The Lady's Chocolatier: a Victorian-era romance novella
Page 13
“That was as sweet and indulgent as one of your confections,” she whispered into his ear. She followed the pronouncement with a gentle bite to his lobe. “It wasn’t nearly long enough for me to properly enjoy.”
He snorted as he battled lethargy. “I thought you didn’t wish for proper?”
“I do not.” Evangeline wrapped her arms around him and clamped her knees around his hips, holding him close. “However, I rather think this whole act isn’t considered proper in some circles.” That seemed to amuse her for she giggled. “As for me, I’ll need to conduct more personal research.” She kissed his chin. “With varying positions.” Another peck landed on his cheek and she lowered her voice. “Plus, I wonder what you would do if I were to pleasure you with my mouth. Do men enjoy that?”
Oh, God. She would be the death of him, but what a sweet way to expire.
“They do find pleasure in such an act, but that is for later in our relationship.” He rolled them both onto their sides. His rapidly deflating member slid out of her and he immediately missed her intimate warmth. “As for positions, I will indulge you in whatever you wish to try.” The thought brought renewed need tickling along his nerve endings. It wouldn’t be long before he could pleasure her again.
She brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. Her eyes gleamed more green than blue. “Will we marry soon? I’d rather not court more scandal than we already have. Imagine what Grandmother will say.”
“As soon as it can possibly be arranged, though do bear in mind there are set conventions for these things. Visits from family members. Parents to consider.” When she sighed, he grinned. “Still, all of that is for proper couples and men who are beyond boring.” He brushed his lips across hers when she giggled. “This coming weekend we will call upon your parents and then mine. Everything else can be decided and planned from there.”
“Then we shall need to make great use of the time we have together now. Once the rain stops, I will have to return to Brighton.” She drew her hand to his shoulder and onward down his arm until she twined her fingers with hers even as his body stiffened.
“Evangeline, I thought we’d talked about—”
“Shh.” She kissed him. “It is not a case of running this time, Jasper.” She brought his hand to her mouth and kissed his knuckles. “I want to tell my family this news, and perhaps convince my mother that you shall need to call upon me and often, which means I shall have to temporarily move back into their house here in London.”
“Clever girl.” He relaxed into the mattress. “I will indeed call often.” And having her within the same city would ease his mind. He could see her when they could manage it.
“And Jasper?”
“Hmm?” Really, he should rouse himself and remove the sheath, but being here with his lady in his arms and the post-coitus exhaustion weighting his limbs was too luxurious to break.
“I also want to return to Brighton to inform my aunt of one critical change to my future above and beyond being married.”
“Oh?” What was she about now?
“Yes.” Evangeline nodded. She smiled and it was as if the sun shone exclusively for him. “I have decided to leave the underpinnings business.”
“And do what?”
“Work with you at the emporium. I’ve found I particularly like it and think the art of chocolate making is fascinating.” She lifted onto an elbow. “Unless, of course, you forbid it.”
“Darling, I would forbid you very little.” His heartbeat accelerated. Warm pleasure washed over him. Those hours they’d spent in the shop earlier in the day would now become a lifetime. What had he ever done for such luck now? “If this is something you truly wish to do…”
“I do.” If possible, her smiled widened and he wanted to spend all of his time basking in that glow, knowing he’d had a hand in putting it there. “If you’ll have me.”
“I will.” He rolled them both over and trapped her beneath him. “In every way you wish to offer yourself up.” After several minutes spent kissing her senseless had passed, he held her gaze. “I look forward to teaching you all that I know.”
“My noble chocolatier.” She slid a hand to his nape and urged his lips to hers.
“Indeed. Every lady needs one, don’t you think?” Then Jasper began the delicious task of acquainting himself with every secret her body held.
For the rest of his days, he would have her by his side, and that was the only thing he’d been missing for five years.
Life was truly sweet.
The End
Other Victorian-era books by Sandra Sookoo
Cairo Nights
Winner Takes All
Unraveled Souls
A Wolfish Scandal
A Wolfish Tangle
Miss Spencer and the Con Man
The Widow’s Maestro
Author Bio
Sandra Sookoo is a USA Today bestselling author who firmly believes every person deserves acceptance and a happy ending. Most days you can find her creating scandal and mischief in the Regency-era, serendipity and happenstance in Victorian America or snarky, sweet humor in the contemporary world. Most recently she’s moved into infusing her books with mystery and intrigue. Reading is a lot like eating fine chocolates—you can’t just have one. Good thing books don’t have calories!
When she’s not wearing out computer keyboards, Sandra spends time with her real life Prince Charming in central Indiana where she’s been known to goof off and make moments count because the key to life is laughter. A Disney fan since the age of ten, when her soul gets bogged down and her imagination flags, a trip to Walt Disney World is in order. Nothing fuels her dreams more than the land of eternal happy endings, hope and love stories.
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