was an utter fool.” Katherine smiled at him and she thought he must be able to feel the love radiating from her heart, warmer than even the roaring fire behind her. “She no longer exists.”
“Does that mean?” His face split into a hopeful smile. “Wait!” He reached into his breast pocket and withdrew a glittering object. He came around to her side of the table and knelt before her, holding out a golden ring. “I came prepared, but I neglected to do things properly, earlier. My apologies.”
She held her breath. God how she wanted to kiss him, but she dared not interrupt him now.
“Kat, you own my heart, utterly and completely—more now even than when you first captured it, years ago. And I am sorry for how disastrously things have gone since then, but if you consent to be my wife, I will spend the rest of my days making it up to you. Will you rescue me now from my misery as you once rescued me from the snowbank, and consent to marry me?”
“With all my heart!” She leaned into him and whispered in his ear as he slipped the ring onto her finger. “But only if you let me sample my future husband’s wares ahead of time.”
“Oh God, how you tempt me!” He stood and pulled her into a long deep kiss. He tasted like wine and chocolate and she wanted never to emerge from that maddening crush of skin and breath. She could feel his hardness where he pressed against her.
She came up for air finally. “Does that mean you agree to my terms? I have had an inkling that we might try out that straw bed…”
“I could deny you nothing, my dearest darling Kat.” His eyes were fierce. “But at this point, I do not think I could restrain myself, even if I wanted to. Only I have taken the liberty of bringing a proper mattress. The servants have set it up in your room.” He gave her a roguish smile. “But I could have them replace the straw if your bent turns that way.”
“Mmmmm.” She kissed him again. “You think of everything. Never mind the straw—a bed will be wonderful. But I think I shall need a bath first.”
He growled in her ear. “It is good that I had the servants fill a tub for you in your bedchamber, then. But I shall attend to washing that luscious body myself.”
When they were alone in the bedroom, he carefully removed her clothing. His touch was hot, and she could see the massive erection of his member beneath his clothes, but his hands were gentle as he cupped her breast and bent down to kiss her nipple. The pleasure was sweet but maddening. She did not want him to stop, yet sadly he did, lifting her into his arms and setting her into the warm water of the copper tub.
It was luxurious and deep. She lay back into it, fully immersing her head and succumbing to the sweet ministrations of hot water on her sore, tired body. She had not had such a bath since she left London. She moaned unconsciously and came to the surface as he began to apply the bar soap to all her parts.
“God, you are so beautiful.” His voice was hoarse, and her body responded to the heat in it. Even if she were not sitting in water, she was quite certain she would still be soaking wet.
He washed and rinsed her hair, then began to feel around her womanhood with his fingers until he found her pearl. Gently at first, and then gradually increasing the pressure he stroked her and stroked her, until she thought she would go mad with wanting him inside of her.
She was panting when he finally lifted her from the tub and dried her skin and hair with fresh, lavender scented towels. Then he stripped off his own clothes and stood before her naked, his rippling muscles gleaming in the candlelight. She could not resist reaching her hand out to feel his engorged manhood, and it throbbed toward her.
“I want you so badly.” He moaned as she stroked it lightly.
He heaved her into his arms, and carried her to the bed. When he lay her down, he began to tease her with his tongue, pushing his fingers into her as he did so. He took her right to edge, and then stopped, raising himself up to her lips and kissing her deeply until she thought she would