Page 72 of In Want of a Wife
She continued stroking him, even as he groaned and grew harder beneath her touch. She felt so incredibly powerful bringing about his pleasure.
The carriage rattled and jerked to the left, tossing the pair onto the floor, then shuddered to a stop.
Lily blinked, looking toward Rafe as panic filled her lungs. She scrambled off his lap, up onto the seat, and righted her dress. Rafe grinned, tucking himself away, and righting his trousers and shirt. His cravat was as crooked as his charming smile, his hair was curly, and he was perfect.
“Here,” he whispered. He gestured for her to turn around, and he quickly made short work of doing up the buttons on the back of her dress.
She was pretty sure she felt her heart explode in her chest as she began laughing, unable to stop herself. He was perfect. They were perfect together.
Even as the thunderstorm raged on, wreaking havoc on the roads.
“How far to the inn?” Rafe asked, pulling down the window to shout at the driver.
Rain splashed inside.
“Oh, another ten minutes or so, sir. But the roads are impassable. We’ll need to walk. Best stay here and wait out the storm.”
Rafe stuck his head back inside the carriage and grabbed Lily’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Rafe? What? You can’t be serious.”
“As the pox.”
She whacked his shoulder, laughing. “No, let the rain pass.”
“And then we will need to walk to the inn… with the driver.”
He tugged her closer, kissing her mouth still full of fire, spinning her head. Then he opened the door and tossed her his coat to hold over her head.
“We will meet you there, sir,” Rafe shouted over his shoulder. And they dashed through the rain, slipping and sliding in the mud as they made their way into town, only stopping once to kiss for a few minutes against a very large oak.
Rafe wasn’t thinking straight.Was running through a summer storm the smartest idea? No.
But love made a man do stupid things.
And he was.
Rafe Davies was in love.
They burst through the door at the Thimble & Ox Inn, laughing and soaked to the bone. The packed tavern room quieted, all turning to observe the commotion.
“We were caught in the storm,” Rafe said, sobering up to the situation. He walked to the counter and asked for a room, glancing behind him to watch as Lily dropped the soaked jacket from above her head to wrap it around herself. Her hair had come unpinned, falling down around her in wet curls.
“My wife and I would like a room.”
She smiled as her eyes met his, warm and big, and full of hope.
“Of course, sir.”
“And my wife would like a bath as well.”
“Absolutely. I will see that is arranged.” The innkeeper grabbed the maid, who then hurried off.
The room was arranged, and they were led upstairs to a large room. A small tub was brought in by the fire.
The rain softened, gently striking against the open windowpanes.
“I will see that your trunks are brought up once they arrive.” The maid filled up the tub with buckets of warm water and left some bath oils and towels. “Is that all?” she asked.
