Snowflakes and Scandals

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The jolt of awareness that flooded her body when his mouth touched hers was the most incredible thing she’d ever felt. His mouth on hers was soft, warm. Nice.

She’d never kissed a man before, but she enjoyed everything about the way Carlisle was holding her. His strong arms pressed her against his broad chest, surrounding her with the heat of his body. She made a soft mewling sound of pleasure, and he groaned before running his tongue against the seam of her lips. She didn’t know what instinct had her opening her mouth but knew she’d done the right thing when his tongue surged inside.

She should have been shocked. Instead, heat unfurled within her, starting low in her belly and spreading throughout. Thank goodness for those unconscious instincts because Carlisle’s groan when she tangled her tongue with his told her she was affecting him as well.

She couldn’t say if their kiss lasted one minute or ten. She only knew that she was lost in Carlisle’s embrace and never wanted to leave.

Through the fog of her emotions she became aware of the hard length that was pressing against her belly. Without thought, she reached down to touch him there.

Carlisle tore his mouth from hers and swore.

The Millie of old would have backed away, terrified she’d done something wrong. But she was a new woman now. Carlisle had admitted that he liked her and wanted to marry her.

“Do you mind?”

She curled her fingers around him, watching his reaction carefully. The shudder that wracked his body told her that he liked what she was doing.

To her shock, he put his hands on her shoulders and stepped back. If he wasn’t holding her in place, she would have pressed herself against him again.

She’d been so certain that he liked what she was doing. “Should I not have done that?”

She bit her lower lip and saw the way his eyes narrowed on her mouth. There was a heat in his gaze that told her Carlisle wasn’t angry. No, he was on the edge, and she wanted to see just how far she could push him.

Could she make him fall over that edge?

There had never been any doubt in her mind about accepting his suit. They were going to be married.

“Carlisle.” Her voice was low, husky.

He growled in reply and another spear of desire pierced her. This was what she wanted. This man, his family as hers.

This moment.

She didn’t want to wait. She didn’t want him to bring her back to her father and court her properly. She was going to take advantage of this time they had to be together.

“Make love to me.”

He closed his eyes and looked away, his jaw clenched. “I’m supposed to be courting you, not ravishing you. The change in our relationship is still new. You need time to consider whether this is what you want.”

She placed her hands on his cheeks and guided his face back. “My answer is yes. I don’t need any more time. I’ve already known for some time that I cared for you. That I would do anything to have you look at me, court me. But I thought any possibility that you might come to care for me was a fantasy.”

His gaze was locked onto hers. “So what you’re saying…”

“I’m saying that I would be honored to be your wife. It’s a dream I never allowed myself to believe would ever come true.”

His entire body was stock-still, and Millie feared he was going to behave honorably and push her away. Instead, her head spun when he shifted and swept her into his arms.

She buried her face in his shoulder and didn’t see how he managed to open the study door. If the servants were witnessing their display, she didn’t want to know about it.

With long, measured steps he ate up the distance between his study and her bedchamber on the next floor. He didn’t lower her to her feet again until they’d entered the room. Anticipation filled her as she watched him lock the door.

“I don’t need anyone rushing in here to save your honor.”

She laughed, giddy with happiness. For one heart-stopping moment, she wondered if it was possible she was dreaming. Perhaps everything that had happened after her arrival at Carlisle’s estate had been a dream.

If that was true, she never wanted to wake up.

They stood there for several seconds, staring at one another. Finally, her uncertainty had her rushing to break the charged silence. “I am relying on you to know what happens next.”

He smiled. How she loved his smile. Before being stranded here with him, it had been an eternity since Carlisle had actually looked at her, let alone given her any indication she was anything other than a nuisance to him. She wanted to stretch out and purr, like a kitten basking in the warmth of his gaze.

“Get onto the bed.”

She rushed to do that, even as heat colored her cheeks. But not because she was embarrassed. No, she was eager to do this with him. They were going to make love… and it wasn’t even night!

She was going to be Carlisle’s wife, and they would do this all the time. Or at least, she hoped they would.

She sat on the edge of the bed, then decided to stretch out on top of the counterpane.

Then it occurred to her that she might have missed a step. Perhaps she should have removed her dress first. Surely she’d be allowed to leave on her chemise.

She started to sit up but Carlisle lowered himself onto the bed and stretched out next to her. She rolled to face him.

“I can’t believe I’m here with you.” His voice was low. Husky. “I’ve wanted to do this every moment since I saw you sitting in my drawing room.”

“And then I swooned but for the wrong reason. I hate that I was such a nuisance. If I’d stayed at home and listened to what Papa wanted to tell me instead of interrupting him?—”

He kissed her forehead. “Then you wouldn’t be here with me. In fact, given the snowstorm, we wouldn’t have had an opportunity to speak to one another yet.”

She frowned, hating that thought.

“We’re not going to make love right now, Millie.”

She wanted to protest. She’d spent the past year thinking this man hated her but unable to ignore her growing feelings for him. Now that she knew he cared for her, that he wanted to marry her, she couldn’t stand the thought of putting off that glorious future.

Before she could say anything, he kissed her. She threw herself into returning it, hoping he would get carried away. But all too soon he pulled back and stared at her.

“Please don’t stop.”

She willed him to move over her, or perhaps start removing some clothing. Instead, he rolled onto his back. He brought her with him and she found herself draped over his body.

She frowned. Why was she on top of him, and fully clothed? They couldn’t make love like this.

He cupped her backside with his hands. “We won’t make love, but I don’t intend to leave you unsatisfied.”

He shifted her so her legs draped around his hips, and then pressed her down so that she was pressed intimately against his arousal. He ground up into her.

“Oh,” she gasped when a shock of pleasure raced through her.

She arched into him, rubbing herself against him with wanton abandon. His groan of pleasure told her he was enjoying this as much as she was.

She fused her mouth to his and kissed him, even as her body chased something she couldn’t name.

“You’re going to unman me,” he said against her mouth.

She had no idea what he meant by that, but if it had anything to do with continuing along their current path, she was all for it.

His hands pressed her body more securely against his as he continued to push up into her. Before she realized what was happening, her entire body stiffened, and then a wave of unbearable pleasure rolled through her.

He was holding her securely against him, and a corresponding shudder wracked his body.

“Millie, you are incredible.”

He kissed her again, but this time the urgency was gone. Finally, after several long minutes of languorous kisses, he shifted until they were on their sides again, facing one another.

She snuggled into him, enjoying the way he held her securely against him. She would have fallen asleep that way if he hadn’t dropped a kiss on her temple and spoken.

“I need to leave. If I stay here, I won’t be able to keep from taking you fully.”

She loved the fact that he wanted to behave honorably, even when it was clear that was the last thing he desired.

She looked up at him. “I love you, Carlisle. I have for some time now.”

He cupped her cheek. “I love you too, Millie.”

She smiled and watched him rise and cross to the door. Somewhere along the way he’d removed his coat, which meant she had a nice view of his backside. She couldn’t wait to see it bare.

He stopped and looked back at her. “After I take you home, I’m heading straight to the vicarage to ask for the banns to be read.”

Joyous laughter bubbled out of her as he left, closing the door softly behind him. She supposed it was for the best that the snow prevented him from riding to London to procure a special license. The reason for doing so was not a conversation she wanted to have with her parents.