Drake sighed and put his papers down. “You’re likely right. Do you wish for me to go with you?”
“You don’t have to...”
He stood and walked over to her. Standing in front of her, he placed one hand on either side of the wall she was leaning against. “I know I don’t have to. But do you want me to?” The sensuous smile on his lips set her heart aflutter.
“Yes.”
“All right, then. Let me jot off a note or two then I’ll be ready to go.”
“All right.”
He didn’t move.
“Don’t you need to go do your lordly business?”
He still didn’t make a move to walk away from her. Instead, he leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. Once. Twice. Her lips parted under his, and his hands came up to cup her cheeks. Holding her face more firmly to his, Drake intensified the kiss. He sucked Juliet’s bottom lip into his mouth and used his teeth to gently nip and rake before soothing it with his tongue.
She sighed and brought her arms up to wrap them around his neck, letting her fingers twirl in the soft hair that rested atop his collar. A familiar ache built inside her, and Juliet pressed her swollen breasts against his chest.
Drake’s left hand moved from the right side of her face to cup her breast, kneading and massaging in time with the movements of their lips. Her nipple hardened against his fingertips, and he squeezed it. A spark of pleasure shot through her and she groaned.
Drake pulled back, panting. “Are you sure we have to go?”
Juliet swallowed, but was still heavily drugged with desire and excitement. “We’d better.”
“All right,” Drake replied, his voice thick. He brushed his thumb over her aching nipple once more then took a step back. “Why don’t you meet me here in about fifteen minutes?”
“I have nowhere else to go. I’ll just take a seat right over there.” She pointed to a little settee positioned by the window. “I promise you won’t even know I’m here.”
He scoffed. “Fine, but if you so much as tempt me in any way, the only trip we’ll be making this afternoon is to my bedchamber.”
Juliet smiled. “It’s not my fault you find me so irresistible, is it?”
He shook his head and sank down into his chair. “I mean it, Juliet. No distractions.”
Juliet walked to the settee and took a seat. She was tempted to remove her slippers. They were the most uncomfortable things she’d ever worn, but the sight of her ankles might encourage Drake to ravish her. Not that she didn’t like it when he ravished her, mind you, she just wanted to be there to support her friend this afternoon. He could ravish her that night. She’d rather enjoy him ravishing her.
It’d been more than six weeks since they’d first been intimate, and the excitement was still there. As was the tender intimacy they shared afterwards.
The night before she’d married Drake, Juliet’s mother had explained the details of what would happen. Of course Juliet dismissed it because she didn’t think she’d actually need the information. But, she still didn’t remember her mother mentioning anything about spending the rest of the night in each other’s arms; and even on nights when nature dictated they couldn’t be intimate, they’d still shared a bed and lain close.
She looked over at him and a heated flush crept up her cheeks. How was it possible that in such a short time her feelings for this man could change so dramatically? When they’d met, all she’d felt was irritation, then had come minor dislike after their betrothal agreement, followed by major dislike that, if she was being honest, bordered on hatred, then they’d gone to Caroline’s dinner and everything had changed. All those feelings of irritation, dislike and hatred had faded and love, yes love, had taken their place.
She bit her lip. How had she allowed herself to fall in love with a man who’d never love her back? Did it even matter? Plenty of other people in her life loved her. Her mother and father loved her. As did her brothers and sisters. Those were people who always had and always would love her. She’d also be blind not to see that Drake’s girls loved her. A smile spread across her lips. One day she and Drake would have a child together. Her hand instinctively went to her stomach. There was no doubting the love she had for her stepdaughters, but the idea of carrying Drake’s child filled her with a happiness she could hardly contain.
“What has you grinning like a cat who just found the cream?” the object of her affections asked.
Juliet’s blush deepened, if that were possible. “Nothing.”
He shook his head and reached his hand down to help her off the settee. “Don’t lie, Juliet. I know you better than that. You were thinking about something that has absolutely nothing to do with going to Ridge Water to see Olivia’s spawn.”