“Er, yes. Yes, I suppose it does.” They strolled on. “But mostly it enchants me. All these things happening quite naturally, and yet do we ever take the time to observe them?”
“We? You mean us in particular, or just people?”
“Just people, really,” she answered. “Especially those in town. Can you imagine…oh, let’s say Lady Jersey as an example…can you picture her here, taking the time to admire how birds build their homes?”
He shook his head on a laugh. “No. Absolutely not. She’d probably be more worried about the state of her slippers.”
They reached the stream where the irises were growing, and Cherry noted that yes indeed, there was a tiny yellow flower showing even more brightly today.
She stopped to lean over and peer at it, then straightened and nodded. “Good. I planted these yellow flags a little while ago. It’s good to see them happy.”
“Flags?” Garrett looked at her, obviously confused.
“Irises, yellow irises,” she replied. “See there, that little spark of yellow? Theflagsname comes from long ago, something to do with reeds, or water-loving plants, I believe. Our gardener always calls them that, so I do as well.” Without thinking, she leaned forward to touch the bud, and her shoes slid on the damp earth, making her gasp. “Oh…”
Garrett’s arm tightened, and he pulled her back quickly, catching her before she tumbled headfirst into her irises, tugging her close to his body.
“I…”
Held tightly by strong arms and stunned by the sensation of a firm chest pressing against her breasts, Cherry caught her breath and looked up into Garrett’s eyes. Her lips parted, and there was something she should be saying…
He lowered his head and kissed her, gently, softly at first, a mere brush of his lips. But then what felt like a fire erupted inside her, and instead of politely freeing herself from his arms and blushing, as any properly brought-up young lady should do, Cherry slid a hand past his shoulder and around to the back ofhis neck, urging his face closer to hers.
He made a sound, between a hum and a groan, and kissed her again.
This time, with a great deal of enthusiasm.
*~~*~~*
Her lips tasted of honey and flowers, and Garrett completely lost himself as he attempted to devour her. Some imp of desire took over his brain, forcing his common sense into a corner cupboard and shutting the door. Her body fit his in the most perfect of ways, her breasts soft against his chest, her arms locked around his neck, and his hands stroking anywhere and everywhere, learning her curves and dips and valleys and mounds…
He discovered he was holding a rather nice and shapely bottom comfortably in his cupped palms, and his body was responding enthusiastically. God above, he could lay her down right now on the soft grass and take her until they were both too exhausted to move.
“Garrett…” She pulled back a little and whispered his name, a breath against his mouth.
“Cherry, good God,” he muttered, slowly releasing her as his mind returned and his body ached at the loss.
They blinked at each other, unsure of what to say or what to do.
Finally, she cleared her throat. “Well,” she said, colour creeping into her cheeks. “I’m not sure if I should apologise for being too forward, or thank you for being such a nice kisser.”
He couldn’t help a chuckle which eased his tension, thenpulled her back to him and hugged her. “I’ll take both. And return the compliment. Please,” he gazed at her, “please be forward any time you’d like.”
“Any more of that sort of thing and we’ll have both our mothers planning the wedding before either of us can catch our breaths.”
That little verbal bucket of cold water sent a shudder through Garrett and his body immediately calmed. “Er, yes. Yes, you’re right.”
Silence fell for a few moments.
“How about one of us receiving a message from a friend? Needing our help, or letting us know they’re unwell…something along those lines?”
He blinked, slightly irked that after a kiss that had shaken him to his boots, she could apparently manage coherent thoughts about their current situation. Hadn’t she felt that…that something too?
“Do you have any friends nearby who could manage to let you know of their dreadful ailment before tomorrow night?” He shot her a questioning look, complete with a raised eyebrow. “Ones your mama does not know about, of course.”
Apparently unimpressed by his expression, she frowned down at her shoes. “No, unfortunately.”
“Neither do I.”
