Page 59 of The Moonstone Major
“Chloe, you are on fire. I did not think it possible for anyone to turn that shade of red.”
She groaned. “It is all your fault. You should not have touched me.”
“I know, and I apologize for it. All my defenses were down because of you…and then you appeared before my very eyes, the most beautiful apparition I had ever seen. I don’t think I remember all of what I said or did, only that I was doing a lot of licking.”
She tried to suppress a burst of laughter, but couldn’t. “At first, it was horrible. But then it turned out to be quite wonderful. Sadly, I doubt you remember the best parts.”
His heart hitched. “Just what do you think were the best parts? Blessed saints, what else did I do?”
“I am stillunspoiled, if that is what concerns you.” She cast him a vulnerable smile. “I would not have stopped you had you tried. But I think your noble character prevented you from doing more than exploring my bosom in painstaking detail. I could have stopped you, but I found the sensations fascinating.”
“This is worse than I thought,” he said with a groan. “Chloe, why did you come to me when… What is this I am hearing about you and Claymore?”
“Ah, this is what has you riding over here. What did Mrs. Hawke tell you? Or was it Mr. Hawke?”
“Mrs. Hawke. She said he proposed to you, and you accepted.”
“He did not propose, and I did not accept. I think he meant to, but I cut him off before he could. He kissed me on the cheek out of gratitude.”
Fionn arched an eyebrow. “Gratitude? What man is grateful for being rejected?”
“It never got to the point of rejection, since I stopped him before he could ask. I explained all the reasons I was wrong for him and what he ought to be looking for in a wife.”
“He was likely heartbroken but chose to be a gentleman about it.”
“I truly do not think so. He would never drink himself into oblivion over me as you did. Nor would he ever kiss me as though I was the very air he breathed…even if it was a bit slobbery.” She grinned impishly. “Half the time you missed my breast and kissed my armpit.”
“Chloe!”
“But it was quite delicious when your aim was on the mark.”
“Dear heaven.”
“The more of a fool you made over me, the deeper I fell in love with you. So I think you have to stop denying the obvious and work with me to come up with a solution, because I will not marry anyone but you.”
“I am not going to hold you to that.”
“I am not asking you or giving you the choice. This is a promise I have made to myself.” She emitted a ragged sigh. “Do you have any idea how deeply I am in love with you?”
“Yes.” Because he felt the same and probably loved her even more deeply than she did him. She had taken many people into her heart, her parents and sisters. Ella and Imogen. Her brothers-in-law. Probably a dozen others. Her heart was cluttered.
His wasn’t. Indeed, it had been achingly empty until she came along.
Viscount Brennan had taken him in but never thought of him as anything more than a ward. Fionn did not want to diminish the man’s kindness, for he had been generous beyond measure. But he had not been taken into the man’s heart, not ever considered as a son. The only one who had ever shown him that kind of permanent love was Chloe.
He thought of it as a forever love, because nothing could shake him from this feeling he had for her.
He took her hand and placed it on his arm. “Come on, let’s go inside. How is Charlotte doing today?”
“No better.”
He gave her hand a light squeeze. “Let me know if there is anything I can do.”
“I don’t suppose you are a praying man?”
“No, but I’ll put in a word for her anyway.” He was not religious—how could he be when all he saw around him in those early years was abject misery? But lately, he was beginning to wonder. He now had a profession and had risen nicely in the army ranks. He had just let Moonstone Cottage, a house he considered to be the most beautiful in England. It was not the finest by any means, but it felt like home, and he had never had this feeling anywhere else before.
Home.
