Page 90 of The Miracle of Love
“Much better than last night.”
“You look better.” He could tell by the brightness of her eyes and the pallor of her skin that the effects of the mulled cider had worn off.
She had imbibed less than two cups.
The effect could not have been all that bad, although she was a slender thing, not very much meat on her bones to absorb the potent mead.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, so he guessed it was sometime after eight o’clock. Normally, the household would be stirring, but he had given the Hydes the day off for Christmas and they had gone off last night to spend their time in church and then with their daughter.
He and Grace were alone in the house and no one was going to interrupt them.
Why should they not spend it in bed?
She appeared content to be nestled in his arms. “I am going to kiss you, Grace.”
“Why do you feel the need to declare it?”
He shrugged. “Just making sure you are all right with it.”
“More than all right, I am eager for it. But it feels different now that we have decided to marry, does it not?” She began to fret her lower lip.
He understood exactly what she was suddenly worried about.
He had made a commitment to her.
Would he now have regrets and run away as he did with Genevieve?
“Grace, I was never afraid of marrying you. I am not going to change my mind and hide up in my leopard tree. Are you having second thoughts?”
“No, but I have nothing to lose. I gain everything by marrying you.”
“I feel the same about you.”
“But it isn’t true for you. It is the other way around. You would lose by marrying me.”
“I gain everything,” he insisted. “I could no more give you up than I could give up my own heart. This is what you are to me, my very heart.”
“That is a lovely thing to say.”
“It is the way I feel about you. May I kiss you now?” He started with gentle butterfly kisses along her throat and shoulders. Light, sweet kisses falling upon her body like droplets of a summer rain.
The scent of her body aroused him and his kisses grew wilder and untamed. He was waiting for Grace to accuse him of being a jungle cat, for this is how he now felt. Eyeing her as prey. Wanting to make a meal of her.
Tasting her on his tongue.
Licking the tips of her creamy breasts, drawing them into his mouth and suckling each in turn.
He had tugged the chemise down and now fully slipped it off her body.
She did not resist, but she was shy and tried to cover herself.
“Don’t, love. Let me look at you.” It was a big step for her, to be exposed like this to his view. He took a moment to soothe her, although he was barely able to breathe himself for the loveliness of her form.
He traced her delicate curves with the pad of his finger. “You are so beautiful.”
He ached for this girl.
She was more exquisite than he had ever imagined.
