Page 23 of Once Tempted

Eight

Minnie, having escaped Frederick, backed herself into a corner. “That is too cruel a jest to make, sir!”

“Asking you to marry me cannot be cruel when I’ve fallen in love with you.” He stared at her hard. “Unless you don’t love me, too?”

She rubbed her brow, unwilling to answer that. “You can’t want to marry someone like me?”

He climbed to his feet and set his hands on his hips. “I’d like to know why not?”

“I had but one season,” she reminded him. “Unsuccessful.”

“Lucky for me, in a way. If it had been successful, you’d be married and with a couple of brats at your feet. But you came home to manage your brother’s household—beautifully, I must say—while you mourned, and no other man found you first. I’m feeling damn fortunate right now.”

What he said was flattering, but… “I’m not captivating like other women.”

“Did you not notice I chased you all over the house today just for a chance to talk to you again?”

Well, she had, but… “I’m rather…”

“Yes, that one is true. You’ve no experience with passion at all. You don’t seem to know how to flirt with me, either. You will, however, learn to do so soon, I hope. It will be a pleasure to allow you to experiment with me behind closed doors. You could start tonight,” he promised, with a hopeful expression. “I expect you to work diligently on the hard lessons I will set you in the future. Now flutter your lashes at me, darling, and invite me to kiss you without words.”

She huffed. He was incorrigible. “I meant, I’m not…willowy. Not tall like the ladies you usually pursue,” she murmured, looked down at her thick waist, and then up at his face. “I’m too fond of cake to be slender. Too short and round and, well…too plain for a man to ever propose a wager over.”

“Is that what you think after your brother shared his opinions? I’ll kill him! I swear, I’ll tear him and Mrs. Franks apart to get revenge for you over that slight if you want me to. Of all the ridiculous things your brother could say!”

Frederick rushed over and dragged her out of the corner. He pulled her down to sit on the settee. “If you’ve started comparing yourself to women like Mrs. Franks, don’t bother to do it again. The widow is nothing compared to you. All skin and bones and not really that pretty in close quarters. You, however, are luminous and kind, where Mrs. Franks is calculating, offering her company with artful and empty interest in every man present at this party. You, Minerva, attracted me without a single attempt at flirtation.”

“I did?” she murmured, staring into his eyes and realizing she’d never tried to really capture his notice. But she had him. He was begging for kisses and more, and had even spoken of marriage. “I did!” she whispered, full of wonder.

“You did.” He kissed her quickly. “All by yourself. You succeeded in seducing me without any effort at all. Trust me, I didn’t even realize I was under your spell until that day I got under your skirts in the woodshed. I could have told you then that your brother was misinformed, if you’d trusted me more. Not that I blame you for that. We hardly knew each other.”

She gaped at him, and he slid to his knees and reached for the hem of her skirts.

“You are beautiful. Desirable. And I want to make love to you for the rest of my life.”

Although hardly able to believe this was happening now, she cupped his face. “You really mean that.”

“I certainly do,” he said firmly, as he stroked her stocking-clad calves. “I told you…I like a woman with curves.”

“You said you liked my curves.”

“So, you did hear me after all. Glad to know you paid some attention to my flirting,” he said, and stole a kiss.

“I noticed all of your attention. I always have. What little there was.”

He winced. “You should have done more to encourage me,” he whispered, throwing her another grin that made her finally accept she was not the hopeless case her brother believed.

This time, she did not stop Frederick from lifting her skirts all the way, or propelling her backward to lay down on the chaise. She sighed as he made love to her with his lips, gently exploring their passion in endless kisses.

His eyes were open and watching her reactions as he turned her ideas of lovemaking upside down.

He laughed when he made love, too, and teased her and whispered of his desire to touch her intimately and each time waited for her permission. He moved slowly, deliberately, giving her time to adjust to his proximity. And dear God, did she feel far more desire to be touched the longer they stayed together!

Frederick nuzzled her neck and whispered, “Have you ever seen a naked man?”

“No.”

“You will tonight,” he promised, and he undressed fully before her startled eyes. He flexed his muscles, and then grinned as another pointed part of him seemed to wave at her. He laughed, and she laughed along with him.