Part 34 (1/2)
”Every day.” Finding his lips, she proceeded to show him just how much.
”Let's go to your bedchamber,” he murmured a long, breathless while later.
She nodded, expecting him to set her onto her feet. Instead, he swung her high into his arms and moved toward the stairs.
What seemed an endless time later, Thalia lay in a state of delirious naked bliss, the sheets and coverlet kicked into tangled heaps at her and Leo's bare feet.
She supposed they ought to cover up, but she was simply too boneless to move. He'd roused her to the most amazing heights with a pleasure so intense it made her blood burn all over again just to recall.
Even now, he played a hand over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, lazily fondling each one before moving lower in an arc across her stomach. Curling a finger beneath her chin, he tipped her head back and claimed her lips for a slow, indulgent kiss.
Sighing, she turned into him and snuggled closer, burying her face against his neck and closing her eyes.
”Thank you for a most excellent welcome home.” He trailed his fingers over her shoulder and arm.
She smiled and kissed his neck. ”It was my pleasure, believe me.”
”How was your Christmas?”
”Quiet. How was yours?”
”Noisy. And crowded in spite of the dozens and dozens of rooms Braebourne has. I spent the entire time wis.h.i.+ng you were with me.”
Warmth spread like a sun inside her chest. Leaning an arm against his chest, she looked into his eyes. ”Me too.” She stroked a hand against his cheek, loving the smooth feel of his shaven skin. ”Thank you for my gift.”
”The pearls? You like them?”
”Yes. How could I not? They're beautiful.”
He arched a golden brown eyebrow. ”And you're not going to try returning them?”
”Not this time.” Sliding higher, she pressed her mouth to his for a long, slow kiss. ”You chose the one thing I couldn't possibly bring myself to refuse.”
”Good.” She s.h.i.+vered deliciously as he smoothed a palm over her bare b.u.t.tocks. ”I'll have to start thinking of the next impossible-to-refuse gift to give you.”
”Don't.”
He brushed a lock of hair away from her forehead. ”Why not? I like giving you things.”
”You know why not. We've talked about this before.” She kissed him again with a sweet yet ardent demand. ”This is enough. I don't want anything more than to be your lover. Truly.”
”Well, what if I do?”
”What?” she said, her forehead creasing.
”What if I need more?” His arms tightened around her. ”What if I want the right to shower you with as many gifts as I like with no one able to say a word against it?”
”But they will. You know they will.”
”Not if you're my wife.”
The breath froze in her lungs, her heart aching as if she'd taken a hard blow to the chest. ”What?” she gasped.
His eyes warmed with excitement and he sat up, sat them both up, his arms still wrapped loosely around her. ”I love you. Marry me, Thalia.”
She stared, speechless.
”I realized how I felt when I was away at Braebourne,” he continued. ”How nothing felt right because you weren't there with me. I wanted you to meet my family, to show you off to them as my bride. I want to take you back so you can meet them now. They're going to love you. I know they will.”
Gooseflesh popped out all over her skin, an arctic cold seeping into her bones. She pulled away, then knelt to reach for her robe, which was draped around the foot post. s.h.i.+vering, she drew it on.
But the wool didn't make her any less cold.
”I know you weren't expecting this,” he said with a frown. ”I suppose I should have picked a better time and place to propose. I can still get down on one knee, if you like.”
”No.”
”I can put on some clothes too, if it bothers you that I'm doing this in the altogether.”
”It doesn't.”
He looked at her for a long moment, then crossed his arms. ”Then what is it? Why do I suddenly get the idea that you're going to refuse me?” Some of the light drained out of his eyes. ”Is it because you don't feel the same? That you don't love me?”
Her eyes went to his. ”No,” she whispered, ”I do love you.”
Some of the tension drained from him and he lowered his arms, reaching out to her.
But she leaned away, avoiding his touch for once.
”Thalia, what is it? What is wrong? If you love me, then say you'll marry me. Whatever other problems there may be, we can work them out.”
”But we can't,” she said, her voice sounding dead to her own ears.
”Of course we can. Nothing is insurmountable.”
”This is.” She gripped her fingers together, fearing suddenly that it was the only thing keeping her from breaking apart.
She drew a deep breath. ”I cannot marry you, Leo. I cannot marry anyone.”
”What do you mean?”
She stared down at her hands, unable to look at him any longer. ”The terms of my divorce are quite clear. They stipulate that while my former husband, Lord Kemp, may remarry, I may not. I am barred from taking marriage vows ever again.”
Chapter 29.
Leo didn't say anything; he didn't quite trust himself to speak. Instead, he got out of bed and reached for his trousers, pulling them on with a few efficient tugs. He slid his arms into his s.h.i.+rt as well, but left the b.u.t.tons undone.