He wasn't sure of anything any more; he hadn't seemed to possess any sort of certainty about his life since he had met Elizabeth in the cave. All he knew was that his shoulder had been getting better every day, and the thrill of being in her arms was something he simply could not surrender.
He backed her up into the small space between the open French doors behind a huge potted palm. It was not much better than the cave, but a bit less damp and odiferous. Their hips ground together, and he had all to do not to tear down her magnificent coiffure in the silver coronet to touch her silken hair, or shred her gown in his desperate effort to nuzzle himself against her bare breasts.
Her breath was coming in short panting gasps, and his own respiration was so labored he felt as if he were drowning.
His hands continued their devastating exploration of her lower body, until she could feel herself on the brink of the remarkable wave of release such as she had felt in the cave. And he had not even touched her bare flesh….
His tongue had set up a most suggestive rhythm and was penetrating her mouth in a way which left her in no doubt of what was going to happen next. But not here, not now….
Could they get up to her room unseen? she thought wildly. She could barely stand of her own volition. The only reason she was still upright was the fact that she was pinioned firmly between his body and the wall. But there was no force, nothing being done against her will. She wanted him all, every single glorious masculine inch of him. Inside and out.
He dragged his mouth away from hers to rasp, "We must be married at once. I can't live without you any longer. I know it's been so sudden, only a matter of days. But I haven't slept a moment since we met, I want you so." He showered her face with small kisses, her brow, eyelids, cheeks, as he spoke.
Her lashes fluttered but did not lift. "We must. Yes, we must. It's not sudden at all. It's like I've known you a lifetime, as if we're meant to be together. Even now I want to take you up to my room, up to my bed, and lose myself in your arms. Let you lose yourself inside me."
"Oh, darling," he groaned. "I'm not going to be able to face your family if you say such heated things to me."
"I can't help it," she whispered, cheek to cheek, the black velvet of his mask caresssing her flesh as she surrendered herself utterly to the rapture of his nearness. "Each time you touch me, I burn even more for you, not less."
"My darling Elizabeth. We'll have the special licence drawn up and marry by the end of the week."
"Oh, yes, please, my love." She kissed him again, sliding her tongue so sensuously against his own that he lifted her right off the ground and wrapped her legs around his waist.
So lost in each other's arms were they that they did not hear the approaching footsteps until the intruder was just about on the terrace.
"Elizabeth, Elizabeth, where are you?" Thomas called.
Her lover quickly yanked down her gown and checked the bosom to make sure she was decent.
With a last tender kiss he turned around to face her brother.
"Elizabeth, I need to speak with you. Are you out here?"
She brushed past her lover's darkly-clad shoulder without even daring to look up, and stepped out from behind the potted palm.
"There you are." Thomas's smile altered only slightly as he saw his sister's flushed features and her inability to look him in the eye. Oh no. She couldn't possibly want to marry…
The tall blond man stepping out from behind the plant a moment later and removed his mask.
Thomas practically buckled at the knees with both surpreise and relief.
"Thomas. Your Grace. I was just coming to see you. Will you listen to my suit for your inestimable sister' hand?"
Thomas smiled. "I don't think I really have to, now do I? It appears from what I've just seen that my sister has already made up her mind."
"Your Grace, we never meant to--"
He raised one hand. "Don't apologize, please. I quite understand. I know you have done nothing dishonourable. But just to be on the safe side, so the two of you don't burn for each other any longer than you have to, we can arrange a special licence first thing in the morning, and then call upon the vicar."
He smiled from one to the other as they stood side by side, Elizabeth not even daring to look at the man who now slipped one arm around her waist with evident pride.
Her brother didn't mind? Wasn't upset? Not even about her undoubtedly dishevelled and well-kissed appearance? She had thought he couldn't stand…
The Duke put his hand out. "Welcome to the family. Well, a closer relationship to me in the family anyway."