She could touch both thighs, and then she could slide her hands up his thighs and touch the bulge that had so intrigued her in his tight yellow livery.
Casually, as a little test, she squeezed his leg.
Declan leaned farther back. He was splayed out beside her, and he looked to her with an expression ofAnd what will we do now?
Her heart began to pound.
“Just one question,” she asked, holding her hand still. “Did the colorful and clever Miss Knightly Snow ever lureyouin?”
She slid from the bench and pivoted over his knee, facing him. She landed squarely between his thighs, her belly flush with the edge of the table.
“What do you mean?” His face was playfully thoughtful.
“I mean...” she began, returning her hand to his thigh, squeezing, “...that the two of you seemed very familiar. Clearly she is fond of you. Unless I misunderstood, she’s been stalking not me butyouthese last weeks.”
“Ah, sweetheart,” he drawled, “she’s not the sort of girl I fancy.”
“She appears to be the sort of girl that everyone fancies. You should have seen the men up and down the table, my own father included, watching her.”
“I only fancy one sort of girl,” he said, closing his legs around her, squeezing her, “and I married that girl, which is a bloody miracle.”
Helena rose on her toes to kiss him, and when he leaned down to reach her lips, he hooked his hands beneath her arms and pulled, sliding her off the floor. Helena leapt, tucking her knees on either side of his hips. He plopped her down on his lap in a rustle of silk. She’d not changed out of the dress from dinner.
Their mouths met, and he traced her shoulder and back, her waist and bottom, with palms flat and fingers wide. When he reached the tangle of her skirts, he dug beneath, searching for her legs. Helena held her breath, waiting for the moment when his hands slid against bare skin.
When he moved his hands up her calves, he rasped, “No stockings?”
“Nothing but the dress,” she said between kisses.
“Nothing?” he said, his voice cracking. He reached between them and undid his breeches.
She sucked in a little breath. “Nothing,” she sighed.
“I was hoping for the white gown,” he said, running his hands over her breasts, kissing her again. “I cannot lie.”
“The white gown was for when I had nothing left to lose. Now...” she kissed him so deeply, “...now I have everything to lose.”
“God, I love you,” he said, and he freed himself and lifted her up, settling her down on him slowly, so slowly. “You deserve a proper bed,” he bit out, straining to hold her and love her at the same time.
“I needyou,” she moaned against him.
“Whatever you need, my lady,” he whispered into her ear, “I am here to serve.”
Epilogue
Declan and Helena Shaw walked through the shady bower of Castle Wood hand in hand. Springtime had awakened colors so vivid nature glowed all around them.
Declan was grateful the verdant forest seemed to forestall speech. He was struggling with what to say. They walked in silence, enjoying the dappled sun, as he searched for the correct words.
“The duke and Miss Snow called on us last week,” Helena said, breaking the silence.
Declan chuckled. Knightly Snow had been a means to an end, but it thrilled them that, six months on, the combustible couple of Lusk and Miss Knightly Snow had endured.
“Oh?” Declan said. “Any plans for a wedding?”
“They did not mention it and I dared not ask. But they appeared very happy. That is saying quite a lot, considering Lusk has always hated the countryside. I cannot believe she convinced him to leave London.”
“But why are they in Somerset?”
