Page 89 of Winterset

“Again?” she asked, rolling onto her side and staring at him.

He grinned at her. “I have been waiting for this a long time.”

Reed pushed her gently onto her back and rose onto his elbow. “This time, I mean to take my time with you.”

And he did. He lay looking at her, his fingers drifting over her skin. He aroused her slowly, teasing and caressing with his fingers and mouth, stoking the fires of her passion bit by bit, until her whole body was once again alive and thrumming. Only then, when she was moaning, her hands reaching for him, urging him on, did he slide once more inside her. Slowly, he stroked in and out, building the desire in them both to the melting point, teasingly keeping them just out of reach of that supreme release, until their bodies were stretched taut, aching and almost at the breaking point.

Then he plunged deeply, hurtling them both over the edge into blissful oblivion.

* * *

Anna’s eyes drifted open, and she lay for a moment, aware of the soft, sated contentment that permeated her body. She felt warm and languid, and she was aware of her body in a way she never had been before. She closed her eyes, letting herself enjoy this last moment of unadulterated happiness.

Then, with a sigh, she sat up. Beside her, Reed opened his eyes at the movement and smiled at her. His face was unlined and content, his eyes filled with happiness.

Bleakly, Anna knew that she was about to ruin that happiness.

“I must go,” she said softly. She could not resist leaning over and kissing him.

Reed wrapped an arm around her shoulders, holding her for a longer, deeper kiss than she had planned. When he released her, she sat up, her eyes bright and her breathing a bit unsteady.

“Don’t go,” he murmured. “Stay. We are doubtless already a complete scandal to the staff. We may as well luxuriate in our wickedness. There is no avenue for us now save marriage, anyway, and that will cure all transgressions.”

“No, please, don’t joke about it,” Anna said, sliding off the bed and picking up her clothes.

She felt suddenly embarrassed at her nakedness, and she turned away, hastily pulling on her undergarments and dress.

“I’m not joking,” Reed said, his voice turning a trifle wary. He sat up, feeling at a disadvantage, and got up to don his own trousers. “I may have said it lightly, but I meant it just the same. I want to marry you.”

When Anna did not respond, he walked around to face her. She started to turn away, but he put his hands on her shoulders, stopping her. “Anna. Look at me. Say something. I am asking you to marry me.”

“I cannot,” she said wretchedly. “You know it is impossible.”

“No, I don’t know that,” he responded tightly. “There is nothing impossible about it. We have only to do it. And I intend for us to do it very soon.”

“No!” Anna jerked away from his grasp. “Reed, please, don’t make it any more difficult.”

“I shall make it damned difficult,” he rasped. “You act as if I am hurting you. I am asking to marry you! I want to love you and care for you for the rest of our lives.”

“I want it, too!” Anna cried, facing him. Tears shone in her eyes. “But you know that we cannot.”

“We can! I don’t give a damn about your family and whatever madness may lie in them. I love you, and I want you, mad family and all. I don’t plan to spend the rest of my life the way I have the past three years, missing you, aching for you, all because of your stubborn pride.”

“It is not stubbornness, nor my pride. I am doing what is right, and you know it. You just want to pretend that the problem doesn’t exist, but it does.”

“You don’t understand. I know very well that it is there. I just don’t care. I refuse to let the fact that your uncle is insane ruin both our lives.”

“You cannot allow that into your family. Reed, think! Yours is one of the highest, oldest families in the land. You cannot let their blood be mingled with de Winter blood. You cannot subject future generations to that.”

“Then we won’t have children. Anna, listen to me.” He went to her, taking her hands between hers. “There are ways to avoid having children.”

“You cannot be certain,” Anna said.

“Dammit, if it takes never being able to experience again what we just did, then I will do that,” Reed told her roughly. “I want you as my wife.”

“We could not keep that from happening again, and you know it,” Anna retorted. “And, besides, you should have children. You will make a wonderful father. I know it. I have seen you with Con and Alex. You deserve to have children.”

“I would rather have you,” he replied bluntly.