Page 77 of The Scholar's Key
Noah wished he wasn’t covered in lake water so that he could properly take her in his arms, but she didn’t seem to care.
“Percy,” he said, holding her hands in his, which would have to do for now. “I love you. I think I have always loved you. I want to provide you with the life that you deserve, and while yes, I will likely spend a great deal of time with my head down in books, the rest of it will be spent treasuring you.”
“I love you too,” she said, linking her arms around his neck. “I am happy how ever we live our lives, as long as it is together.”
“I do not deserve you,” he murmured, and she laughed.
“Wrong again,” she said. “We deserve each other. Now, Noah, you must be catching a chill.” There was a gleam in her eyes now. “Why do we not properly dry your clothes before we return?”
He looked around them, and while there was no one about, he was still uncertain. “You do know that even us being alone likely means you will be ruined?”
“Oh dear,” she said with a fake pout. “Does that mean we will have to be married?”
He chuckled. “Likely.”
“Well,” she said with a dramatic sigh, “so be it.”
She began to work the buttons free on his waistcoat before sliding it off of his arms. She picked up his jacket as well and laid both out on a nearby rock.
“I think we can leave my shirt on,” he murmured, but she pursed her lips and shook her head.
“I think not,” she said, undoing the button and then lifting the shirt over his head before running her hands over his chest and abdomen.
“Percy?”
“Yes?”
“Will you marry me, in truth?”
“Of course I will,” she said, leaning in and kissing him soundly. “It is about time you asked.”
She unfastened his breeches, freeing him, and he was immediately hard and ready for her.
“What do we have here?” she said teasingly. “Is this for me?”
“Always,” he said. “It is yours now.”
She led him over to the side of the path, where there was a slight clearing in the trees. He looked around, unsure if this was the right decision, and she laughed at his hesitation.
“It’s fine,” she said, “I promise. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Well—”
She silenced him then by pulling him in toward her, fusing her lips over his. All of his uncertainty faded in a flash, as he was completely overcome by Percy. Cherry blossoms scented the air around her while a hint of strawberry tickled his tongue. She was soft in his arms, pliant yet equally as exuberant.
She was his, she was home, she was heaven.
How he ever thought he could have lived without her was a mystery, for Noah realized at that moment that he would give up everything for her – but fortunately, she would never ask it of him.
And he loved her for it.
They fell onto the ground together, her skirts softening the fall.
His heart began pounding so hard against his ribs that he wondered whether Percy could hear it, but when she kissed him again, his breath came easier, as she was more vital to him than air itself. He kissed her slowly, gently at first, until a great need sparked within him and the slowly burning embers between them burst into flame.
He needed her – all of her. And now that he knew he had her heart, it seemed that anything else was possible.
He opened his mouth to tell her so, but then realized that, in this moment, no words were necessary. They could simply be in this moment together. Tendrils of her hair had fallen out and were now splayed around her head in the grass, and she lifted her hands and weaved them into his own hair and pulled him down toward her. She wrapped her legs around him, and he slowly lifted her skirts until they fanned out as he lay between her bent knees, finding her bare, waiting for him.
