If this went on much longer, she was going to be the death of him. “There is nomerelyabout my desire for your exquisite form.” He ran his palm down her back. “From the very first, you were a siren call to me.” He placed a soft kiss on her temple, pulling her closer. “I love you from the tip of your head to your toes and everything in between.”
Will touched his lips to hers. The taste was manna to his starved soul. He’d need to keep a tight rein on his desire, or at this rate, he’d scare her away again.
Her mouth softened beneath his. “I did not wish to, but I love you as well. When I saw the rash, and you didn’t complain at all, then at the church . . . I had thought to test you.”
Will grinned. “I had an idea that might be it.”
“It was then I knew, but I needed to hear it from you.”
As he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips, she opened. He caressed her tongue, and the warm cavern of her mouth. “I was a little daunted by trying to figure out how to make you even like me.”
Her head lay against his chest. She nodded. “Sometimes you are not very likable.”
“No?” A sense of satisfaction filled him as he ran his thumb over her nipple, and she shuddered.
“Non.”Her tone was breathy. “At times you are ill-tempered and domineering.”
Oh God, he wanted her. No other woman had ever felt right in his arms. “You’ll have to take me to task when I get out of hand.” Drawing back, he placed a finger under her chin, tilted her head up, then kissed her, deeply. “I want you to like me.”
“I want the same.” A sultry smile appeared on Eugénie’s lips as her hands slid up over his shoulders, and she kissed him. “I believe it is time we wed, my lord.”
A groan came from deep inside him. “If I could have figured out how to accomplish that feat, you’d already be Viscountess Wivenly.”
“It is very simple.” She patted his chest, with a smug look. “We sail to Tortola. It is not at all far. With a good wind, only a few hours.”
“Tortola?” It was that simple? Of course, twenty-one was the age of majority in the British islands and, not being in England, they did not fall under the Marriage Act. They could be married immediately, as long as they could track down the vicar. He drew his brows together, spearing her with his gaze. “How long have you known this?”
“I don’t know.” She lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. “A few years. I have heard it said, that the British islands are our version of your Gretna Green.”
“Which means Cicely and probably Andrew know as well.” And didn’t bother to share the information with Will. His scowl deepened. “I’ll kill him.”
Chapter 20
“You may not murder Andrew. He must stand up with you when we wed.” She took his hand. It wouldn’t do to allow Wivenly to become overwrought. He didn’t behave well when he did.
Eugénie reached up and kissed him. “Come, let us tell everyone and make plans to leave as soon as possible. I’ll send a note to the docks to ready the ship.”
“That boat we were out on won’t carry more than three people.”
She glanced up at his handsome face and tried not to laugh. How could he possibly think they would take the dory to Tortola? “No, we’ll take theSidonie. It is the one we use when all the family comes.”
He jerked her to a stop. “Why didn’t I know about this boat before?”
Because he probably would have tried to force her to go with him somewhere. “You had no need to know. It is not part of the business.”
“Eugénie.” He spread out her name as he said it.
“Oh, very well. I wanted what we have right now. I didn’t want to marry you until I was sure of your affections.” She took a breath. “If you had been aware . . .”
A wry smile twisted his lips. “I would have forced you to marry me.”
She peeked up at him, surprised to see even a hint of contrition in his face. “Yes, and I could not allow that to happen.”
Wivenly’s arms closed around her. “I’m marrying you because of your wisdom as well.”
“First, my lord, I must care for your neck. I do not like the job Tidwell did.”
“Eugénie, I would like you to use my name.”
