Page 84 of Wolf's Bane
“He’s rather bad at it.”
“But he’s trying. You know, he tried to butter me up with a, what’s it, a relic. A reader, he called it. No bigger than my hand, and it holds thousands of books. Can you imagine?” The device seemed too good to be true and she wouldn’t expect it to work, but Godwin had picked the perfect token to win his daughter.
And then he reached out—albeit badly—to Alek.
Papalistenedand, honestly, she could not recall that ever happening since she returned home from university.
“We should celebrate,” she said, positively glowing with happiness and brandy. Mostly brandy.
She grabbed his hand and drew him to the overstuffed chair by the fire. Alek allowed himself to be pushed down, and she sat on his lap. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she leaned in for a kiss.
He responded with a quick press of lips, dry and chaste.
Disappointing.
“I promised your father to be respectful. A respectful man does not kiss his fiancée in her father’s library.”
She gave an anguished groan. “You can kiss and be respectful.”
“Solenne—”
“This moral uprightness is rather bothersome. I can’t say I approve.”
“One kiss, then you’ll go to bed.”
“Just one,” she agreed, already planning to wheedle more out of him.
Another dry peck on the lips.
“No, unacceptable,” she said, slapping a hand to his chest. “A proper kiss or we keep practicing until you improve.”
He leaned in, mouth on her. His tongue licked her lips, asking for entrance, and she opened for him. He tasted of brandy and the forest and wild things. Warm from the brandy or perhaps warm from proximity to him, her skin sparked at every touch. Fingers tangled in hair. Chests pressed together. Collars were hastily unbuttoned to allow for kisses. The chair groaned. She straddled him in an undignified manner and his fingers dug into her hips. She could feel him, the hard evidence of his want and desire.
She pulled back, chest heaving. Alek watched her, eyes dark with a touch of violet of a predator’s eyes.
“Hmm. I believe this requires more practice,” she said.
And they did.
Chapter 21
Solenne
Boxon
Vervain Hall
Charlotte had always displayeda high level of organization, but preparing for the double wedding catapulted her onto another level. Honestly, it frightened Solenne. When Charlotte appeared with her ever-expanding notebook and took out her rainbow-hued quill to make notes, Solenne trembled. Charlotte was not a woman to be crossed, which was how she and Alek ended up at Colonel Chambers’ dinner party.
“I do not like this,” Alek grumbled, tugging at the knot of his cravat. “This is strangling me.”
“Stop fussing.” She retied his cravat, then stepped back to admire her handiwork. Lacking evening wear, she dug an outfit out of the back of Godwin’s wardrobe. Fashion moved slowly in the country, and Godwin was no longer as slim as he had once been.
The dark blue velvet coat, blue brocade waistcoat, and tan breeches suited Alek, even if he kept tugging at the cravat. “You look very handsome.”
“This shirt itches.”
“Can’t be helped. Try not to ruin it. You only have the one shirt.”
