When Adam lifted off his shirt, she leaned back on her elbows to better admire the rippling breadth of him.
“Do I please you, milady?” He put his hands at either side of her and dopped a featherlight kiss onto her lips.
“Very much.” She let her head fall back, surrendering to his caresses. His hands moved down over her body, skimming over the place she most wanted him to linger. She felt him grip the hem of her night rail and an intense feeling of anticipation mingled with relief fair robbed her of reason.
She lifted her hips and arms, helping him remove the garment in one smooth moment. He gazed down at her with his green eyes, drinking her in.
“Do I please you, good sir?” she asked impishly.
“More than you can ever know.” Adam’s weight gently came down on top of her as he kissed and nibbled his way over her breasts and stomach. When she realized where his kisses were leading, she half sat up in surprise, but Adam lowered her back down with a firm but steady hand.
“Stay there,” he almost growled.
Never had she anticipated such giddy heights of sensation. Esme could not help calling out when the warmth of his tongue first entered her most secret place. She clenched her hands into fists as her hips bucked beneath him, unable to control the spiraling tension which released into spasms of pleasure and left her limbs tingling.
He kissed his way back up her body, giving her time to catch her breath as he wrestled with his breeches.
“Can I?” he whispered into her ear.
“Can you what?” For a moment, Esme did not understand. But then she felt the tip of him against her stomach. Instead of answering, she instinctively moved him into position, matching his deep sigh of contentment when he slid deep inside her.
Almost at once, her pleasure began to build anew. She clung to his shoulders as he rocked, slowly at first, but quicker and quicker as her desire exploded once again. Adam took a great, shuddering breath and then collapsed against her, murmuring her name.
“You’re mine now.” He rolled to one side and cradled her to his chest.
“I have been for the longest time.” She traced a hand over his shoulders, loving the contrast between his strength and gentleness.
“I want to marry you right away, before anyone can change their mind.”
“No one is going to change their minds.” Contentment washed over her and Esme closed her eyes. “Though to make sure, I should stay here all through the night and ensure the housemaids find me in your arms.”
“Naked?” His voice was teasing.
“Entirely,” she confirmed.
Adam tensed and she thought he was about to protest, but then she realized that he was laughing quietly. “I am minded to think that is a most excellent idea.”
“Good.” She snuggled against him, feeling entirely at home as his arms wrapped around her.
She was happy and safe.
Forever.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Six weeks later…
Snow had fallenovernight, and a white dusting covered the sweeping lawns of Wolvesley Castle. The temperature had not risen above freezing for several days and long shards of ice had transformed the fountain into something both beautiful and forbidding. Esme could not ignore a twist of unease in her stomach as she gazed through the latticed window of the ladies’ solar.
“Will she still be able to come?”
Her mother smiled serenely. “The snow is not so very deep, dearest. I am certain the Felsham carriage will find a way through.”
Esme nibbled at her fingernail. “She should have set off sooner. We might have known snow would fall this close to yule.”
“’Tis hardly a surprise.” Morwenna stepped away from the window with a shiver, drawing her fur cloak over her shoulders. “You know, you could have had a springtime wedding.”
Esme pursed her lips as she sank down onto the plush window seat. “We didn’t want to wait that long.”
