Page 43 of Avoiding the Merry Viscount
“Does that mean I shall see you tonight?” she whispered where only he could hear.
“If you think I’m sleeping apart from you, you are mistaken.”
He caught her gaze and loved how her cheeks pinkened and her eyelids had become heavy.
They had all decided that after Christmas, Elias would seek a special license so they could wed right away. If any gossip about the incident with Lady Billings were to get out, they would already be wed, which would help to manage the situation.
More importantly, Elias and Lydia wanted to wed quickly and begin their life together. Although he had every intention of anticipating their vows later that evening, and from the look of his betrothed, she would be agreeable to his intentions.
The guests gathered around the pianoforte and sang carols while Diana played. It had started to snow outside, which made the perfect backdrop to their joyous Christmas Eve. Elias glanced at each of his sisters, the joy radiating from their faces. He caught his father’s gaze, and the elder Lord Snowdon was grinning from ear to ear.
Elias believed there would be many happy Christmases for their family in the years to come. Soon, perhaps even the next season, Diana would take a husband, and then children would join their family. They would have so many joyous things to celebrate, and Lydia would be at his side for every minute.
After the guests departed for their chambers, Elias pulled Lydia back to join him.
“I had your things moved to a chamber in the family wing,” he said to her once everyone had left the room. “I don’t want you to have to step foot in the other chamber ever again.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “What a thoughtful husband you shall be.”
“But you shan’t be sleeping there, as I have plans to make quite merry with my betrothed this evening, if my lady is agreeable.”
“We’ll have to see how convincing you are,” she said, smirking at him and pulling away.
He grabbed her wrists and pulled her back against him. “Do you prefer my wicked words or my wicked touch, Beautiful?”
“Why choose? When I know you shall give me both,” she said, pushing away from him, glancing over her shoulder as she walked toward the doorway.
Elias hurried after her and swept her into his arms, loving the stream of giggles she released when he did so.
“Take me to your bed,” she said against his ear.
“Our bed,” he corrected, carrying her to the staircase. He hurried up the stairs and swept into his chamber, kicking the door closed behind them.
He set her on the bed and removed the slippers from her feet, then kicked off his boots. Standing before her, he caught her gaze as he unbuttoned his coats and shrugged out of them, letting them fall to the floor.
“You’re unwrapping my present for me,” she whined.
He laughed. “Please accept my apologies, Beautiful.” Elias held his arms out to his sides. “You can unwrap yours first, and then I’m unwrapping mine.”
Lydia came up on her knees on the bed, and his cock throbbed hard against his breeches. She pressed her lips to his as she pulled his shirt free from his breeches and then unfastened each button with agonizing slowness.
She ran her hands along his chest as she pushed the fabric over his shoulders and then down his arms until it joined his other clothing on the floor. He drew a breath when she kissed his chest. “You are evenmore delightful without your clothes on,” she said between kisses.
“I am pleased you think so, my lady. I haven’t even done anything yet.”
She worked the buttons of his breeches, and then pushed them down his hips. Elias stepped out of them as fast as he could and then removed his socks.
When he caught her gaze, she licked her lips and sent a jolt straight to his cock.
“My turn,” he growled.
He pulled her against him, taking her lips in a searing kiss as he unfastened the buttons behind her without looking at them. Once he had unfastened enough to loosen her dress, he lifted it over her head and tossed it away.
His lips found hers again as he untied her stays and then pulled them over her body with her chemise. She was completely naked before him, except for her long stockings.
Picking her up at the waist, she wrapped her legs around him and sucked where his neck and shoulder met like the temptress his future wife had proven to be. He pulled each of the pins out of her hair, dropping them on the floor until her hair fell down around her.
Elias ran his fingers through her long, soft locks, breathing in the intoxicating scent of lilies.
