“And now?” he asked, and she could have sworn he held his breath.
“Now I’m far less ignorant… you truly want me?” she asked. Now it was her turn to hold her breath as she waited for his answer.
“No one else would ever compare.” He relaxed and kissed her once, his warm lips sealing his love upon them.
“I feel exactly the same way,” she whispered after he finished the kiss. She could taste his smile as he resumed the kiss, his lips caressing hers, making love to her with his mouth, with his very soul as he lifted her in his arms and carried her, his lips never once leaving hers. Slowly he laid her on the chaise they had used for hide and seek many times as children. His warm body covered hers; her thin robe an insignificant barrier. “The ball. Say you’ll marry me the morning of the ball,” he demanded, his kiss trailing down her neck to the sensitive hollow at her throat.
“Yes.”
“Yes, Lucas,” he stressed.
“Yes, Lucas,” she mimicked obediently, and then she gasped, bucking as his hands wove through her hair, and his tongue teased the flesh just below her ear.
“After all, we are the King and Queen of Frost. It would only be right.” He trailed kisses back to her lips, where she eagerly returned his affection. Her hand roamed his back, threading through his dark hair and caressing every hill and valley within her reach.
“Your mother will be shocked.” She giggled slightly, a tinge of worry creeping in.
“She will be thrilled, and shocked… though not entirely. I did have to ask for permission before I spoke with you, you know. My mother happened to be in the room when I spoke with your father.”
“What?” Meredith blinked at him. He shifted slightly so that his weight was not as heavy upon her.
“Your father assured me that any question I had, pertaining to his daughter, could be asked in the presence of my mother. And I quote, ‘Lord only knows what they’ve done this time.’”
“He did not.”
“He most certainly did. And when I asked—”
“What did he say?” she interrupted.
“No,” Lucas answered, his face completely void of emotion.
“What?” she gasped, her heart-pounding.
“I jest. He said it was about time.” Lucas broke out into a wide grin, his warm body still covering hers.
“You are miserable.” Meredith glared, but then couldn’t resist the smile that teased her lips.
“As you’ve been sufficiently warned.”
“This is true.”
“So they know,” she stated, slightly shocked and entirely enchanted. The crackling fire cast its illumination across Lucas’ face, warming her from the inside out.
“Yes.“ He kissed her lips quickly, then again as if he couldn’t quite satisfy his hunger for her.
“What about your brothers?”
“What about your sisters?” he parried, raising a dark brow.
“They suspect,” Meredith confessed.
“As do my brothers, though, if I were placing bets at Whites, I’d say they are not far behind us in coming to a similar realization.”
“Perhaps not. It will be entertaining to watch for sure.” Meredith smiled.
“Not nearly as entertaining as watching you, however.” Lucas grinned wickedly and captured her lips with his own, his kiss searing, devouring.
Lost was all the levity of the moment, in its place a smoldering passion grew within her. He shifted so that his body covered hers once more, her legs tangling with his, glorying the intimacy of being so close… yet not nearly close enough.
“Shh!”
Voices broke through the haze of desire and Lucas broke the seal of their lips, lifting his head and glancing to the door.
“Hugh!” Louisa scolded quietly as he pulled her into the library and kissed her soundly.
“The library is quite eventful this evening,” Lucas murmured, his voice thick with amusement.
“And not so secret,” she whispered mostly to herself, amused.
“Well the moment is gone. I shall have to seduce you some other time.” Lucas winked and rose from their reclined position. He cast a glance to the couple, still locked in their own passionate exchange, and then offered a hand to Meredith.
“Thank you.”
“I’m always the gentleman… except for when I’m… not.” He winked at her.
“I’ve always thought gentlemen were terribly boring.”
He leaned in, a secretive smile on his face. “I assure you I am anything but boring.”
“So it seems.”
“Do you think we should let them know that they aren’t alone?”
Meredith glanced to her sister, blushing as she watched Louisa rake her fingers through Hugh’s hair. “Would be wise.”
Lucas cleared his throat, loudly.
It was almost comical, how Louisa froze. Then as quickly as she froze, she shoved Hugh away, causing him to almost trip over a footstool.
“Louisa… is that any way to treat a suitor?” Meredith placed her hands on her hips and shook her head, scolding her sister.
“You!” Louisa glared, then relaxed. “I thought it was someone important.”