He waited anxiously in the chair by the fireplace then heard a soft knock on his door.
“Come in,” he said authoritatively. If he didn’t get a handle on himself, he was done for.
He heard Sara approach him but thankfully his back was to her. He got up from his chair and turned around. If he wasn’t already a Christian, he would have gotten on his knees and confessed everything. Surely she was the reason for his existence; surely there was a God.
She was dressed in the thinnest night rail known to mankind. He couldn’t decide if it was covering her or not. The material wasn’t exactly see-through, but the silk clung to every curve of her body, making his mouth gape open in awe.
She smiled. “Wedding present from Lady Fenton.”
Nicholas made a mental note to thank Lady Fenton the next day…repeatedly.
He gave himself another boost of confidence and offered her some wine. “You look absolutely ravishing in that Sara.”
She lifted one single eyebrow and took a sip of wine. She mocked him? That little witch! He wanted to laugh and yell all at the same time. She was toying with him! And worst of all he was falling for it like some schoolboy who had never seen a woman before. Suddenly he felt a lot more confident. He licked his lips and walked toward her. “I have another surprise for you.”
She lifted her eyebrows in a quizzical way and he saw the doubt in her eyes. How she hated his surprises. It made him want to laugh and point, both of which were not romantic.
“Close your eyes,” he ordered.
She did as he said and waited. He grabbed one of his untied cravats, and firmly attached it around her head, rendering her blind. “Can you see anything?” he teased, inches from her mouth.
She bit her pink lip and sighed. “No.”
He breathed over her mouth, “Perfect, now it’s time to eat.”
She shifted uncomfortably on her feet. “You’re joking, right?”
“I never joke.” If he could see her eyes he would imagine them rolling right about now. “I’ll lead you to your seat. We’re going to play a little game. How does that sound?”
She smiled and with sudden eagerness leaned forward, dangerously close to his face. “I like games.”
God must favor him above all men. He sent up a silent prayer and arranged the dishes on the table. “You get to taste each treat, but in order to get the next treat you have to name the one you’re tasting.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“Hardly,” he said dryly. He lifted a strawberry to her lips. “What is this?” he asked, leaning in.
She laughed. “That’s easy; it’s a strawberry.”
“Very good,” he praised. “The next one is a bit harder. He lifted a piece of chocolate to her mouth and watched as she licked her lips around it.”
“Chocolate?” She licked her lips, driving him crazy.
“I knew you’d be good at this game,” he laughed. “Now this is going to be a little bit harder for you.” He lifted up a small cake to her mouth and watched her bite in. He had never been more envious of cake in his life. Crumbs went everywhere as she wiped her mouth clean with her tongue.
“Hmm, this one tastes like a fairy cake?”
“You, my darling, know your foods very well. Bravo. Now for the main event! This should be your favorite treat; in fact, I hope it will be. Lean in very closely.” He watched as she leaned her entire body over the table. He nearly swore as her gown continued to cling to her curves. “A little further.” Finally, she was as close to him as he needed. “Now tell me what this is.” He leaned in carefully and ran his tongue over her lips. They tasted of sugar and chocolate and of actual perfection. He kissed her fervently, allowing his tongue to slip into her mouth ever so gently.
“Do you have your guess?”
She laughed huskily. “I do believe that was Nicholas Renwick.”
“Which is your favorite?” he teased.
“I need another taste,” she whispered.
“Of course,” he answered, then pulled her around the table into his arms. It didn’t take long for him to tear off the outer robe of her night rail. In his haste, he forgot to take off her blindfold. He quickly removed it and gazed into her beautiful eyes. “You’re beautiful,” he proclaimed in a ragged breath.
“As are you,” she answered, pulling off his coat and un-tucking his shirt. How had he, Nicholas Renwick, managed to marry such a beautiful and willing wife? He laughed and he threw her onto his massive bed.