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When the music stopped, they reluctantly broke apart. He bowed to her and she curtsied to him.
When they looked away from each other, they saw how much they’d shocked the guests. But it didn’t last long. For all that these people lived on an island, they were very worldly. Their houses were filled with artifacts from the far corners, brought back from their travels.
It was Valentina who first applauded, and the others followed.
Graydon took Toby’s hand and didn’t let go as he led her to the front door. He’d had enough of being with other people and he wanted to be alone with her. Once they were outside, he stopped to breathe. Now where did they go?
“I was told that NEVER TO SEA AGAIN had been cleared out for the evening. For us,” Toby said, her voice hesitant. “But do you think you and I should take advantage of this night? After all, it isn’t really ours.” When she looked up at him, he had such an expression of Are you serious? that she laughed.
They held hands tightly as they walked to the house. As seemed to always be the case, the door was standing open.
“If we go in, we might find ourselves at home again,” Toby said. “Maybe we shouldn’t—”
Graydon’s answer was to sweep Toby into his arms and carry her across the threshold into the house. For a moment he stood still. In the twenty-first century the house was nearly empty and it looked old and long unused. But what surrounded them now was a much newer house full of the needs of a large family. It was dark but they could see flowered wallpaper and furniture and children’s wooden toys on the floor.
“Come on, Rhett,” Toby said, “take me to bed.”
Laughing, Graydon carried her up the stairs. At the top he saw that the bedroom connected to the little library had been prepared for them. Candles were lit and there were flowers everywhere.
When he put Toby down she couldn’t help opening the door of the library. Moonlight shone through the window enough that she could see the room was exactly as she’d envisioned it. The shelves were full of leather-bound books.
Graydon came to stand behind her. “Shall we hide all the books under the floorboards and dig them out two hundred years from now?”
“They wouldn’t hold up,” she said. “Damp and dust and mice and … No, no hiding of anything.” Turning, she looked up at him. “I don’t know how long we have before all this ends, but while we’re here I just want us to be together. No prince and commoner. No—”
He put his finger over her lips. “Never say that.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes, I do.” He stroked her temple and smoothed back her hair. “Are you sure about this?”
She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Very, very sure.”
For a moment his eyes searched hers and he seemed to be looking for reassurance.
He gently kissed her cheek, then her neck. His hand touched the shoulder of her dress and pushed it down an inch. He was so very gentle, so very sweet.
It was nice, Toby thought. She liked his kisses, liked being so close to him, but something was missing. Where was the man who’d stood up to Lavinia and told her how it was going to be? Where was the man who’d tossed her around in their boxing classes? Where was the passion?!
She didn’t have to ask to know the answer. It was her blasted virginity that she’d held on to for so long. There were many times when she’d wished she lost it on prom night like most of the other girls. But her date had expected it, so she couldn’t bring herself to give in, then later …
Toby stepped back to look at him. What she was seeing was Prince Graydon of Lanconia. His eyes were alight, but he was reserved, holding back, probably because he was afraid of hurting her. Sometimes, she thought, men needed a little help.
She turned her back to him and lifted her hair. “Would you please untie the back of this dress?” she asked rather formally.
“Yes, certainly,” he said, just as formally. She let the beautiful gown slip to the floor.
One thing she’d learned this week was that historical clothing might be a bit dowdy on the outside—no hot pants or tank tops—but what was underneath was worthy of a stripper.
Turning to face him, she let him see her in the corset that Jilly had helped her into. Her breasts were pushed high up, the pink tips half showing. Her waist was pulled into a tiny circle and below that was a petticoat of cotton so transparent you could read through it. White silk hose covered her legs only to mid thigh, tied with garters with pink ribbons.
Toby had the delicious, soul-satisfying pleasure of watching Prince Graydon completely disappear. In his place was a man who was consumed with lust. For her.
He didn’t speak but grabbed her about the waist and lifted her off the floor as his mouth met hers, his tongue exploring, thrusting. His lips, his hands, seemed to be all over her body at once.
It took Toby a few moments to react. The sensation of him, of what he was doing to her body, seemed to change her from human to a flaming column of desire.
While he kissed her, his hand went down to caress her thighs. When she went limp in his arms, he picked her up and put her on the bed.
