Page 43 of Managing the Major

One-handed, it took a few moments to pull open the buttons of his waistcoat, but the brocade finally parted, revealing the white shirt beneath, his nipples taut against the thin lawn.

She pulled it from under the waistband of his pants to slide her palms under the fabric. His jagged breathing echoed in the still air as if he’d run a full quarter-mile track.

“Octavia—” It was a thick groan, but also a warning.

“Shhh…” she breathed. “Let me do this.”

Hell’s Teeth, it had been so long since a woman had touched him anywhere. His eyelids fluttered closed, and he gave in to the pleasure of it.

“Your skin is so warm, Alastair, as if on fire,” she murmured in a husky voice, exploring the curves of his chest and letting her fingers drift down his ridged abdomen, close enough to the erect shaft that he jerked convulsively.

Pulling her close, he crushed her hands between them and found her mouth. She moaned into his kiss, disentangling herself to wind her fingers through his hair. If this didn’t stop, they would wind up on a pile of straw somewhere.

Finally, Alastair dragged his mouth away from hers. “Dear God, Octavia. Did you really think we could just be friends?”

She kissed his throat through the open shirt, then rested her face in the crook of his neck, expelling a broken sigh. “But what can we do?” They stayed like that a moment, and the tattoo of combined heartbeats gradually slowed.

Alastair pressed his lips to her forehead. Although his breathing had steadied, he couldn’t say the same for his persistent erection. “I’m not certain, but we both need to be thinking more clearly than this.” He bent and straightened the silk of her bodice. “Genevieve will come for us if we don’t return soon.”

“Oh, she’s too indolent to come herself, but she might send someone.”

He smiled crookedly. “Can you help put me back together? Hopefully, by the time we walk to the house, my ardor won’t be so…obvious.”

“Oh, my.” She surveyed the bulge in his trousers as she tucked the lawn shirt back under the waistband. “Did I do that?”

His lips twitched. “You couldn’t tell?”

Grinning, she buttoned his waistcoat and helped him shrug back into the coat. “But your body comprises so many hard parts, Alastair.” She brushed off a wisp or two of hay that clung to the dark wool and

smoothed back the thick lock of hair that had fallen on his forehead.

“You are a much prettier valet than Carter…turn around, and I’ll help you make repairs.”

He removed a few pins from her disheveled hair. “I might be able to do this if you’re lower.” There was a stool in the corner, but as soon as Octavia sat, Freya pranced up to deposit a limp mouse at her feet.

“Shoo, Freya—” she said, waving the dog away. “Go and take that nasty thing with you.” Freya snatched up her prize and trotted off.

“I hope she doesn’t devour it and become sick on your rug.”

“Have I mentioned each day is an adventure with you, Octavia?” Managing to raise his left hand slightly, he replaced the pins, tucking in some loose chestnut curls.

“Are you sorry I came to Fairfax, Alastair? Things were much simpler before my visit.”

“Nonsense. I enjoy chaos and illicit kisses and dogs casting their accounts on my expensive Turkish carpets.” He finished and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck.

She took his left hand and gently spread the fingers. “You’re growing stronger each day, you know. But that is more important to you than it ever was to me.”

“I know. Can you forgive my blasted temper? And my leaping to conclusions—you should know that’s habitual.”

She stood. “Perhaps I can manage to overlook one at least. I hope you don’t think this means I’ll go easy on you tomorrow when you ride.” Freya trotted ahead on the moonlit path, and they strolled behind, linking hands.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Let’s take Genevieve and go for a ride around the property. We needn’t do more than walk.”

“I would enjoy that very much.”

Back at the manor, Genevieve drowsed on the sofa, the book open on her lap. Octavia gently shook her awake, and they took the stairs to their chambers.