Pepper bit her lip, her face flushing. “Do you think he would agree?”
“I certainly do.” Arianna would make certain of it.
When everyone had returned to the top of the hill, Arianna announced a competition for who could go the farthest at the bottom. They had to go down in pairs, and the winner would get the Asgils’ cook’s prized cherry tart for Christmas.
“Lord Falconridge, you must take Pepper,” she insisted.
The gentleman was startled by the suggestion but nodded and waited patiently for a wildly red-faced Pepper to find her nerve and join him by his sled. Her friend gave her a thankful smile as Arianna turned to the others.
Derrick grasped her hand and pulled her toward his sled. “And you are with me this time.”
Sharing the sled with Derrick felt different than it had when Freddie had been behind her. With Freddie it had been brotherly. But as she settled on the sled, Derrick’s legs against hers, his hard body enveloping hers, her body responded with heat. She had a sudden image of him pinning her against the wall, his body molding hers to his as they kissed, their legs tangled, his thighs pressed against hers—
The sled jerked as someone shoved them from behind, and Arianna gasped as she and Derrick flew down the snowy hill. Their laughter rang out as the sled veered off near the bottom and they both toppled off into the snow as the sled caught a rock and turned over. Derrick rolled so that she lay sprawled on top of him. For a time, they breathed together, the quiet snow and the distant trees like silent sentries guarding them.
“This is rather nice,” she said.
“It is, is it not?” His hands settled on her hips beneath her cloak, and she brushed a lock of snow-damp hair from his eyes.
Arianna forgot where she was and had started to lower her mouth to his when she was jolted back to awareness by the intruding shouts of the others.
She and Derrick separated, and he helped her to her feet. Pepper was laughing in joy as she and Falconridge came to a stop. Pepper stood but stumbled, and Falconridge caught her in his arms.
“Oh, thank you,” Pepper murmured. Arianna wanted to crow in triumph when she saw Falconridge smile a little.
“New competition! First man to the top of the hill wins, but you have to carry your partner,” Derrick challenged.
Falconridge looked to Pepper, awaiting her permission. When she nodded, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the hill.
Arianna punched Derrick’s shoulder with a balled fist to get his attention. “Oh, Derrick, we must not let them win!”
“Right,” he agreed.
She waited for him to scoop her up like Falconridge had Pepper, but he bent and tossed her over his shoulder instead, binding one arm across the backs of her thighs.
She grunted as his shoulder dug into her stomach. “Derrick!”
He smacked her bottom, which did not hurt in the slightest due to her thick clothing. “Hush. Do you wish to win or not?” She balled a fist again and whacked his bottom, his very firm and muscled...Oh dear...
Freddie turned to Mr. Hadley with a grin as the pair passed. “I say, Hadley—”
“If you ask me to carry you, Poncenby...,” Hadley growled. Arianna giggled as the pair played at fisticuffs before they both landed in the snow, fighting like puppies.
When they were halfway up the hill, Arianna spoke again.
“Tonight is Christmas Eve,” she said.
“I am aware,” Derrick replied, still trekking his way up the snowy path.
“Perhaps, for my present... you could show me... lovemaking? True lovemaking, not simply an abbreviated form?”
He paused, and she could feel him go very still as she braced her hands on his back.
“Do you not wish to reserve that for your future husband?” His tone was quiet, a little curt, as though he did not wish to speak about it, even in private.
She was not sure how to answer that. If she said yes, secretly meaning him, then he would not do it. But if she said no, that she did not want to save herself for her future husband, he might assume she was... well... whatever he thought would not be pleasant.
“Never mind. Forget I asked,” she said. Perhaps tonight, if she had some time alone with him, she could convince him. She would just have to be clever about it.
