Page 60 of Intolerable
“Why not?”
“It would be intolerable.” He claimed her mouth again, kissing her deeply as his hand cupped her nape.
She was utterly captivated by his touch and desperate for more. Clinging to him desperately, she arched into him, her breasts pressed to his chest as he gently tipped her back in his arms.
He kissed down her neck, one hand splayed across her lower back as he held her tightly against him. “Would you really wait?” He licked her flesh, sending tremors of longing through her. “Three years is a long time.”
She thrust one hand into his hair, tousling the thick strands. “It would be worth it. I just need my brothers’ support in dealing with my father. He won’t like that I want to delay getting married until I’m firmly on the shelf. I’ll just need a pursuit to keep myself busy—like your sister and her love of animals.”
His mouth left her neck as he looked down at her. “I can’t quite see you doing that.”
She lifted a shoulder. “Well notthatexactly, but I need something to pass those three years.” She gently pressed her fingers into his scalp. “You could also keep me busy with kissing. Or…other things.” She looked up at him suggestively, hoping he understood what she meant.
Righting her so that she was balanced on her own two feet, he took his hands from her and stepped away. He ran his hand through his already disheveled hair before pivoting to face her again. “I’m not proposing marriage to you, Cassandra.” And he seemed sorry about that.
“I didn’t expect that you were. I understand why you need to wait to make a marital commitment. I’m only asking for the chance that you might commit to me in three years’ time.”
“I really don’t deserve you,” he whispered.
She moved toward him and took his hand. “Yes, you do. For whatever reason, we found ourselves in a cupboard together and it changed the course of our lives. I can wait for you, and I will.Iam that sure of my love for you, even if you aren’t yet ready to entertain such emotions.”
He stared at her in disbelief. “You’re so bloody understanding.”
“That’s good, I hope,” she said with a light laugh. “Unless you’d rather I just marry Glastonbury?” She couldn’t help teasing him again.
“No.” His gaze darkened, and he pulled her against him. “You aren’t going to tell your brothers that you wish to delay marriage so you can wait for me, are you?”
“I’d considered it.”
“I’ve been thinking about it too, and I believe it would be better if you didn’t mention me. Your father and Lucien are so against me courting you, let alone marrying you, that I fear it will cause an upset. Three years gives us time to change their minds.”
“That’s actually rather brilliant. Three years from now, my father will be delighted to accept any proposal.” She smiled then grimaced as she realized how that sounded. “Sorry, that wasn’t meant to insult you.”
“I know.” He hesitated, his features stretched taut. “It’s not that I don’t love you…” His voice faltered.
Her pulse sped as joy swelled in her chest. “I know you’re afraid and that you made a promise to your father.”
“Yes, but those are my troubles, not yours.”
She put her hand against his jaw. “Well, I don’t want anyone else, so you can either turn me away and definitely break my heart or you can agree to my plan.”
“And potentially break your heart anyway,” he whispered, the anguish in his voice tearing at her.
“You won’t. And I will spend the next three years reminding you—in every way that I can.” She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. “Please tell me we don’t have to stay apart. I don’t think I could bear it.”
“Neither could I.” He kissed her again, and Cassandra lost herself in his embrace for several minutes, wondering how it was that anything could feel this spectacular. Her desire for him was a heavy, welcome weight, making the most private parts of her sing with want.
Once again, he left her mouth as his lips and tongue mapped a path along her jaw and neck, down to her collarbone then to the skin just above her bodice. He cupped her breast, and she drew in a sharp breath.
“I should mention that our…connection has not gone unnoticed.”
“Your sister-in-law and Evie did catch us kissing.” He’d paused only long enough to speak and now his mouth was once again dancing rapturous attention over her flesh.
“Aside from that, Prudence has noticed the singular way in which we regard each other. She’s more observant than most, but I wonder if we should make an effort to avoid each other publicly.”
“That will be difficult. I will miss you terribly.” There was a longing in his voice as if they were already apart.
She slipped her hand to the back of his head, thrusting her fingers into his hair. “We’ll just have to find ways to spend time together that isn’t at a ball or strolling through Hyde Park. Like we are right now.”
