Page 13 of A Reckless Wager
Phillip couldn’t get any words out. They’d been seen.
“Do you understand?”
He cleared the lump from his throat. “Perfectly.”
Amberville slapped him on the back. “Good. I’m glad we understand each other.”
As Phillip took his leave of the room, he caught the eye of Lady Osborne. She smiled, her ancient eyes sparkling with knowledge and victory.
An hour later, Phillip knew his time to approach Georgiana’s father was running out. So he sought out the man. “Lord Southport, may I have a private word with you?”
“Let’s go to my study.”
Phillip followed the older gentleman down the hall, past several closed doors until the earl stopped, opened the door, and entered. He sat behind his desk, steepled his fingers, and said, “What is this about?”
Phillip felt like he was back in his days at Eaton and about to be punished by the headmaster. “I would like your permission to marry your daughter.”
“Hmmm. What brought this on so suddenly? You haven’t even asked to court her yet. Perhaps a courtship first would be better.”
Phillip refused to cower in front of Georgiana’s father. He inhaled and said, “I don’t need to court her to know I want to marry her and spend the rest of my life making her happy.”
“I see. And does my daughter want to marry you?”
“I…I believe so.”
“Then you have my permission to ask.”
As Phillip made his way to his room, he wondered how he was to propose without his mother’s ring to present her with. He’d just have to make do another way.
Chapter Eight
Georgiana was having difficulty sleeping. Her mind worried about what Amberville said to Phillip. And if that wasn’t enough, her body hummed and she could not make it stop. She wanted Phillip to touch her down there. To again experience the ethereal moment she had with him in the garden. Was this how debutantes became ruined or were forced to marry? Georgiana didn’t care if she became ruined. She needed to see Phillip now. She climbed out of bed, donned her robe, and opened her door to find the one person on her mind standing before her.
“Phillip!” she gasped.
He pushed the door open, entered, shut it, and locked it behind them. He looked flustered, as though he’d just thrown on his shirt and breeches. His feet were bare.
“Georgiana,” he said as he took her hands in his. The skin-to-skin contact was exhilarating. “I spoke with your father tonight.” He got down on bended knee and looked into her eyes, his full of emotions she never thought she’d see. Love. Admiration. Desire.
“I realize this is not the most opportune time, but will you marry me?”
She gasped. She couldn’t help herself. She gasped from shock, relief, and excitement to know that from this day forth, they would be together…forever.
“Yes. A thousand yeses.”
He stood, pulled her into his arms, and right before he kissed her, he declared, “I love you.”
Her “I love you too” was smothered as he took her in a kiss that didn’t just make her body hum but made it explode. Before she realized what he’d done, she was undressed and lying on the large four-poster bed.
She watched as his hands made haste in removing his clothing. Her eyes were riveted to the swollen and large appendage that sprung from his breeches. She’d seen pictures of a man’s penis, but not like this.
He climbed onto the bed, caressing her cheek. “Don’t worry; it may hurt for a moment, but I promise you I’ll do everything I can to ease your discomfort.” As he kissed her, her worries vacated her mind and she melted against his body.
“I don’t know where to touch you first,” he said as his hand caressed her shoulders, causing gooseflesh to break out.
She raked her nails up and down his back, causing him to moan. “Anywhere you want.” Was that her voice that sounded all breathy?
And he did. His fingertips stroked and caressed every inch of her body until she thought she would die if he did not touch her down there. When he did, she bit her lip to keep from crying out. Before she knew what would happen next, he shimmied down her body, spread her legs, and put his mouth there.
