With that, she slid her fingers into his hair.
“Are you trying to compromise me?” he asked.
“Yes. Is it working?” Her saucy smile made desire roar through his body.
For answer, he kicked the door closed behind him and lowered his mouth to hers. He had been frightened for her beyond reason, and now, he had trouble holding back and being gentle. He wanted to dive into her lushness, to stroke her tongue with his, to lower her onto the bed, and pleasure her until they were both mindless and breathless.
He would settle for an outstanding kiss, and bysettle, he meant relish, worship, and cherish her with his mouth until he could do so again with his entire body when they went home.
Delving between her lips, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, growling when she caressed it with her own. Releasing her upper arms in order to cup her soft, rounded buttocks, he drew her up against him.
She growled a little in response, the sound reverberating in his mouth, making him want to drop to his knees and declare his utter devotion to this woman.
“I love you,” he whispered against her mouth.
Freezing, she drew back and looked him in the eyes with her brilliant-blue gaze. Her direct stare.
“I love you, Purity Diamond, with all that I am.”
“You love me?” she asked, rocking him back on his heels with her question.
“Of course!”Didn’t she love him? Was this a new concept to her?“Why would you question me?”
“You never said it before,” she remarked, astounding him further.
“I did,” he promised. “I have told you more than once how I adore you.”
“Adore is not love,” she said softly.
“Isn’t it? Is there a list of proper words for couples that I need to study, too?”
“Stop teasing,” she said, her voice sounding thick with emotion. And he grew serious.
“You have been laboring under the misapprehension that I married you and have been tupping you nightlywithoutloving you, is that correct?”
“I wasn’t sure.”
“You weren’t sure,” he repeated, shaking his head. “I hope you won’t let Diana or any of our other children, should we be so blessed, marry with such uncertainty.”
She shrugged, swallowed, sniffed, and then offered him a watery smile.
She was a priceless treasure, and he ought to have done better by her.
“I should have said those words before. In my defense, I truly thought that adoring and cherishing you were the same thing as loving you. But I will keep repeating ‘I love you’ until you believe me.”
After a second, she offered him a short nod.
He chuckled. “Truly? Is that your entire response? Isn’t there some rule of etiquette that demands you say something?”
She tilted her head. “I don’t think there is a rule, but from my heart, I will tell you I have been afraid. I have tried not to let my fear overwhelm my true feelings.”
“Which are?” He knew it was wrong, but he squeezed her bottom while he asked.
“Ooh!”She made a little squeal of surprise.
Then she reached out and stroked his cheek.
“That I love you, my Lord Fox, with all my heart.”
