Page 59 of Lord Appleby's Gorgeous Imposter
“My fondest wish.”
“Soon? Not here,” she said, and pushed away thoughts of the necessary task before her. She could not marry him and begin a new life before besting all the devils of her former one.
“I think that would be difficult now. We could do it only if the ambassador married us, and he, I do believe, leaves Paris today.”
“But I am not English. Catholic, too. That’s a problem in the Anglican church.”
“Never worry.” He traced her lips and kissed her a thousand times. “We’ll get a dispensation. You will be mine. And I yours. Never to part.”
He made love to his fiancée then, with reverence because it was for only the second time in her life.
*
It was lateafternoon when Viv roused from their bed and sat up. The sheets fell from her bare breasts, and the bass voice of approval from across the room drew her gaze.
Tate, naked as God had made him, sat opposite her in a large upholstered chair. One leg crossed at the ankle of the other, he crooked his fingers and bade her come.
“You were watching me sleep,” she managed in a sleepy voice as she curled herself onto his lap, naked, and seeking only his warmth and his passion.
“I was. A learning experience.”
“Oh?” She nipped his earlobe, inhaling his musk. “What did you learn?”
“You take up all the bed.”
She shot back, pretending to be horrified. “I do not!”
He touched her nose. “You also snore.”
“What?”
He demonstrated.
She pushed up, appalled. “I do not.”
“I’m afraid you do, my love.” He shook his head, severe and somber. “I simply cannot sleep with you.”
She tried to leave.
He chuckled and hauled her back to straddle him. “I doubt I will ever be able to sleep with you, sweet Vivienne.”
“You’re making that up.”
He filled his hands with both her breasts and swirled his thumbs on her nipples. He laved one and sucked the other.
She had her head thrown back, living for the feel of his tongue on her skin. “You have got to be wrong.”
He scooted her hips up his thighs and probed her open folds. “I will never sleep again, my dear. It’s this I’ll be doing with you till the end of time.”
She sank over him and gasped as he filled her completely. “Sleep is so unnecessary.”
*
“Come have luncheon,”Tate whispered in her ear minutes later.
Viv put her fingertips to his lips and caught his searing gaze. He loved her. His declaration was the very one she had wanted all her life and never hoped to gain. He had bared his soul to her. She owed him the same. She would tell him, tell him all she could.Save that one part that eludes me.
A shared union—and shared life—meant she should not keep any secrets from him.
