Page 87 of A Match Made On Duchess Square

As ever, the white-crested waves broke against the rocks immediately below them, which had been hollowed out over time by the conquering forces of nature.

What of him? Had he conquered Gwendolyn last night?

He had pleasured her, for certain. But that was not quite the same thing. The beast in him desired her complete surrender, wanted full claim over her body, heart, and soul.

For always.

Had he been skillful enough to accomplish this victory in one night?

Ha.

He knew it could not be that easy to win her heart. Despite the years of abandonment and betrayal existing between Gwendolyn and Andrew Clement, it would still be an uphill battle for him. He was confident in his abilities, but this was too much of a stretch.

He turned back to Gwendolyn when she stirred. “James?”

“Right here,” he called from his position by the window. “I can step out if you require privacy.”

She gave a groaning laugh and sat up in bed. “Oh, dear heaven. Did last night really happen?”

He strode to her side and knelt. “Regretting it?”

She shook her head. “No. Why would you think such a thing? Are you?”

“Not in the least. If anything, my feelings for you have deepened. My only regret is that I rushed you into something you might not have been ready for.”

“Oh, I was ready to be deflowered. If I had waited any longer, you’d be making love to old bones and shriveled remains.”

“Gad, Gwen! You are far from that.”

“Perhaps still a few years away.” Her eyes shimmered and her smile was sleepy and gentle as she reached out to lightly rub her hand across his bristled jaw. “Rough.”

He nodded. “I need a shave. But you look beautiful in the morning light.”

“Despite the wild tangle of my hair?”

He ran his fingers through it to brush back a few stray wisps. “It’s lovely. A little wild but not at all tangled.”

“It is nice waking up to the sight of you, James.”

He chuckled. “You are sleep deprived, Gwen.”

“Yes, and so are you. But that doesn’t change my feelings toward you. I’m glad it was you who claimed me. I would not have allowed anyone else to do this.”

“All well and good,” he said with a wry smile. “But you weren’t actually claimed in the strictest sense of the word. You weren’t deflowered. I was careful about that. We were intimate, but you are still…intact.”

“Sure, if one goes by the medical definition. I surrendered my very heart and soul to you last night.”

He gave her cheek a light caress. “You surely surrendered your body, but I am not certain you have surrendered all of yourself to me just yet. I think that will require some more time, hopefully no more than a few weeks.”

“And what about your heart, James?”

“It is firmly and irrevocably yours. I would not have proposed to you if I had any doubts. Nor would I have done what I did to you in this bed mere hours ago.” He sighed. “Can we forget this house party idea? No one is going to outshine you.”

“Maybe. Let me think about it. Without that party, we would be alone for the entire month.”

“Is that so terrible?”

“No, but it would be scandalous.”