The Wager
Page 6
When he looked down at it, she answered his unspoken question. “I’ve been reading through Confessions and marking all of the things I would like to try with you.”
He laughed, unsurprised—delighted in fact—by her forwardness. There were plenty of things in that memoir he wanted to try with her, as well, but their first day of marriage was not the best time for the more adventuresome of them. “Perhaps we should begin with the basics,” he advised.
“That might be wise.” Her eyelids lowered before she looked back up with an expression that was almost bashful. Now, a timid wife?—that was surprising.
“Shy, Anne?” he asked, bemused.
“No,” she said. Her voice sounded unnaturally loud in the stillness. “Well. Only a little,” she admitted reluctantly. “We should have consummated before we married. It would take all of this frustrating pressure away.”
He grinned. “I wanted you to be my wife first.”
“That’s because you are sentimental,” she teased, but she didn’t look as though she minded.
“And I did not want you to risk conceiving before we married. What if something had happened to me?”
“And overly responsible.” A soft sigh escaped her lips. “But thank you. It does feel nice to know you are so protective of me.”
His fingers reached out to catch a wavy tendril of hair that was escaping its pins. He smoothed it between his fingertips, then touched her jaw lightly, enjoying the warmth and softness of her skin.
“I think before we progress any further, we must take a moment to thank Miss Richards.”
Anne’s eyebrows rose. “For being a goose?”
“For leading me straight to you,” he answered steadily.
She lifted her hand to cover his, pressing his palm lovingly against her cheek. “Yes, I can thank her, most sincerely, for that. Although the woman is still an utter goose.”
A tender smile curved his lips, and as he studied the lines of her face, raw emotion swelled in his chest, potent enough to hurt. But he welcomed the pain. Reveled in it. It was, after all, an incredibly sweet ache.
“I love you so very much,” he said quietly.
Her fingers wrapped around his. She exerted a slight but insistent tug, pulling him closer, drawing him, inexorably, to her. “Show me,” she whispered, then slanted him a glance overflowing with love and mischief. “No, let us show each other.”
He lowered his head and she lifted hers. And though they were two somewhat imperfect people, they met in the middle, with one utterly perfect kiss.
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much to my lovely editor, Nina Bruhns, and all the great people at Entangled.
About the Author
Lily Maxton grew up in the Midwest, reading, writing, and daydreaming amidst cornfields. After graduating with a degree in English, she decided to put her natural inclinations to good use and embark on a career as a writer.
When she’s not working on a new story, she likes to tour old houses, add to her tea stash, and think of reasons to avoid housework.
You can also find Lily at www.lilymaxton.com, on Twitter, and Facebook.
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