Page 70 of A Perfect Engagement
“My wedding, Mrs. Howell.” Daniel gave the housekeeper a hug, picking her off her feet in his enthusiasm. She squeaked in surprise, and he set her back down. “Mrs. Howell, do you know of anyone in the village who might come help with the cooking and cleaning this week? We need to open up all the guest rooms.”
“Yes, sir. I have a few nieces who could come help,” she replied as she adjusted her mob cap.
“Daniel.”
He glanced over at Phoebe.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” She pointed up with one finger.
“Charlotte! If you will excuse me.” He strode out of the room and headed straight for the stairs.
Charlotte. Would she agree to marry him, now that she had time to think about the ramifications of what happened this morning? Was she devastated at the destruction of her reputation? He paused outside his rooms. He would just have to convince her she had made the right decision. He would spend all night convincing her.
He would stem any arguments with kisses; he would keep her hostage in his bed until she agreed to marry him. Fresh determination flowed through him. He reached for the door handle and stepped into the room. A fire had been started, and Charlotte sat curled up in one of the wingback chairs. A book lay face down on her lap. The firelight played across her beautiful face as she stared into the dancing flames.
He shut the door behind him and turned the lock. Charlotte’s head swiveled at the sound. Her face lit with a wide smile. “Daniel!” She pushed up from the chair and launched herself across the room and into his waiting arms.
Her arms wound around his neck, and all his worries about her feelings disappeared with the press of her lips against his. He pulled her up against him and devoured her sweet lips. Her hands speared through his hair. She kissed him again and again, her lips demanding he respond. He nipped at her full bottom lip, and she let a small gasp escape. She opened her mouth to let him in, her tongue shyly tangling with his. He caressed her cheek with one hand. Pulling back fractionally, he said, “Charlotte, darling. I love you so much.”
Charlotte pulled back farther, her hands sliding from his hair to cup his cheeks. She gazed into his eyes. “Daniel, I’m sorry I didn’t stand up for us that day. I was so scared to reach for what I wanted. I hurt you, and for that, I am truly sorry.”
He leaned in to kiss her softly. “You don’t regret your actions this morning? Miss Charlotte Grisham has caused the biggest scandal of the season, maybe of any season.” He grinned but watched her eyes carefully for the truth.
She shook her head. “You have taught me about what it means to have courage, to live life on my own terms. I have no regrets. How can I when I’m here in your arms?” She pressed her lips against his once more. Their lips melded together as they sank into each other. There was no need for air. He would survive on the sweetness of her mouth and on her soft sighs. His hands roamed over her hips and back up to skim the fullness of her breasts. He wanted to strip off the silk dress she wore and see the luscious curves underneath. He must know the color of her nipples, the shade of the curls which covered her mons. He needed to kiss every inch of her creamy skin. He wanted to bury himself inside her and claim her as his.
But first, he needed to make her his in a different way. A most traditional way. He knelt down on one knee and placed his hands on her hips. He gazed up into those gorgeous emerald eyes.
“Charlotte, my lo—” Charlotte placed a finger across his lips.
“Wait, I have something to say.” She grasped his face with delicate hands. “I used to think that the path that had been set out for me was my only option. I worried that if I didn’t follow all the rules, I would never earn anyone’s love. But you changed all that. That day at the pianoforte, you offered to replace my worries with a future filled with love and a family of our own making. That’s what I want, Daniel. You are what I want.”
He closed his eyes briefly and let her words sink into his heart. Then he gazed up at her and watched two tears roll down her cheeks. He reached up to brush them away with his thumb. “Charlotte, will you marry me?”
“Yes.” She grinned. “Daniel Weston, I love you. Yes!”
Daniel rose to his feet, wrapped his arms around Charlotte’s waist, and lifted her so her lips met his. He poured all his pent-up passion into the kiss, everything he had held back out of guilt and fear. They were free to love each other, and he certainly meant to do a proper job of it.
His lips still pressed against hers, he walked them over to his bed. Setting her on her feet, he turned her around so he could access the buttons which ran down the back of her dress. Dear God, there were at least a hundred of them! He undid one at a time, slowly exposing her back inch by inch. He bent down to place featherlight kisses along the exposed skin.
Exploring, he ran his tongue across the slope of her neck and up behind one ear. Charlotte let out a low moan of pleasure that shot right down to his cock. Blast these damn buttons. He grasped the two sides of the dress he had thus far undone and rent them apart. Buttons rained down to the wood floor.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Charlotte gasped asthe fabric ripped, and her buttons skittered across the floor. But she had no time to think about her ruined dress because Daniel’s lips scorched a path down her spine. She could feel the heat of his breath through the sheer fabric of her chemise. One arm banded her around the waist holding her in place as he kissed and licked his way back up to her neck. He sucked hard at the juncture of her neck and shoulder, sending a burst of pleasure racing through her body. Her nipples hardened and rubbed against the fabric of her corset. She moaned again.
“Again, right there,” she demanded in a voice she barely recognized. Low and husky, she couldn’t believe she had just made the demand. Daniel didn’t appear to be shocked. In fact, he did exactly what she asked; this time, he nipped the spot with his teeth, making her shudder in anticipation for all the pleasure to come.
She turned in his arms and gazed up at him. His eyes glowed with desire, desire for her. It emboldened her. She let go of the front of her dress and let it fall to the floor. Her nipples tightened under his gaze. His eyes raked down her body hungrily. But he wasn’t the only one who was hungry for more. She grabbed hold of his cravat, quickly untying the knot. Next, she undid the buttons of his vest. She pushed both the jacket and vest over his shoulders, impatient to uncover more.
He shrugged out of them, letting them fall to the ground. She pulled his shirt out of his pants. What would his skin feel like? Charlotte ran her hands under the shirt, tracing the muscles of his abdomen with her fingertips. He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. His skin was hot and smooth. She ran her hands up farther to his chest, her fingers tangling in a soft mat of hair. Daniel pulled his shirt up and over his head in one fluid motion.
“Explore all you want, love. I’m yours to do with whatever you please.”
He had dusky pink nipples hidden among the light brown hair which covered his chest. She circled one with her fingertip, and he let out a low growl. Startled, she glanced up at his face. “Should I not do that? Does it feel bad?” She pulled her hands off his chest.
He grabbed her wrists. “No, it feels good, better than good if you use your tongue next time. Shall I show you what I mean?”
She nodded her head. His fingers made fast work of her corset, and it fell to the floor to join her dress. Her chemise was the last gauzy protection of her modesty. “Is this all right?” he asked his hands at her shoulders. All she could manage was another nod. He slowly slid the fabric from her shoulders, and it too slid to the floor.
