Page 108 of Aurelia

“Here is what I think,” the earl said after a moment of silent staring. “We are going to cause talk even if we are boring and do nothing. So, at least we should have the pleasure of being naughty and having fun. At the very least, we should enjoy the use of each other’s Christian names, shouldn’t we, Aurelia? And you must call me Roland.” He smirked. “As you have once before.” He picked up a second cream cake and took a bite.

Aurelia hadn’t believed she could blush any harder. Roland indeed. If ever there was a man who could carry the name of a Norse marauder it was the one sitting across from her and eating his food with such sensual gusto.

“You are thinking Roland is a perfect name for me, aren’t you, Aurelia?”

Aurelia ignored his question and nibbled on a sandwich.

“Arthur and I resemble our Norse ancestors more than our Norman ones. Can you not envision us clad only in skins and bits of hammered metal, our long fair hair braided and streaming as we descended on an unsuspecting Scots village?”

Aurelia could picture it far too easily. At least where the earl was concerned. Arthur, on the other hand, looked as if he couldn’t conquer a village full of puppies.

“And you would like that? Raping and pillaging?” she taunted.

“I would have relished the pillaging, but there is no joy to be had from forcing a woman.”

“You would have charmed your victims, instead?”

He laughed. “You know me so well.” He lifted his index finger to his mouth and his mobile lips closed obscenely around the tip. He met her riveted gaze and the skin at the corner of his eye crinkled as he pulled the finger out with a wet pop. “Any man who uses violence against a woman doesn’t deserve to have one. Here, try a bite of this,” the earl said, lifting his cake to her mouth.

Aurelia reached out to take it, but he pulled it back.

“Tut, tut, greedy guts. I wasn’t going to give it all to you. Just a bite.” He gently nudged her lips with the creamy delicacy.

Aurelia swallowed down the moisture flooding her mouth before taking a bite, intensely aware of his gaze on her mouth and the way his prominent, blade-like nose flared when her lips parted.

“It is tender and sweet and moist, isn’t it?”

She nodded jerkily and chewed, grateful for the hideous, high-necked gown since she could feel the pulse at the base of her throat hammering like a war drum.

Aurelia swallowed the sweet mouthful. “Old Walter is quite a baker, it seems.”

He laughed. “Indeed, he is a man of many talents. One of the most impressive being his decision to go to the mainland today.” He took a bite from the same place her lips had just been and something about the act felt bizarrely intimate.

“You planned this, didn’t you?” she asked.

“I know you consider me all-powerful, Aurelia, but even I cannot control the weather.”

“No. But you would have found some other reason to keep us here even if the sun was blazing. The skiff would have floated off, the oars would have been lost—” she broke off at his laughing.

He leaned closer and his warm palm cupped her cheek. “You have me dead to rights. I would have done whatever was necessary to have this time with you.”

“Even though you are thoroughly compromising me by doing so?”

He nodded, his pupil huge. “Yes, even though.” He lightly stroked her lower lip with his thumb. “Are you angry?”

Was she?

“Because if you truly do not want to be here with me, I can row you over to Crewe. It is windy and wet and the ride will be unpleasant, but my boat is stable enough that you wouldn’t be in any real danger.” He brushed her lip again. “Is that what you want, Aurelia? I am yours to command. You need only say the—”

Aurelia was suddenly tired of trying to be angry with him. And tired of depriving herself and restraining her desires.

She closed the distance between them, mashing their lips together in her haste to touch him. As kisses went, it was less than graceful.

But judging by the approving rumble that rattled the earl’s chest, he did not mind at all.

Chapter 24

The earl tasted sweet, just like the cream cake he’d so greedily consumed.