Tempted By a Rake (Wicked Widows’ League #21)

Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

Lavinia swiped the wetness from her face and cracked open one eye only to find Max by the bed, panting and looking at her.

Had he licked her while she slept?

On the other side of her was purring and she turned her head to find Cal on the pillow, but not Demetrius.

Slowly she sat up in bed and glanced around.

It was morning, but she had no idea what time, other than it was light outside.

The fire had burned down and her dress and cloak were folded over the chair and her shoes on the floor beside it. Missing were her stockings until she remembered that she’d not worn any the night before since she had been hoping for seduction and thought they’d only be in the way.

Goodness, she’d been thoroughly seduced last night.

Never in her wildest dreams could she have ever imagined that so much passion and pleasure could be experienced from such an act.

No wonder Octavia had wanted to find a lover after being widowed for over a year.

Was it like this for everyone and had she simply been unlucky in her choice of a husband?

It did not matter, and if she never thought about him again, she would be quite happy. However, she would never forget Demetrius or what they shared the night before. It would be forever burned in her memory, though she truly hoped that it wasn’t the only time they were intimate.

But where was he?

Though she loathed to leave the warm bed, Lavinia knew that she must and finally pushed the blanket aside. After she quickly dressed and slipped on her shoes, with the cloak over her arm she went in search of Demetrius.

Except, he wasn’t anywhere around. Instead, she found a note to go to her cottage once she was awake.

Had he wanted her gone?

Was he now avoiding her?

Goodness, maybe last night hadn’t been as wonderful for him as it had been for her.

Anxiety settled into her chest, but she refused to let it gain hold.

He seemed pleased and she should not assume anything until she’d seen him.

When she reached the back of the cottage and pushed open the door, her nose was immediately assaulted with the aroma of fresh evergreen.

Curiosity pulled her inside only to find the parlor decorated with greenery across the mantel, along with candles, while Demetrius stood on a chair in the doorway between the parlor and the entry, hammering a nail into the ceiling.

“What are you doing?”

“Creating a place to hang the mistletoe,” he answered with a grin.

“Where did all of this come from?”

“A man named Old Jacob. I learned yesterday that he comes in early the morning of Christmas Eve with his wagons loaded with greenery, mistletoe, and yule logs, but I didn’t get one of those.”

All Lavinia could do was blink at him.

“I had to get there early because I was warned that he sold out of items quickly. I only purchased enough for this room, well the mantel anyway, and of course mistletoe, though I don’t really need that to kiss you.”

Heat stained her cheeks.

“I thought this might help us feel the Christmas spirit since we are without family.”

“It does help,” she admitted. The indoors definitely smelled like Christmas and she rather liked it.

“I was, however, wondering if you were going to sleep all day.” He chuckled.

“How late is it?”

“Nearing ten.”

That wasn’t so late. At least, not for her. Maybe Demetrius was an early riser. “We were engaged rather late last evening.”

All he did was grin at her.

“I would likely still be asleep if Max hadn’t licked my face.”

“See, I told you he was smitten.”

“Likely he needed out.” Lavinia chuckled and removed her cloak.

“A breakfast basket was delivered a short time ago. I put it in the kitchen.”

Ice swept through her body. “What did you tell them?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why you were here and I was not?”

“I said that you were searching for something upstairs and that I had offered to help decorate.”

Relief swept through her. In the future she needed to remain in her cottage. She was more than happy if Demetrius wanted to remain with her, and she truly hoped that he did, but from now on, she needed to be the one who answered the door for when the meals arrived.

She placed her cloak on the back of a chair. “I will see about preparing us plates while you finish with the kissing ball.”

Lavinia made her way into the kitchen and could not help but smile.

There was such a sense of domesticity within the cottage. Just her and Demetrius and no servants. She was going to prepare plates so they could eat and he was hanging decorations so that they could enjoy Christmas. Not that such made the holiday more joyful, but made it seem more like Christmas.

By the time she returned to the dining room, the mistletoe had been hung and the chair gone from the entry.

“I am quite famished,” Demetrius announced as he came into the dining room.

“As am I,” she agreed as they settled before plates of cold meats, bread and boiled eggs. “Tea!” Lavinia stated in alarm and rose from her seat.

“It should be ready,” he announced. “I prepared it not long ago and left it to steep.”

Sure enough, there was the teapot on the counter, which she brought back into the dining room and poured before taking her seat once again.

This was nice. So very nice. It was a shame that in little over a fortnight it must end.

Demetrius had studied Lavinia since she walked into the cottage because he feared that once she woke and realized what they had done, she would quickly regret her actions. But she was happy and had a dreamy smile upon her lips, as if she just woken from a wonderful dream.

Last night would be forever burned into his memory and if he lived to be one hundred, no woman would ever compare to Lavinia. She may have even ruined him for any other female.

After she brought the teapot to the table, she poured some into each of their cups and then took her seat. He reached over and placed his hand over hers. “Is all well?”

Her cheeks grew pink and she smiled shyly, so unlike the Lavinia that he had once known. “More than simply well,” she assured him. “Are you?” she asked with some hesitation.

All he could do was chuckle. “Oh, Lavinia, I have never been better.”

She met his eyes. “I am quite happy to learn that some myths are indeed very true.”

Though he knew that there was passion and desire, last night he realized that he had never truly experienced passion until Lavinia.

“I really like how you look this morning.”

She frowned and looked down at her dress. That wasn’t what he had meant. Clearly, she had not looked in the mirror. The Lavinia he had once known had always been put to rights. There had never been a crease in her gown nor a curl out of place, unlike this morning, and he suspected that he’d find a handful of hairpins in his bed when he returned home later. Hairpins that he would hide away and keep as a memento of what they shared.

“What is wrong?”

“Nothing at all. In fact, you are perfection and appear as though you have been thoroughly loved.”

Alarm flashed in her eyes and Lavinia quickly left her chair and disappeared from the dining room. When he heard her gasp Demetrius laughed, but wished he had not said anything, especially when she returned with her hair smoothed and pulled behind her instead of the messiness from sleep.

“I apologize…”

“Lavinia, it was only evidence of how you spent your night.” He smiled. “I hope that I can mess it up even more next time.”

Her blue eyes widened.

“I had not considered the consequences of tangles,” she finally chuckled and looked away. “If you are intent on engaging in such activities again, I may need to braid my hair first.”

“No,” he whispered. “But I will try to take care next time.”

“Oh, please do not,” she returned quietly.

He loved her! Demetrius had already acknowledged that he did, but he had only fallen deeper and it hadn’t been just last night but this morning when he woke to find her deep in slumber, curled on her side with his body wrapped around her. When he had pulled himself from the bed, and only because Max whimpered to be let out, she had rolled onto her back and he pulled the counterpane up to her chin so she not be chilled.

So beautiful with her tangled hair spread across the pillow, lips parted and face softened in her sleep. His heart had ached with longing and then when she returned to Sea View in her rumpled state, he fell further.

He also knew that come spring it would be impossible to sit next to her in her brother’s library and review contracts or agreements pretending that they had not shared a glorious holiday together. It would pain him too much, which was why he made the decision to remain in Seaford.

The idea had been lingering in the back of his mind, but when he had gone into town early this morning to purchase greenery, Old Jacob had asked his advice on a piece of land that was being disputed. He worried the property that had been in his family for generations was going to be taken away. Demetrius had promised to meet with the man in a few days to review his documentations and the claims made against him.

There were people in this town and surrounding area that needed a solicitor and that was what he enjoyed doing the most and therefore he would remain here, alone and with his memories of what he and Lavinia had shared.

Of course, he was not going to tell her yet because he did not want to ruin what was left of their holiday.

“Is all well?” she asked, intruding on his thoughts.

Demetrius smiled. “Yes, it is.” He finished his tea then rose from the table. “How would you like to spend Christmas Eve?”

“First, I will be washing the dishes.” She chuckled before she gathered the plates, cups and saucers.

“And I shall help.”