Page 68 of Always the Chaperone
As his hands moved to her breasts, she sucked in a breath, consumed by heat and need.
“God, Charlotte, you want me,” he moaned in her ear. “You want me badly.”
“Yes.”
But as his fingers started a gentle rhythm, he stepped back.
Will was standing in the hallway, looking around nervously. She leaned against the door, staring at her future husband. Hers alone.
“What is wrong?” she asked.
“What about the servants?”
Charlotte smiled. Not answering immediately, she removed the tiara, throwing it to the floor. “What servants?”
He grinned. “Come now, Charlotte, you know who I mean. Matthews, the others. Where are they?”
She shrugged. “I gave them the night off.”
Will’s wandering eyes moved quickly back to her. “All of them?”
“All of them.”
He took a step toward her. “The whole night?”
Charlotte licked her lips. “And tomorrow.”
With a growl, he took her in his arms. “Good.”
His quick fingers made light work of the few ribbons and pins keeping her gown up. They both scrambled to remove each other’s clothes—the mutual desperation growing.
She belonged to him more than she belonged to herself.
After removing her shoes, Charlotte straightened up, completely naked but for the diamonds.
“I will need help,” Charlotte whispered, taking in his superior form, his manhood erect and glorious. “Taking the rest of the diamonds off, I mean.”
“No. Let’s keep them on.”
They moved at the same instant. Their lips met as his hands reached for her bottom, and she clung to him as though he was the one real thing in the world.
“Upstairs?” she managed to say.
She had expected him to eagerly accept her suggestion, perhaps to take her by the hand and lead her there.
But instead, he smiled wickedly. “No. Here.”
Before Charlotte could refuse, William picked her up.
“What are you doing?”
He stepped over to the hearthrug and gently set her down.
Charlotte looked up at the most handsome man she had ever known. For an instant, she felt embarrassed and vulnerable. But she trusted him.
“Will,” she said, reaching out a hand.
He did not need encouragement.
