Page 14 of A Lady's Christmas
“Are you going to tell me why you’re pretending to like me after years of being clear that you do not, or do you plan to explain why you don’t like me and treated me as an annoyance for the last eighteen or so years?” She cocks her head.
The way her neck is exposed makes him want to bury his nose in the crook of her shoulder and breathe in all the essence of Gwendolyn. It’s not possible to keep himself from wanting her, so he just pushes that desire aside. “I have always liked you very much.”
“I know that is not true.” She clearly has no idea how her indignation pushes her breasts forward, or how much the resulting posture makes his mouth water.
Lord, but she’s the most adorable woman he’s ever seen. How had it taken him so long to consider acting on what he’s known since she stopped being a girl and became a woman? “Gwendolyn, I liked you from the moment you came to my uncle, weeping and alone.” He holds up a hand to stop whatever she’s about to say, even though he can’t keep his gaze away from her soft sweet lips. “I know it may not have always seemed that way, but it’s true.”
“You told me once that I was an interloper with no business in your family.” Her voice cracks slightly.
Cringing at the memory of having said exactly those words, he takes a deep breath and grips his hands together to steel his courage. “I was twelve the Christmas when I said that. It was the day after I’d jumped in the cold pond and gotten punished. I sneaked down the steps later that night to see how bad my penance would be.”
“You’d scared your mother half to death.” Gwen tries to hide her smile.
“I’ll tell you a secret. I still jump in that pond every year in the cold. It’s quite invigorating. I just make sure no one is around to scold me.” He laughs.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she shivers. “It sounds dreadful. What happened when you were twelve and you were snooping?”
“My father was in the study with my uncle and they were saying how I was wild, but one day when I married you, I would calm down.”
She gasps and covers her mouth with her hand. “I was only seven and they were already marrying me off.”
“Imagine how I felt as a boy of twelve not having any choices. I thought if you hated me, they couldn’t force me to do anything. Uncle doted on you so much, I knew he’d never make you do anything you were opposed to. My goal was to make you hate me.” Shame washes over him at having done too good a job.
“You never succeeded, Theo. I hated what you said and often your behavior, which I didn’t understand, but I could never hate you. In the back of my mind, there was still the boy who’d played with me when I was scared and alone.” A tear rolls down her cheek.
Theo drops to his knees and takes her hand. Staring into her green eyes, he’s lost in how soulful and beautiful she is. Every moment spent with this woman should have been treasured. Instead, he’d been an ass. “I pray that’s true. I truly do. After a few years, it became a bad habit. Admittedly, I still love to see you in a temper. Your eyes flash with fire and your cheeks turn bright red. You’re beautiful.”
Pulling her hands from his, she smiles and slaps his hand. “That’s just silly.”
“Why is it silly?” Her mouth is only a few inches away. He could lean forward and kiss her, and he longs for that kiss.
“Because you don’t want to marry me now any more than you did at twelve. You’re not courting me.” Her voice catches at the end and another tear rolls free. She dashes it away.
Cupping her cheek, he brushes his lips across hers. “I would court you, Gwendolyn. I would make a fool of myself for you.”
“And then what?” Her eyes close and she drifts forward as if longing for his lips as much as he longs for hers.
“May I kiss you?”
“You just did.” She threads her fingers through his hair.
Breathing in her warm floral scent, he runs his mouth along her neck, pulls free the bow at her throat, then kisses along her collarbone. “I need more of you, Gwendolyn.”
She arches toward him. “How much more?” With her other hand, she traces a path down the back of his arm, then up again.
It’s a gentle caress, but his cock jumps to attention. “All. I will settle for nothing less than all of you.” He pushes her nightgown down her shoulders, freeing one perfect breast. Lowering his mouth, he sucks her nipple.
A soft cry rises, and she arches her back for more. “Theo, I need…”
“What do you need?” His body is on fire for her. Longing to kiss every inch of soft skin, he makes his way to her other breast and licks and sucks until they’re both panting, and the scent of her arousal fills the library.
“More,” she whispers. “I need more.”
“Let me take you to my bed.”
She’s going to say no. He might have gotten her to lie with him here, but she shouldn’t be taken on a settee where all the servants will know by morning. Gwen is a lady and should be shown all the pleasure of his regard. Waiting for her to slap him or scream for help is all he can do. Wanting her is unstoppable, but needing her to want him is a dream.
“Yes.” She clutches his head. “I need more. We can have this and no one will ever know.”
