Page 76 of Dare to be Wicked

Flowers adorned several surfaces in pretty glass vases, a small intimate table was laid with a selection of delectable pastries, cold meat, cheese, bread, and fresh fruit, and a bottle of champagne. More importantly, as far as Cassius was concerned as he moved through to their chamber, the bed was large and inviting.

“Are you hungry?” Lottie called out to him, plucking a grape from the fruit bowl and popping it into her mouth.

“Famished,” Cassius replied.

Lottie tugged another grape free and turned to look at him. She stilled, the grape suspended halfway to her mouth. Her lips quirked upwards and one eyebrow lifted. “You… are not speaking of the food.”

“I am not.”

“Oh.”

She put the next grape into her mouth, watching him and chewing thoughtfully. “Can you be hungry for… well, you know?”

“Do I?”

“Certainly, you do,” she said, tart now, though her eyes sparkled. “Don’t tease me.”

“But it is my ambition to spend the entire night teasing you,” he said, leaning against the door jamb and watching her pull another grape from the bunch.

“I would have thought you’d done enough of that on the way here,” she remarked, a subtle tinge of colour at her cheeks.

“Oh, love,” he said, shaking his head. “Not nearly enough. Indeed, I regret to inform you that I suspect there is no such thing as enough where you are concerned.”

“Really?” she said, pursing her lips.

“Really.”

“Oh, well. In that case… I am your wife after all, and duty bound to please you.” She lifted her chin and spread her arms out wide. “You may ravish me.”

Cassius snorted. “Not with all that lot on, I can’t. I nearly died of suffocation the last time. Death by petticoats.”

“What a way to go,” Lottie retorted, walking to him and rustling her petticoats at him in a provocative manner.

He gave a bark of laughter and pushed off the door jamb. Cassius crossed the room and swept her up in his arms as the froth of lace and silk rustled and swished.

“Have I told you how extraordinarily beautiful you look today? That gown is quite breathtaking. Indeed, I could not breathe when I saw you for the first time. In truth, I was perilously close to weeping. Happily, Ash beat me to it and diverted attention.”

Her eyes grew wide and soft with adoration and he was glad he’d told her, even if he felt a little silly doing so.

“I’m glad,” she whispered. “For my heart was beating out of my chest and it was the hardest thing not to just run across the room and throw myself at you, but I promised Papa I should behave like a lady, not a hoyden, and I almost managed it.”

“Almost?” he replied, grinning at her.

She nodded. “Until you kissed me and I couldn’t let you go. Those kisses are supposed to be shy and demure.”

Cassius chuckled. “Well, we were among family and friends, so I don’t think they would be so dreadfully shocked, though I’m glad enough to put distance between me and your father.”

“Poor Papa,” Lottie said with a sigh.

Cassius shook his head, carrying her through to the bedroom. “And that is the last mention we shall have of him, I thank you.”

Lottie glanced at the bed as Cassius carried her through. Despite everything they’d done together, her heart was beating very fast. Mostly, it was anticipation. After all, Mama had said it was more discomfort than pain, and only for the first time, if the man was an attentive lover and prepared the way well.

‘And his father is St Clair, after all,’ she’d said with a devilish smile.

“Did your papa have a dreadfully wicked reputation before he married?” Lottie asked as he set her down.

“Yes, he did. Though he denies much of it was true,” Cassius replied, turning her around to peruse the fastenings on her gown. He made his way along the buttons, undoing them with startling speed. “Why?”