He nodded. “Indeed you do. You, and none other.” He removed her boy’s cap, and her hair tumbled down her shoulders and back. She had the most glorious hair, and he cherished those moments he could caress it. Like now, as he took a lock between his finger and thumb. “I love you, Ellie Middleton. I don’t want to lose you to Lord Calvin—Adam. Please tell me I haven’t lost you to another man.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she slid her hands up his chest to hook around his neck. “Oh, Vincent. I do indeed love you, and I know I cannot live without—”
Love urged him into action, and he kissed her, silencing her words. Never had he experienced such elation. Finally, he felt complete. They would repeat their vows soon, but tonight, he would make her his forever wife.
He lifted her and placed her on the bed. She lay on her back, but propped herself on her elbows as she looked at him. He would take things slow…as slow as he physically could, anyway.
First, he started at her feet, removing a shoe one at a time and dropping it on the floor. Next came her stockings…a man’s stockings, no less. He couldn’t help but grin as he rolled them down her leg, one at a time.
She chuckled. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“You do?” He arched an eyebrow.
“Yes. You’re wondering where I got these clothes.”
“From a servant, I’m assuming.”
She nodded. “But I knew I had to appear exactly like a boy if I was going to make others believe that as well.”
Exactly?He held his breath as he reached for her breeches. If she wore the very garments a man wore, then she wouldn’t have on pantalettes. His throat suddenly dried. All she would have on once he removed her breeches was the man’s shirt.
Another panicky jitter rushed through him. How could he remind himself thathewas not the innocent one here? But then, he had never taken an innocent girl to bed before, especially one he loved so much. He gulped down a hard swallow. This moment with Ellie became so much more important now, and he vowed to make it a special night for her.
He stroked her legs, hesitating on his next move.You can do this, Wallace.Taking a deep breath for courage, he reached for the band around her waist. Carefully, he untied the belt-rope she had fastened around her middle, loosening the breeches.
Suddenly, his hands trembled.What’s wrong with me?Once more, he silently told himself that he could do this, and that Ellie would not hate him. He just prayed her father still respected him in the morning. After all, Vincent would be defiling the duke’s daughter.
Stop thinking about the duke.He didn’t want to ruin the mood.
Vincent shook that thought out of his head as he pulled off her breeches. Just as he expected, she wore a man’s shirt—and nothing else.
He had seen many women dressed in much less, yet seeing Ellie on the bed wearing only a shirt that fell to her thighs was the most sensual thing he’d ever had the pleasure to look upon. Tenderly, he ran his hand up her leg to where the shirt stopped just above her knee.
“Vincent?” she asked with a voice deeper than normal. “Are you going to join me?”
He released an awkward laugh. “Can you believe I’m nervous?”
“No.”
“Well, I am.”
She smiled and held out her hand for him to take. “Then we’ll be nervous together.”
He slid his palm against hers, and she pulled him on the bed. Before he lay beside her, he kicked off his shoes. Turning, he situated himself next to her, leaning on an elbow as he gazed down into her lovely face.
“I feel like an innocent schoolboy with you,” he whispered, cupping the side of her face.
“Is it because you’ve never loved the women you bedded?”
“Never.” He shook his head. “Not until now.”
“Then tonight, my darling man, will be a first for both of us.”
“Indeed.” He moved up, lying on her softness only slightly, as he met her waiting lips with his own.
Tonight would definitely be a night to remember. And he would make it spectacular.
Chapter Twenty
