Page 60 of Snowbound with the Scoundrel
They would need to return to the house soon.The odds were high that their absence had already been noted, which would mean she was ruined.
She smiled against Rupert’s chest.The thought of losing her good name should not have been a happy one, but she wasn’t worried about it.
Not after what Rupert had said last night.
He still wanted to marry her!She hadn’t spoiled everything after all.She had somehow found this wonderful man who liked her just as she was, and she would get to go through life with him by her side.
She couldn’t wait to tell Lady Milthorpe that she had been right all along, that they were, indeed, perfect for one another.That, in spite of the universe… or at least, William Ellison… conspiring to keep them apart, they had managed to find each other and promptly fell in love.
It was enough to make you believe in fate.
Beside her, Rupert was stirring.She couldn’t resist pressing a kiss against the underside of his jaw.His stubble was both rough and smooth at the same time.
He made an appreciative rumble, his voice pitched low.
She trailed her lips toward his ear.“Wake up, Rupert.”
“Don’ wanna wake up,” he mumbled, burying his nose in her hair.“Havina good dream.”
Clarissa had a notion what his dream might be about.Whereas last night Rupert’s body had been alarmingly chilled, there was currently something torrid going on in the general vicinity of his groin.
In fact, she could feel it poking her in the stomach.
The realization made her feel lightheaded in a good way.She eased her shift up so she could wrap a leg around his hip.
This made Rupert purr like a lion, which only fanned the flames sparking to life between Clarissa’s legs.“What are you dreaming about?”she asked, her voice coming out breathless.
She could hear the smile in his voice.“Claire, of course.”
“Of course,” she echoed, pleased by his answer.She began dropping teasing kisses across his jaw.“But I think you’ll find yourself just as happy when you wake up.”
“Oh, no,” he said, smiling with his eyes closed.“Nothing could be as good as this dre—”
He didn’t get to finish his sentence because Clarissa kissed him full on the mouth.Rupert immediately kissed her back, his tongue twining with hers in a way that made her squirm against him.
She nipped at his bottom lip, and his eyes popped open.“Cl-Claire?”he said, sounding startled.“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize… I thought it was a—”
She cut him off with another kiss, and he groaned in her mouth.
When she finally broke the kiss, they were both panting.“Good morning, Rupert,” she said, tracing her hands down his back and squeezing his taut buttocks.
“Good morning, Claire,” he said, his voice rich and appreciative.
She nipped his lip again.“We need to get back to the house soon.”She brought her hands around to frame his hips, then circled her fingers there, teasing him with the prospect that she might bring them all the way to the front.“But I think we have time to do a few things before we do.”
Rupert brightened.“A repeat of what we did in the library?Believe me, I would be more than happy to oblige you.”He started kissing his way down her neck.
“Yes.And no.”At Rupert’s curious look, Clarissa added, “I want to doeverythingthis time.”
It wasn’t possible, strictly speaking, to stumble when one was already lying down.Yet somehow, that seemed the most apt description for what Rupert’s body did.He collapsed face first into the sofa’s cushions.
He managed to push up on his forearms.“But Claire, if we doeverything… I mean, people would say you’re…”
“Ruined?”At his nod, she continued, “I don’t think of it that way.Not at all.I’m eager to do this with you, Rupert.And I’m perfectly happy for us to have our first time right here.”
He really was adorable when he was confused.“Our first time?Do you mean—”
She cut him off with a kiss.“Unless you don’t want to?”
