His mouth brushed hers, before she drew his head down, and trailed her tongue along the seam of his lips. His tongue swept the cavern of her mouth, and she tilted her head to deepen the kiss. Desire swept through her.
She wanted him. Wanted to touch his naked body. Wanted him inside her. When her hand strayed down to the placket of his pantaloons, he covered it with his strong fingers, stopping her.
“You know as well as I that we cannot make love here. Not only is your maid in and out of this room, if Worthington found out he’d murder me. And I couldn’t blame him.”
She turned over onto her back, still cuddled in Richard’s arms. “I’m sorry. That was foolish of me.”
Patience couldn’t believe she had so far forgotten herself. Not only would Matt murder her lover, but he could force her to leave the house and her children as well. If only she and Richard could marry.
“No, my love.” He pressed his lips to her hair. “Wanting to express our love is not foolish. Merely ill-advised at the moment.” He reached out, taking a book off the bedside table. “Shall I read to you? It is a book by that lady author.”
Wishing they could stay like this for the rest of their lives, she replied, “Yes.”
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”Richard glanced at her. “I don’t know about all men, but I certainly am, and I’ve already found her.”
“You mustn’t.” She laid her palm on his chest. “No matter how we feel, I cannot leave my daughters.”
“And I would not ask it of you, my love. Still, there must be a way.”
Richard read until Pae had drifted to sleep again. He started to put the book down, but realized he was enjoying the story. What a wicked sense of humor the author had. He wasn’t at all fond of Darcy, and that Bingley chit deserved to be taken down a notch or two. A toad-eater if he’d ever seen one. But the heroine, Elizabeth, was a woman to be cherished.
Pae’s maid brought in a tray of food, glanced at the bed, and whispered, “I thought you might be getting hungry again. How is she doing?”
“Better. At this point, I think she needs rest and nourishment.” And me, he wanted to add.
After Reid had set the dishes out, she left the room again.
He cuddled Pae closer. Neither of them had mentioned it, but the fact she could be pregnant was a real possibility. She was only thirty-six, after all.
He must have drifted off to sleep himself, for the next thing he knew, she was stirring next to him. “I may be able to find something more solid than soup if you are up for it.”
Her lips tipped into a weak smile. “That sounds delightful.”
He helped her into a sitting position, then went to the table and surveyed the offerings. “There is an omelet, some sort of pudding, sliced meats, and bread. I believe the omelet and pudding are for you. Ah, and the grapes from my succession house have arrived.”
Pae giggled, and Richard’s heart soared. “When did you have time to send for them?”
“As soon as I discovered you were ill.” He placed half of the omelet as well as some of the grapes on a plate. After maneuvering himself back onto the bed, he speared a small piece of the omelet and held it to her lips. “It will be my honor to feed you.”
She grinned, but ate what was on the fork. After she had finished, he held out a grape. She bit into it, and for some reason it was the most erotic act he’d ever seen.
“Pae,” he groaned.
The kiss was hot and sweet, and all he could have wanted.
A cough sounded from the other room.
Richard quickly moved into the chair next to Pae’s bed just before Reid entered the chamber.
“The children wish to see you, my lady.” She glanced at him. “Perhaps, my lord, you would . . .”
“Of course.” He squeezed Pae’s hand before standing. “I won’t be far.”
As he walked out the door to her parlor, he caught a glimpse of part of a skirt whisking around the corner of the corridor. Probably a maid in a hurry.God knows they have enough to keep them busy in this house.
* * *
“Did you see him?” Charlotte asked as Louisa dashed through the door, closing it behind her.
