67 of In Want of a Wife
“Can I see?” she asked.
“Hmm.”
He opened the small ring box to reveal a gold ring set with three small emeralds flanked by two smaller diamonds.
She had never seen anything so beautiful before. She reached for it, afraid to touch the sparkling stones.
“My grandfather had the ring made for my grandmother. He owned a merchant shipping company. My mother said he was heartbroken when she married a navy man. He had his eyes set on a richer match for her.”
“Expectations when it comes to love rarely ever play out as they should.”
“See if it fits.”
“No, that might be bad luck. I haven’t even met the groom.”
He plucked the ring out of the box and motioned for her hand. She rolled her eyes and stuck it out, a girlish smile playing at her lips.
His hands were warm against hers, rougher. She loved that, that she could feel him move across her body.
Rafe slid the ring down her ring finger and waited for a beat before pulling her hand up to his mouth for a kiss just as he had on the beach. She felt herself blush, meeting his heated stare.
It was a beautiful ring.
Then he turned her wrist and kissed her palm with a warm, soft press of his lips. She felt herself melt back against the floor.
He gazed down at her as he bracketed her with his strong arms. His shirt was undone, his black hair tousled with curls from the salt air. And in the dim candlelight of the library, she could almost fool herself into thinking this was how they could spend every night together.
He bent down and sipped on her lips. She could taste the brandy and salt water on his skin. His jaw was rough beneath her touch as she reached up and placed her palms against his cheeks.
Rafe rested his forehead against hers. “Lily.”
“Not now, Rafe. Don’t you dare stop tonight.”
He peppered kisses down her cheek, then whispered against her ear, “All right, love.”
She craved his touch and was hungry for it. She couldn’t get him out of her mind. She ran her hand up through his hair at the nape of his neck before he moved to kissing her neck.
Lily might have studied the stars, but until now, she hadn’t discovered heaven.
His hands moved lower, cupping her breast through the thin dressing gown.
“You can tell me when to stop. Tell me when.” He moved his bodyover hers, pushing aside her dressing gown and kissing the bruise on her collarbone.
“You are so soft,” he whispered against his skin. “So perfect.”
His thumb brushed against her nipple, and her body tightened as if he were winding her up. More. She always wanted more with Rafe.
Her heart drummed in her chest as she drew in another breath, struggling to remain quiet.
He moved lower still, then reached for the hem of her nightgown and pulled it up. His hand was rough against her inner thigh.
She froze.
“I can stop. I will if you ask me to, love.”
Lily didn’t want to. Hadn’t wanted to ever stop with Rafe. Which was the problem. He did something to her she didn’t understand. Made her body warm and filled with an impossible want.
She shook her head, closing her eyes for a moment.
