A warm, enchanting orange hue reflected off the white silk, and she tentatively slid down one of her sleeves, revealing her firm, round breasts. She did the same with the other side and her nightgown fell to the floor, almost daring him to look upon her naked body. Her uncovered nipples caught fire in his lustful gaze, her bare skin glowing in the firelight.
In a daring moment of silence, she stepped toward him, and his breath caught in his throat as he fell hypnotized by the sway of her hips. His arousal throbbed within his breeches and he could hardly control his obvious physical reaction to her the closer she arrived. Once she finally reached him, his gaze drifted down to her body, and his forearm, against great restraint, reached around the nape of her neck, as his other hand caressed her breast.
Her body tensed and he knew she was enjoying it. It took everything in him not to react further, not to take her right now without a hint of hesitation. But she was too innocent and he was unsure if she even knew what she was doing. She held the grace of an angel and the complexion of a goddess. But more than that, she never looked away from him, and the determination in her eyes sent a chill up his spine as she stepped into him, until their bodies were almost touching.
And then, she rose to her toes, clutched the lapels of his coat, and kissed him. Her soft, full lips brushed against his own and his mouth automatically moved with hers. She felt so small and fragile in his hands and her bare skin, now pressed up against him, had him fighting the urge to unleash his animalistic side. Soft, sweet moans escaped from her throat and he captured each one of them with delicate kisses.
A barely suppressed moan escaped him as his arm swung around her waist to her rear and pulled her frame tighter into him, his hardness pressing against her hips, showing her what she was truly doing to him. His hands were gentle as they explored every delicate inch of her body, tracing down the contours of her neck, to her waist, and to her rump, coming close to her most intimate area but never touching it. It felt as though he could only stare at every inch of her body before finally settling on her nipples, which he teased gently with his lips. She arched her back, gasping in lustful arousal at the sensation, and moaned when his mouth closed around one of them.
Slowly but surely, his fingers began to drift towards her most intimate place, desperate to pleasure her. But he felt her tense up again. This time, however, it was followed by a sharp inhale. She stilled beneath his touch and he felt a hand press against his chest, pushing him away.
* * *
My goodness, what am I doing?
Meredith’s body was burning like fire, but she was desperately trying to cover her bare form. Intoxicated by his sheer presence as she was, she still knew she wasn’t ready for this.
“...I-I’m sorry, I do not…” Her voice trailed off before she could finish her thought.
Ethan instantly stopped and put some distance between them and then cleared his throat. He looked almost as if he were in pain. She used one hand to cover her breasts and the other to search for her nightgown which lay in a heap on the rug-covered floor.
He nodded, understanding her unspoken message, and gently averted his gaze. “I…I should apologize. I succumbed to impulse, it won't happen again.”
“Oh…” she uttered as a strange feeling overtook her. It wouldn’t happen again? Had she just taken a stepbackwith him?
He cleared his throat and haphazardly fixed his collar in want of distraction. “I will be taking my leave now. Goodnight, Meredith.”
“Yes. Goodnight, Ethan…”
The door shut softly and Meredith’s heart sank. She threw on her nightgown loosely and groaned in frustration at herself. Her back touched the soft featherbed, and she hugged a pillow for comfort. Why would she attempt something so bold when she knew she was not capable of such an act? She most certainly wasn’t ready, yet she hoped she could use it as an incentive to keep Ethan with her for the night. Now, even the thought of what had just occurred colored her up. How could she face him again?
Heavens. What must he think of me? I should begin with smaller steps.
There were a lot of things she wished to do for herself,withEthan. Some that would perhaps hold little significance to others but trivial pleasures she wished to experience nonetheless, and others that caused her to blush in embarrassment to even think on. If she were to find her courage during the next two weeks, she needed to make a clear list and a clear plan of how she was going to achieve it all. Her romance novels were the inspiration for everything and she focused on them as she stretched one finger upward, counting.
“A romantic dinner. That shall certainly be a priority,” she said thoughtfully to herself, extending one finger. “We will share a dance at a ball,” she paused, her finger resting on her chin as she thought more, “an outdoors picnic for just the two of us…and partake in something he enjoys doing.”
Meredith nodded at herself as she went over the list. Yes, this would suffice for now. Although their marriage was merely superficial and temporary, it didn’t mean she couldn’t take joy and pleasure from it. For the remainder of the fourteen days, she would try to complete each item on her list with Ethan and enjoy every moment of it.
CHAPTER4
Meredith pressed her ear against the cold oak door of her chambers, straining to hear any sound from the other side. She was waiting for the telltale slam of a door, the signal that the Duke had left the castle. Ever since the embarrassing incident on their wedding night, she had been actively avoiding Ethan, consumed with anxiety at the mere thought of being the focus of his sharp gaze once more. A task made quite simple by his unusual, but consistent, morning routines.
She would face him eventually, but only when she was certain the incident had been put out of sight and out of mind by him. In the meanwhile, she had already begun planning on how she would complete the first item on her list: a romantic dinner. She had chosen the perfect setting for it—a specific spare room on the uppermost floor of the castle, overlooking the gardens.
Soon, the familiar thud reached her room and her muscles relaxed. Confident the grounds were clear, she straightened her posture, smoothed her muslin gown, and then moved to open the door. Before it could fully open, however, Meredith started and took a step back at the sight of a larger figure, then quickly relaxed upon realizing it was just her lady’s maid, Lucinda.
"Your Grace," Lucinda said, curtsying.
Meredith gave a small, relieved smile. “Good morning, Lucinda.”
Lucinda was an early middle-aged woman with a relatively bulky build. Her dark hair was deftly hidden beneath a white maid’s cap and her face was lined with wrinkles. She was dressed quite simply in a loose-fitting gray gown with white trim, cotton petticoats, and a white apron. Despite her frail and soft voice, Meredith had seen the woman lift whole furniture with her hands. Since Meredith’s arrival, she had been dressing herself, yet Lucinda continued to insist on helping her every morning.
"I see you are already dressed," Lucinda noted, tutting. "If you require any assistance, then please, I am here. It would not be good to tire yourself."
"Thank you, Lucinda, but old habits. However, I was on my way to break my fast. Perhaps you can guide me to the dining room? A different way this time?"
Lucinda nodded, beaming her approval. "Of course, Your Grace. Come with me."
