Page 44 of One Scandal Too Many
“Raining?” she asked.
He shook his head. “The sun is bright and inviting.” He frowned. “I almost wish it wasn’t.”
She understood that sentiment. “Unfortunately, we cannot stay hidden in this little cabin forever.”
“That’s true,” he said. “But it doesn’t mean that I cannot wish for that very thing.” He stroked her arm lightly with his fingertips. “You never claimed your boon from our archery contest.”
“You’re right, I never did,” Charlotte smiled. “Would it be too much to ask that we stay here and pretend the world doesn’t exist? I’d love for that to be my boon.” She sighed. “If only wishing made it so.” She patted the settee. “We can live in a world of make believe a little longer. Come back here and kiss me.”
Declan met her gaze. The heat there sent shivers of anticipation down her spine. It held a promise that she’d findpleasure in his arms. Always. Charlotte loved how that made her feel. How he made her feel. As if he treasured her and would ensure she was taken care of, and maybe even loved. It was a nice fantasy. He hadn’t told her he loved her. This had to be enough. “Is that what you wish in exchange for your boon?” he asked.
“Perhaps,” she said. “Come kiss me and I’ll tell you.”
He sat on the settee and then leaned down to press his lips to hers. The kiss was slow and filled with so much passion it made her ache. She squeezed her thighs together as need built there. She understood now what those needs were, and she wanted him there. Between her thighs and deep inside her. She moaned as he deepened the kiss and stroked his tongue over hers. Almost like a dance that built her desire with each slide of his tongue over hers.
Declan lifted her from the settee and placed her in his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he continued to kiss her. He pulled away and then trailed kisses over her shoulders, and then down to her breasts. He sucked on her nipple, then the other one. Charlotte squirmed in his lap, her need growing with each new sensation. “Declan.” She gasped his name as he slid a finger over her sensitive core. “Please,” she begged.
“Does this feel good, darling?” he asked. He licked her nipple, then blew lightly on the tightened bud. “Do you need me here?”
“Oh,” she moaned. “I do. Don’t make me beg anymore. Give me pleasure now.”
“Then you concede your boon to me?” He continued kissing her breasts as he stroked her needy flesh. Her moans grew louder with each slide of his talented fingers over her. She began to writhe against him. He moved his finger until it was centered at her entrance and then slowly slid it inside. He stroked it in and out of her as his thumb rubbed against her over-sensitizednub. Something built inside of her. That pressure on the verge of bursting forth and leaving her a puddle of satisfaction.
“Yes,” she said breathlessly. “This can be my boon. Don’t stop.”
Declan sucked on her nipples and continued to stroke her with his fingers. Charlotte lost all ability to think. There wasn’t anything but Declan, her building need, and his ability to satisfy her. When it crested inside of her and then crashed until she went limp in his arms, Charlotte thought she might have blacked out. Until the world suddenly became clear and he kissed her softly. His lips were once again on hers, but this time it wasn’t filled with passion. It was more... coaxing. Like lulling her back to the present. “Was that what you had in mind when you demanded a kiss?”
Her lips curled up into a smile. “I had a kiss in mind when I made that request. That was far superior to a mere kiss. Perhaps I’ll request that sort of kiss in the future.”
“Will you now?” His lips tilted upward into that wicked grin of his. The one she melted for every single time. “Then I am glad I more than delivered. I’ll happily kiss you in any way you request, darling.” He kissed her quickly. “But now we should dress. We need to return.”
She frowned. Charlotte should not be surprised. He hadn’t made her any promises, after all. But her heart sank nonetheless. This little interlude was at an end. His interest in her would wane soon too. She couldn’t stay at Havenwood. Not with him so close. The temptation would be too much. Charlotte would never be able to keep her distance from him. Her need of him was far too great, and she had done something even more foolish. She had gone and fallen in love with the rogue. Otherwise, she would never have allowed him such liberties.
“All right.” Charlotte sighed. “If you insist.” She made herself crawl off of his lap. “But I’ll need your assistance. How to you feel playing lady’s maid?”
He stood and dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “It will be my pleasure, darling.” He walked away from her and started to don his own clothing. She was momentarily stunned as the sight of his naked body started to disappear as he slid his pants on. She would love to demand he remain naked always.
With a sigh she slid on her shift. Her clothing was wrinkled but serviceable. She slid her stays into place. “Declan, love,” she called out to him. “Come lace my stays.”
He had most of his clothing in place. He left his cravat and jacket on the settee. “I like taking this off much more than putting it on.” Declan slid a finger down her back.
“Don’t start that,” she demanded. “You’re the one that insisted we dress.”
“It’s a pity that we need to,” he said, but then started working on her stays. Once he had them secured, he kissed her neck. “Do you need help with your gown too?”
“I might,” she said. “There are a lot of buttons.”
“That there are,” he said. “I seem to recall that from last night.”
She finished dressing with his help. Charlotte never would have imagined that when she decided to join the hunt it would lead to her and Declan coming together. She knew she enjoyed his kisses, but the rest. She never could have dreamt of such a pleasure-filled night.
*
He had todiscuss their future with her. He just couldn’t seem to find the right words. All he had wanted to do was lay her back on that settee and love her all day. Declan knew better than todo that. He’d already done far more than he should have. A more honorable man would have waited until they’d said vows before having his way with her. Declan had never claimed to be a true gentleman. He’d always been a rogue, and now he had claimed a woman that had been an innocent, and he did not regret one moment of his time with her. In fact, he could not wait until he could take her to bed again. This morning, he had given her pleasure without taking any for himself. It had been wonderful to watch her come undone from his touch. He couldn’t wait to do that again. But first he had to explain to her that they would be wed. As soon as possible.
They made sure they had everything packed up and ready to leave the cabin. He escorted her to where he had tied the horses, and still, he couldn’t seem to find the words he needed to say to her. Declan had never had any difficulty speaking before. Why was this so hard?
Kallippos lifted her head as they approached. Charlotte leaned against her and stroked her mane. Thankfully, Charlotte’s fall hadn’t injured her terribly, and the snake bite had been nothing more than a scratch. She had no difficulty donning her boots. What little swelling that had been there had lessened overnight. He’d never been happier that a woman had put on boots before. He would much rather have stripped them off...
