“Later,” Jack whispered, leaning close to her ear. “Let’s walk about the lake.” Jack didn’t want this time to end. He didn’t like to be parted from her…ever.
* * *
Holly had to confess that she did enjoy the remainder of their walk. The tension that seemed to fill the air between them was still there, sizzling in the background, but they both seemed content to put that attraction aside and focus on their relationship.
“Tell me about your family before your mother’s death,” he asked as they passed around the far side of the lake, stopping in front of a small cabin. It looked abandoned and a bit run down but still adorable covered in snow.
She sighed. “Well, right about now, we’d begin decorating the house for Christmastide. We’d cut endless bows to decorate the mantles, the doorways. Holly would hang everywhere. And she’d go about the house singing.” Holly gave him a sad smile. “I still hear her voice, like it’s right next to me. She had a beautiful voice and she’d sing, ‘Joy to the World’ or ‘Come all Ye Faithful.’” She looked down at her hands.
Jack reached over and placed a hand on top of hers. “I miss the laughter,” he said, real sadness lacing his voice. “Men laugh together, but it isn’t the same. They mostly laugh at someone else’s expense. But families…”
“They laugh with love,” she answered. She wanted to say that they could have that if he’d open his heart to her but he’d been right. She needed to allow him the space to come to that conclusion on his own. He wouldn’t learn to love her if she was always pushing him away. “I haven’t heard my father laugh in months.”
He squeezed her fingers. “And you want to fix that.”
She nodded. “I do.” Looking up at him, she brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. “I can’t bring my mother back. I know that. But I can help heal the family that is left.”
He looked over at her, his mouth turned down, his eyes intent. “Every time I love, they leave me.”
She stilled, her hand pausing in his hair, the words she’d been about to say sticking in her throat. No wonder the man didn’t want to say he loved her. “You’ve been a stubborn ass,” she finally pushed out. “And yet, here I am.”
He stilled for a moment before gathering her in his arms. “Here you are.” He kissed her and for a moment, she thought to resist, but the press of his mouth convinced her to allow him to continue. His arms were tight bands, his hands frantically clutching her cloak. He hurt, and this kiss would help to heal him.
“I love you, Jack,” she whispered against his lips. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
He let out a jagged breath. “Don’t leave me, Holly. Please.”
She pulled back but she didn’t look upset. Instead, her brow was pulled tight in concern. “Tell me what happened between you and Rose.”
He looked away, his chest constricting. “I already told you in the note.”
“You said very little and none of it to my face.” She pressed his right cheek, forcing him to look at her again. “I want to hear it.”
He drew in a ragged breath. “I fell in love. I chased Rose relentlessly.” He shuddered, remembering back. “At the time I thought I’d die without her.”
Holly made a small noise through her pressed lips. “Lucky her.”
He leaned down and captured her lips with his own. “She isn’t half the woman you are.”
Those words reverberated in his mind and he straightened. “In the end, she chose an old duke over a young earl. Perhaps she didn’t really have much affection for me or mayhap she just wanted the title. I don’t know. But at the time, it felt as though everything I loved disappeared in a puff of smoke.”
Holly pressed her forehead to his. “Oh, I can’t imagine that sort of loss.” She held his fingers tighter in her own. “No wonder you don’t want to love again. How did you even survive?”
Somehow her sympathy, rather than her anger, tugged at his heart and nearly brought him to his knees. “I shut any feeling I had down. I stopped letting people in…I—”
Her lips pressed to his. “I’m so sorry. Sorry for all that happened. Sorry I didn’t understand.”
He shook his head, wrapping his arms about her. “It’s not your fault. You’re trying to help your family. Trying to heal me too. Holly…” his breath caught as he realized what he was about to say. “I love you.”
She stilled in his arms. “Jack.”
“I mean it, Holly. I love you.” He lifted her up, spinning her in the air. “You are kind, patient, strong, and so desirable you make me ache.” He lightly set her down. “She was never the right woman for me. Why didn’t I see that sooner? I’ve been waiting for you all along.”
Chapter Thirteen
Tears sprang to her eyes as he leaned down and kissed her again. Her arms threaded about his neck as she pulled him even closer. It wasn’t just the three little words that made her heart hammer in her chest. She could feel the affection passing between them, growing and swelling. Holly sensed the healing that was happening between them.
It was what she’d always known to be true. Love would heal their hearts.
He lifted her again and crossed to the little cabin, knocking on the door. When no one called, he tested the knob and found the house unlocked.
Stepping inside, Holly, still in his arms, inspected the little cottage. Clean and tidy, it had stacks of blankets on the floor and a fire ready to be lit in the hearth. “What is this?” she asked.
Jack grinned. “They keep it to use by the lake, I imagine.”
“To use by the lake?”
“In case of emergency, I’d imagine, or mayhap just to make the lakeside more fun in winter. A place to come warm yourself.”
She looked about the single room. “What a lovely idea.”
Jack set her down and walked over to the stack of blankets, laying several on the floor.
“What are you doing?” she asked, stepping closer.
He gave her that rakish grin that showed his dimple. “Creating a warm spot to hold you close.”
A tremble of desire and love raced down her spine. “Hold me close. Here?”
He crossed back over to her, reaching for her hand. “Holly,” he said in that beautiful deep voice as he dropped to one knee. “I’m going to ask you again to please be my wife.”
“Yes.” She didn’t need to think this time. “Yes, I’ll be your wife.”
He grinned up at her. “Christmastide wedding?”
“Yes,” she said again, dropping down to her knees to be closer to him. “Oh, yes.”
He pulled her into his arms, her dress dragging along the floor under her knees. She didn’t care. “I don’t want to actually light the wood. The smoke will alert people that we’re here.”
“I’m warm enough,” she murmured just before his mouth descended over hers. The kiss was long and slow and full of the sort of steamy passion that made her heat from the inside out.
Together, they lay down into the stack of blankets, Jack’s body covering hers as he wrapped her in his embrace. “I’m sure I can make you warmer.”
She trailed her gloved hands up his back. “I’m positively roasting,” she grinned against his mouth. “I think what would help is if I took some of these clothes off.”
He chuckled even as he undid her cloak. They both pulled their gloves and then he was on top of her again, his body settling between her legs cushioned by her layers of skirts.
The sensation was both delightful and frustrating at the same time. While his weight between her legs was causing the most delicious ache, she wished for more contact and less clothes between them.
As if he heard her request, his fingers began working the tiny row of buttons at the back of her gown. In response, she pushed his jacket off his shoulders. He laughed. “I can’t undo your buttons and take off my coat at the same time.
Holly quirked a brow. “Then you’re not trying hard enough.” He pulled up, resting on his knees still between her legs as he t
ook the coat off and then untied his cravat, pulling off his shirt. When he came back down to continue working on her buttons, she allowed her hands to explore every inch of his back. She traced the edges of his muscles, marveling in his strength and the sleek feel of his body.
He flexed, lifting again as he pulled her dress down, making quick work of her stockings and boots. When he reached under her petticoats and chemise to pull down her pantaloons, she gasped at the feel of large hands skimming over her legs. “Jack.”
His dimple emerged as he gave her another one of his roguish smiles. “I’m taking your clothes off quickly because….” His smile deepened. “The lake will get busy soon and what I want to do to you is going to take some time.”
“Do to me?” she whispered as he finished with her second boot. He leaned down placing his hands on either side of her as he slowly lowered his body back down over hers.
Lowering himself to within an inch of her body, his heat penetrated her chemise and her breathing sped as he looked down into her eyes. “I happen to know that you like to delay your pleasure. Savor each and every bite.”
She gasped at wetness pooled between her legs. Just the idea was so exciting, that she reached for his shoulders, tugging him closer. He laughed again as he allowed her to pull him on top of her. “I’m not sure I’m in the mood for savoring today,” she kissed his neck, letting her tongue drag along his skin. “I’m more inclined to eat the entire batch of cookies in one bite.”
“Greedy girl,” he growled out in her ear, pushing all her skirts up over her hips. “Considering the location, you might be right, but it’s a damned shame. We need to have a session where we take our time.”
“Jack,” she began undoing the falls of his breeches. “We have all our lives to take it slow. Savor.”
He kissed her then, the kiss hard and strong and so masculine it made her ache. When he lifted up, he looked down into her eyes, his dark with passion. “You’re right, my love.” Then he brushed his fingers up her thighs and gently spread her apart.
She shuddered, his touch so delicious she dug her fingers into his shoulders, needing an outlet for all the pleasure.
Jack’s member pressed against her seam and she gasped at the pleasure of the contact part. “Will it hurt this time?”
“No,” he kissed down her neck and across her collarbone slowly sliding deeper inside her. “But we’ll go slow in the beginning just to make certain.”
He was right. There was no pain whatsoever. Instead, her body spasmed in need, the feel of him overwhelming her senses. She arched her hips up to take more of him.
He slid his arms under her back, his palms cradling her head as he kissed her fully. Fully seated inside her, they stayed locked together for several seconds before he slid back out and then in again.
Hot need made her gasp as she raked her hands down his back. “Yes,” she hissed wanting more, faster.
But he kept the tempo slow and deliberate. “I wanted to bring you to the edge several times before you finally finished.” He pushed inside her again. “I was going to use my hands, my tongue, my lips, and finally my cock until you’d been so thoroughly ravaged that…”
Her insides quivered, the pleasure building so high, she couldn’t answer, couldn’t even think. “Jack,” was all she was able to say in a half gasp.
“But as you said, they’ll be plenty of time for that.” And then he started to move faster. Her body met his stroke for stroke as they climbed, the tingling need growing so intense she locked her arms about his neck. She couldn’t seem to be close enough to him and then she tipped over the edge, her desire bursting into a thousand tiny pieces.
* * *
Jack clenched his jaw tighter as she spasmed in his arms. Bloody hell, he loved this woman. As all the tension left her body, his own need threatened to overwhelm him. There was nothing better in the world than being wrapped in her arms, and his heart swelled in his chest.
Her legs wrapped about his waist and the added pressure sent him careening to his finish, a groan of pleasure ripping from his lips. Her arms were still wound about his neck but they were softer than they’d been before. She peppered his face with kisses. It had been years since he’d been this wrapped in affection, devotion, love and the emotions near overwhelmed him. He buried his face in her neck, drawing in a ragged breath.
“Holly,” his voice grated out in the silence. “That was so…”
“Me too,” she whispered. Her hand stroked down his hair and over his back.
He propped up on his elbows to look down at her, brushing her hair from her face. “You were right. About everything. Love was the answer all along.”
She grinned. “You can feel free to tell me how right I am as often as you like.”
“Minx,” he murmured, dropping to kiss her lips.
She sighed into the kiss, her hands skimming down his back. “We’ll have to work on my father. He’s the one I’m most worried about.”
He grimaced. “He’ll come around. He just needs time.” He grimaced. “It took me five years to recover from my loss.”
She nibbled her lip. “I don’t know that we can give him five years to recover. He isn’t young. He could hurt himself or worse…”
He leaned down and kissed her again. “Once we’re married, we’ll travel to your home and see if we can’t help him through his grief.” Mentally, he amended to make the man sober up if nothing else. He was hurting his daughters, most notably Holly.
“We should dress,” she held him closer even as she uttered the words.
“Worried we’ll be discovered?”
She shook her head, her cheek brushing his. “More wondering what’s happening between the Marquess and Eve. Where did the man go with the sleigh?”
Jack rose, pulling Holly with him, along with one of the blankets. “Let me get you dressed and then you can go talk with your sister.”
She nodded even as he started righting her clothes. Dressing her seemed the most natural act in the world. “I love you, Holly Bailey.”
She blushed, holding his face in her hands. “I love you too.” Then she rose up on tiptoe and kissed him so gently, his throat tightened with the emotion that rose from his chest. “And you should start thinking of me as Lady Tidemore.”
He chuckled. “I’m not going to grow bored, am I?”
She laughed, a tinkling sound that filled the cottage. “You’d better not. Now, hurry and dress. We’ve got a wedding to plan and another couple’s business in which to poke our noses.”
He pulled her close, stealing one last kiss. “This is all the romance I can handle.”
“Don’t be silly. There’s always room for family.” Then she grabbed his jacket. “Let’s go!”
Epilogue
Holly sat in the carriage between Aunt Winnifred and Eve. A veil covered her face and she tugged at it impatiently. She couldn’t wait to remove the fabric that marred her vision and she brushed it to the side once again.
“Stop fidgeting,” Eve laid her hand on top of Holly’s. “We’re nearly there.”
Holly sighed, knowing her sister was right. Moving about only served to agitate her further. “How do you always remain so calm?”
“Practice,” Eve said, patting Holly’s hand. “Are you excited?”
“Terribly,” Holly gushed, moving forward in her seat. “Noelle and Dash’s wedding has only made me more excited. What a romantic Christmastide this has become.”
Eve squeezed her fingers. “It is. It’s so nice to make new memories on this day of all days. Mama would have been so happy.”
“She would.” They’d spent the morning decorating the carriage with bows of evergreen and holly, making the outside festive and bright. “And I can’t wait to see what Jack did with the cottage.”
The carriage rolled to a stop and the door snapped open as Dash handed out her aunt. Nick stepped up next to help Eve and then finally Jack appeared to help her down from the vehicle. “Hello,” he murmured, his hand comin
g to her waist. “At least I think you’re my bride. That’s the thickest veil I’ve ever seen.”
She laughed, tilting her face toward his. “Well, I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
He started pulling her toward the cottage. “Can you see at all? I want you to be able to enjoy the cottage. I spent half the night making it perfect.”
Half the night? What had he done? But as she walked inside a gasp fell from her lips. She stopped at the door, everyone behind her but she was stunned into silence. The fire crackled cheerfully in the fireplace while fifteen or twenty candles burned about the room. Bows of evergreen hung about the walls along with yards of red fabric. “Jack,” she grabbed his hand, tears stinging her eyes. “It’s so beautiful.”
“I took a few liberties but I tried to make it just like how you described your home before your mother’s death.”
From outside, she heard carolers begin to sing Joy to the World.”
Eve let out a cry and Noelle began to clap. “How wonderful!”
She spun about to see several singers, including the baker and the man who’d lent them a horse among the singers. “Jack,” her voice trembled. “It’s too much. I…”
He squeezed her tight. “It’s just right. Now come. The vicar waits and we both know this isn’t the last stop of the day.”
“I didn’t do anything for you. I—” So much emotion rolled in her stomach that he led her into the cottage on trembling legs.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You taught me to love again. That’s more than I can ever repay.”
The vicar stepped in front of the fire and Jack led her to stand in front of him. Her family fanned out to her left, while Dash and Nick stood to his right.
As the words of love and commitment filled the small cabin, Holly held his hands tight. This was everything she’d dreamed this moment could be.
As they completed their vows, he lifted the veil from her face, capturing her mouth in a long, slow kiss. “There’s my wife,” he murmured against her lips.
My Yuletide Earl: A Wallflower’s Christmas Wish Page 8
