Darius became lost in her—the taste, the feel, the intoxicating magic of all that Meredith was. He would have forsaken his sight to hear her laugh in delight again, and he would have surrendered years of his life for one last lingering look upon her face.
Meredith lifted her hips, meeting him in a gentle rhythm. They were unhurried in their lovemaking. He taught her how to love with his body, to let their heat and passion burn like a fire on a dark night, unable to be blown out by even the strongest of winds. Even if he could not find romantic enough words for it, he showed her in every kiss, every caress, every gentle thrust in their joining what it was to love.
She cried out his name, her legs tightening around his hips, and he released himself inside her, breathing her name in a soft chant. If ever there was a moment perfect enough to create a new life born out of love, he prayed this was it.
This was the simple truth of it. He wanted a life with Meredith, a future of endless wonder and adventure at her side. He would show her the world, teach her to take up space in it, and never again feel like she had to cower or that her voice was silenced because society didn’t think she mattered.
“Marry me, Meredith.” He nuzzled her nose with his own before sealing his question with another kiss. “Please marry me…because I cannot live without you.”
She opened her eyes and looked up at him, their bodies still joined so intimately.
“Are you asking this time?” She arched a brow, and he wanted to laugh and kiss her senseless.
He nodded.
“Do you love me?” she asked, her gaze solemn.
He nodded.
“Say the words, Darius. I need the words.” She said this so earnestly that he knew she did in fact need the words, the words that until now had been so hard to say because of what he feared would happen if he admitted loving her. But he’d gone too far now down this path to deny her what she deserved to hear.
“To say the words in a way that conveys all that I feel for you would take years to speak, and to say them in their simplest form would sound woefully inadequate,” he replied honestly.
“All that matters is that the words come from your heart, Darius. That’s the only thing that’s ever mattered to me.”
He knew he had to speak the words that mattered more than anything as simple as they were. “I love you,” he whispered, praying that was enough for her to know how much he loved her.
Her gaze searched his for a long moment. “Yes, I will marry you. But what if you regret your choice? Lady Mary will not let her slight be forgotten.”
Darius stole another kiss. “She will not make it easy, but now that we are both prepared for the coming storm, we can weather it together.”
What he did not add was that he planned to visit Lady Mary and warn her that if she said another word against Meredith, she would make a very powerful enemy. What happened at Gunter’s today would never happen again.
“Will you write to the prince tomorrow and tell him that I asked for your hand in marriage, and that you accepted?”
Meredith smiled at him. “Yes.”
“Good. Now let’s get beneath the covers. I want to hold you.”
Darius held Meredith until she was fast asleep. He waited until the shadows of night settled over her face before he slipped out of bed. Darius put on his trousers and retrieved his dressing gown from his room, wrapping the belt around his waist. Moving through his house barefoot, he headed for the kitchens to retrieve some food. To his surprise, he met Mrs. Petersham on the stairs coming up. He had forgotten that she hadn’t returned with them.
“Frances. You’re back late.”
“I was watching over your friend, Lord Grey until half an hour ago.”
Darius nodded. “How is he?”
“Far too glib for a man who has taken so many blows. You’d almost think the man had enjoyed himself.” Frances replied with a frown.
Darius chuckled. She might not have been far from the truth on that.
“How is Meredith?” Frances asked as if she’d been aware where Darius had been, but was polite enough not to mention it.
“Better now.” He paused, then smiled. “She’s finally agreed to marry me.”
Frances’s serious gaze filled with the light of hope. “Has she?”
“Yes.”
