Page 25 of The Rake and the Muse
“Jules?”
She stared at the drawing. It was a sketch of her in a wedding dress. He had memorized her so well that he was proud of the likeness, especially doing without the best lighting. Beneath it, he had written his proposal. She looked up at him, confused, that being the emotion that seemed to win the battle.
When she didn’t say anything, he broke the silence. “So will you marry me?”
She shook her head, and his heart became heavy in his chest.
“Theo,” she whispered. “I don’t want you to marry me because of—”
He pressed his finger to her lips.
“Jules, I finally let myself realize that my heart was lost to you yesterday when I had to watch you on that idiotic man’s arm. I intended to tell you as much before I played the part of the jealous fool. I don’t pretend to be perfect or even good enough for you, or to possibly believe that I won’t make many mistakes in the coming years. All of which you can make me pay dearly for. But what I knowis that I love you. I can’t imagine a day of my life without you in it. That is the reason I ask for you to marry me, and for that reason alone.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she threw her arms around his neck.
“You must forgive me for not getting down on one knee, but I worried it would be rather awkward given that I am currently naked. I just didn’t wish to wait any longer to ask you.”
She hugged him tighter and nodded against his cheek.
“Not to be difficult, but it would be helpful if you would give me a verbal answer, so I might be able to breathe again,” he said before turning his head to kiss her temple.
She pulled away from him and caught his gaze. “Yes, Theo. I will marry you.”
He released an audible sigh. “I suppose I must ask your father before we can consider ourselves officially betrothed since you haven’t reached your age of majority.” He hadn’t considered that until that moment, and his nerves returned. He didn’t know the earl well and, given Theo’s reputation, it was quite possible the man wouldn’t find him to be a suitable match for his daughter.
He must have worn his concern on his face because Jules used her thumb to smooth his brow.
“All will be well. Papa will approve the match. He wants me to be happy.”
“I hope so. If only I hadn’t lived such a rakehell life.” What respectable father would choose such a man for his daughter?
She shook her head. “All your life experience has made you the man you are today. The man I love. You can’t change the past, so we will focus only on our future together.”
“I promise you, my love. Those days are behind me. You are the only woman for me for the rest of my days.” He meant it, too. There was no one else who could ever compare to his siren.
“You’ll convince Papa of the very same, and then we shall wed.”
He clasped her hand and brought it to his lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She leaned close to him and brushed her lips against his.
Theo held her tight against him and swept his tongue across her bottom lip. She opened to him, and he pressed his tongue to hers. She returned his intensity, and their tongues mated while their hands wandered and explored.
A voice sounded from the hallway, which caught Theo’s attention. “Sweetheart, I must go. We can’t be caught with me naked in your bed, or your father iscertain to hate me once he found out. I’d be meeting him at dawn.”
“I would stand directly in front of you if he should do something so foolish.”
He shook his head and then kissed her again. “No dueling grounds for my future wife.”
Theo climbed from the bed and quickly donned his clothing. He was at least only half hard by that point, which aided in his ability to part from her. The visual of her angry father was effective at killing any notion he may have to say to hell with getting caught and then thoroughly bedding her that morning. But the same couldn’t be said for later that evening.
Her lips formed a slight pout as she watched him button his shirt the rest of the way.
“Might you allow me to join you again this evening?” he asked, hoping that might make up for his quick departure.
“You needn’t ask.”
He walked back to the bed and leaned closer to give her a quick kiss.
