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With a mock growl of annoyance, he pulled her closer, enjoying the laugh that escaped her. “I see you’re intent on testing my restraint.”
“Restraint is vastly overrated.”
She rose onto her toes, slipped her hand from his, and grasped his shoulders. He settled on holding her by the waist, telling himself he wouldn’t stray from that spot.
This time there was no tentative press of his mouth against hers. Even if he’d wanted to go slowly, she opened her mouth under his and stole all his senses.
Her hands were in his hair, her body pressed tightly against his. Her low moan of contentment had him groaning in response.
This had been a tactical error on his part. He wasn’t going to be able to resist her for long if he allowed her to continue to get under his skin in this manner.
To his surprise, she pulled away first. One of her hands moved to his chest, where she flattened it over his racing heart. He longed to do the same to her, but if he touched her breasts, he would have her right there on the desk. And he wanted to make sure their first time together wasn’t a rushed affair. She deserved a comfortable bed and seduction.
She hasn’t agreed to marry you yet.
But even as the thought rose to the surface of his muddled brain, he realized he’d already lost this battle. He wouldn’t be able to wait for her to agree to his proposal. He wondered whether he could induce her to accept him after they made love.
She wet her lips, and the sight of her tongue peeking out for that small moment had him hardening even further.
“Perhaps later tonight…”
She didn’t need to finish the statement. She was clearly an innocent if she thought she needed to wait for night to fall before making love to a man. He grasped onto her invitation to delay their current activity, needing to get his jumbled thoughts under control. It probably wouldn’t help, but he didn’t want to scare her away with just how much he wanted her. There would be other times to show her the different times of day—and places—they could make love.
He nodded and forced his fingers to release their grasp of her waist. Her smile this time wasn’t one of triumph but what he hoped was genuine affection. He watched her as she turned and left the room, his eyes glued to her backside under the voluminous folds of her skirt. Soon enough he’d know what it felt like to hold that part of her in his hands. Amelia had asked him to make love to her, and he would give her exactly what she wanted.
And then he’d make her see just how much they were suited and she’d agree to marry him.
Chapter 22
The day dragged on,and it seemed as though dinner would never arrive. Somehow John managed to force his attention on the accounts after Amelia left. But his thoughts kept drifting back to her, anticipation tightening within him as he looked forward to their night together.
The only thing that kept his mind on the task at hand was the knowledge that his steward would be arriving at eleven, as was his custom when he updated the account books. The man’s serious demeanor kept John’s thoughts from drifting back to Amelia and the way she’d felt in his arms.
Finally it was time to join Amelia for dinner. He entered the drawing room earlier than normal. Unable to release the tension that coiled through his body, he paced as he waited for her arrival.
When he turned for what felt like the hundredth time, he spotted her standing just inside the threshold. Her dress was a pale lavender, a color that accentuated her fair skin and dark hair. And her blue eyes shone with a glow that had him aching to take her into his arms again.
When he spotted the footman hovering in the hallway, he had to settle for a smile and a murmured greeting. As they’d done every evening, she took his arm and together they made their way to the dining room. He was grinning like a fool.
Instead of allowing a footman to draw out her chair, he performed the task himself, barely restraining the urge to caress the skin of her neck. He made his way to the opposite side of the table and waited as the footman served the soup dish.
“You appear to be in a good mood, my lord.”
He realized he’d been imagining how she’d look rounded with his child and gave his head a small shake to clear his thoughts. He needed to ensure that didn’t happen until after they wed.
“How could I be anything else when I’m having dinner with the most beautiful woman in all of England?”
Their eyes met and held before she looked away. She wasn’t afflicted with his own curse of blushing when embarrassed, but he knew his words had affected her.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she said, her voice pitched low so the footman wouldn’t overhear their conversation.
“If we wait a little while longer, my family will be here to properly chaperone us.” He was teasing, of course. He knew she wanted this as much as he did. Still, he felt the need to give her an excuse to back out if she’d changed her mind.
“Don’t you dare.” The glare she sent him was teasing, but he knew she was serious.
Dinner seemed to take twice as long as normal. The glances she cast his way had him hard for most of the meal. He only survived without betraying himself to the staff because she wasn’t sitting close enough for him to touch her. But if he was being honest, he didn’t care if the whole world knew they would soon be together.
No matter how much care they took, there would be gossip belowstairs. Instead of dragging her into his arms when the meal was over, he inclined his head when she bid him good night. He waited for her to leave the dining room first, averting his gaze instead of watching the way her backside swayed slightly, and then made his way to his own chambers after a respectable amount of time had passed.
