Page 51 of Cinderella's Charade With the Duke
She gazed down at him, her eyes glistening with tears, as the rain started to fall in earnest. ‘Yes, William. I will marry you. I would choose you over and over again.’
‘As I would you, Lady Penelope.’ The lightning flashed across the sky and illuminated her features. He stood, cupped her face and kissed her fiercely, his body flooded with relief and some other feeling—was this love that made him feel invincible and fragile all at once? She gripped his shoulders and matched the urgency of his affections. Rain soaked their clothes and the wind whipped around them as the sky darkened from the storm.
He pulled away briefly, grasped her hand and shouted to be heard above the rumble of thunder. ‘Come with me. We must get out of the storm.’
She glanced around him. They were far from the Manor, but there was a drying shed they could run to. He tugged her hand. ‘Follow me,’ he shouted and pointed off to the shed.
She nodded and followed him. They crashed into each other as they skidded along the wet grass, trying to make their way to the shed in the now blinding sheets of rain. Finally, he thrust the door open and they stumbled inside, and he pushed the door closed. The scent of drying herbs filled his senses and, at first, he saw only darkness until his eyes finally adjusted
A flash of lightning streamed through the wooden gaps of the walls of the shed, illuminating Penelope’s features for a moment, and his body reacted to the sight of her. Water glistened from her skin, her hair was soaked and strands traced along her cheeks and neck, and her smile was vibrant and alive. She chuckled and clutched his jacket. ‘You look soaked through, Your Grace.’
‘No more than you,’ he replied, grasping the hand that gripped his jacket and tugging her closer. ‘There must be a blanket or something about in this shed to dry off with. Let’s start along this wall and search.’
‘A fine idea,’ she replied through chattering teeth.
They stumbled along one wall finding only a work bench and more herbs waiting to be bound and hung. Turning along the second wall, his fingers skimmed a heavy scratchy material hanging from a hook. ‘Aha! A blanket, or coat, or something that can warm us. Anything?’ he asked.
‘Nothing except a great deal of drying herbs. Although they smell lovely,’ she announced. ‘What do they use all of these for?’
He sighed. ‘One of the many things I do not remember,’ he replied. He was tired of the not knowing.
‘That was thoughtless of me.’ She rubbed his arm.
‘It is not you, but my frustration. Not knowing what has and has not been…’ He hesitated and then continued. ‘I do not even know if I…if we ever…’ He paused flustered and impatient with his situation. How long would his memories be locked away? What had he done to deserve such a punishment? He stepped away from her and raked a hand through his hair, muttering a curse as he turned away.
Silence followed and then a flash of lightning before a loud rumble of thunder. Penelope slid her arms around his waist and hugged his back. ‘No, we have not made love, Your Grace,’ she purred in his ear, eliciting a surge of want in him. His body shuddered against her. ‘But it is not for a lack of desire to.’
He closed his eyes, blood thrummed through his veins and the battle between his body and mind raged. A better man would not be tempted or give in to such base desires until they were husband and wife. Was he that man? Evidently he was to have waited this long. But they were engaged, he had almost died, she had been there for him and he wanted her more than he had wanted anything in his life…that he could remember anyway.
He stilled. Life was short. What was tomorrow? There was no promise, no certainty and no guarantees. But there was her, them, now, and he would seize it. He turned in her arms, cradled the side of her face, and kissed her with the urgency, need and want he had been holding back. He let all his gratitude, lust and affection flow unbidden, unfiltered and unchecked in his kisses and caresses. The more he kissed her, the more he wanted to kiss her, and all he could feel was the warmth, softness and safety of her body.
He never wanted to let her go.
His palm slid over her wet hair and traced the fine, petite lobe of her ear, and she shuddered against him, which sent a whirl of response through his body. He cleared his throat todistract himself from the roar of want coursing through him. Her demanding kisses matched his and he tugged her against him, her core resting against his arousal.
She moaned in pleasure and his body flared like dry tinder set upon a flame. He ended their kiss and let his mouth roam unbidden upon the soft supple skin of her neck, nipping slowly. With every gasp from her mouth, his body surged in need. There was no going back for either of them.
Or was there? He pulled back slowly, allowing himself a few moments to collect the words he needed to ask. ‘Are you sure you wish to…here? With me?’ he asked, feeling tentative and uncertain.
‘I know I do not want to stop kissing you,’ she replied, slightly out of breath.
He chuckled. ‘That is not quite the same as what I have in mind.’
Her silence betrayed her hesitation. ‘I do not know all there is to know about coupling, but I do know that I trust you…and that I want you, William.’
He was speechless. Had sweeter, more trusting words ever been spoken to him? Her honesty stilled him.
‘William?’ she asked timidly. ‘Have I said something wrong?’ She squeezed his hand, brought it to her lips and kissed the inside of his palm.
‘No,’ he stammered. ‘I am in awe of your honesty and trust in me.’
‘Then make love to me. We are betrothed, are we not?’
The hesitation and uncertainty in her voice signalled some far distant bell in his head, but he ignored it and gave in to the surge of need, desire and longing he felt for her.
‘We are, my lady, and I plan to make love to you for the rest of my days.’ His fingers trembled as he placed the ruby pendant necklace around her neck and secured the clasp. He smiled andpulled her into an embrace, his hands caressing every part of her, and kissed her over and over again. She responded in kind, eager to match his desire for her. No more words were spoken as their bodies became the only tool they needed to communicate with one another. And in the storm, another story was told. One they both would never forget.
Chapter Twenty-One
