“What do you understand?”
“You wanted to show me pleasure and I thank you. It is not necessary that you desire me in return.”
“Lavinia, I have desired you since we first met! Have I not already told you so?”
“It is kind of you to say, but please, let us not have any lies between us.”
She assumed that since he didn’t toss her skirts and take her, he didn’t want her any more than her husband had.
If she needed proof…Demetrius took her hand and pressed it against his hard member. “If this is not desire, what is it?”
Her eyes widened.
“Tonight was about you,” Demetrius said as he stood. “I wanted to prove to you that pleasure was possible and I hope that you found the experience enlightening if not enjoyable.”
Pink stained her cheeks. “Oh, it certainly was in very many ways.” And with that, she took another drink.
He also took a drink of his brandy and studied her. Her behavior was very odd. “Is all well, Lavinia?” he finally asked.
“Yes. Of course.” She gave a dry laugh. “I guess I truly hadn’t appreciated what others claimed to be pleasure.” Her cheeks only grew darker. “They certainly downplayed the experience.”
“It grows late. I should probably take my leave.”
She blinked at him as worry filled her eyes. “Are you upset with me?”
All Demetrius could do was chuckle. “Never that.” He then kissed her forehead.
“Thank you again for….” She smiled as her cheeks grew rosy once again.
“Trust me, Lavinia, it will not be the last time.” At least he hoped that it would not be.
Chapter
Seventeen
Perhaps she truly was wicked. A Wicked Widow, just like her friends. She certainly understood why they viewed themselves as such now.
Lavinia laughed and grinned at the ceiling in her bedchamber remembering what Demetrius had done to her the evening before.
He also claimed that it was only the beginning.
With those thoughts, she rose from the bed and requested a bath and picked out her most attractive dress for the day. After she dried and curled her hair, she would enjoy a breakfast then take a walk along the beach.
And, just maybe, she would gain the attention of a sheepdog with his owner racing after him.
As she made her way down to breakfast, the voices of her servants reached her ears and Lavinia paused on the stairs to listen.
They were discussing Christmas.
“We were going to join you, Beth,” Mrs. Trenton was saying. “But that was before Lady Teviot decided to visit Sea View Cottage for the holiday.”
“But we have always shared Christmas as a family. First here, then at my home after I married,” Beth, the eldest of her three daughters, stated.
“This is also the first Christmas that we could have spent with our brothers in ten years. I was looking forward to truly being a family,” Sarah, the youngest of the daughters added.
“That is because the Tilsons never visited at Christmas. I fear we will be required to be at our posts. I am certain that Lady Teviot expects dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, though I do hope that she does not expect Christmas pudding since I did not prepare one because I did not know that she would be here.”
“I have one,” Sarah offered.
