“Yes, to me.” She squeezed his arm. “I love you,” she whispered, her heart still raw from concern.
He paused, turning and touching her chin with his fingertips. “I’m sorry I put you in a position where you were so worried.” His brows furrowed with the intensity of his words.
“You’re here now; that’s what matters,” she replied, her face darkening with emotion.
“Indeed, but it still leaves a mark,” he whispered softly, his eyes darting between hers, then down to her lips, and then back.
Elizabeth had never been kissed, and she’d never wanted it more. As a lady, she should wait for Collin to begin the kiss, to lead her down that path to passion. But her impatient heart fought against the constraints of society’s rules.
“Collin,” she murmured, and then before she could talk herself out of it, she slowly rose onto her toes, and as her eyes fluttered closed, she met his lips. Warmth coursed through her, her body tingling with acute awareness that was almost painful in its pleasure as she slowly leaned away, ending the kiss.
As her eyes opened slowly, her heart pounding an unsteady rhythm, she met Collin’s surprised and approving smile. In a moment, it shifted to something dangerous that had her belly flipping over with anticipation. “Not enough.”
His words were low and deliriously passionate as he leaned forward and captured her lips. His kiss was inviting, playful, and passionate all at once as he angled his head just enough to take her lower lip between his teeth, caressing it with the velvet of his tongue. Elizabeth forgot to breathe, devouring every sensation. Over and over, he coaxed her lips to blend with his, nipping, playing, and, true to her nature, she learned rapidly. It was a new sensation, to initiate the passion of the give and take of the kiss. His arms trailed up hers, leaving goose bumps in their wake as he rested his hands on her shoulder, then along her back, pulling her in close, tightly until there was no space between them. His fingers teased up her neck and she shivered, her breaths coming in short pants as she devoured kiss after kiss, never wanting to stop.
She splayed her fingers up his neck and into his hair, the sensation of it setting her further ablaze inside as she caressed his lips with her tongue. Collin groaned, the sound like surrender and restraint at the same time, and a moment later, he gentled the kiss, then after lingering against her lips a moment, withdrew.
Elizabeth’s heart was racing as if she’d run across the countryside, still her body wasn’t tired, but exhilarated and needy, wanting more, and she wondered if she’d ever get enough. It was a delightful sensation, and she craved more of it. She leaned upand kissed his lips, remaining there, stroking the smooth skin of his lower lip with her tongue, teasing him.
He kissed her back, then withdrew again. “I… Good Lord, Elizabeth, if I’m to maintain my honor…or yours…” He released a tight breath, then chuckled. “I never thought I’d be so easily undone by a woman, but you, my dear, are proving me wrong.” He kissed her softly but didn’t deepen it. “I could happily ravish you right here, but I won’t. However, when we are married…” He kissed her again, slowly, deeply, and then retreated as if toying with her, a delightful game she immediately loved. “However, when we are married,” he said again, “you won’t leave my bed for days.”
Elizabeth grinned against his lips. “Promise?”
“Absolutely,” he whispered. “Which does bring me to another important question and thankfully will distract me from the delightful temptation you present.”
“It sounds serious.”
“It is.” He turned them around and headed back toward the house. “Speaking of marriage, the question now is when?”
“When?” she asked.
“Yes, when. The convention is for the banns to be read for three weeks in succession, the announcement in theTimes, and of course, holding the wedding at St. James’s.”
Elizabeth nodded. “And the unconventional way?”
Collin shrugged, but the movement was significant, as if he was trying to disregard this option too much. “A special license procured at Doctors’ Commons.”
“Which would allow it to be in a few days’ time, instead of weeks, correct?” Elizabeth asked.
Collin nodded. “But it can cause gossip that there’s a…need…for an immediate wedding.”
Elizabeth blushed at his implication, but also had a thrill run through her at the prospect of such…activities. “What is your preference?” she asked, distracting herself as well.
Collin turned to her. “Marriage. One way or the other. That is my preference.”
“That’s certainly good to know, since we’d have much to discuss if that were not the case,” she said. “But which of the two options for timing would you prefer?” she clarified.
Collin answered. “For my impatient nature, the latter. For the sake of your reputation, the first.”
Elizabeth twisted her lips. “You didn’t answer the question.” She looked up at the stairs, pausing as she regarded him.
“I’m learning from the best.” He bent down and kissed her softly.
“And I’m learning from you,” she murmured against his lips. “So, in that spirit, I’ll leave the decision up to you.”
He groaned. “You can’t. I’ll choose wrong.”
“Or right.” She nipped at his lip.
