Page 55 of Dare to Risk it All

“That’s even longer!” Greer said, scowling as her mother chuckled.

“The first of March,” Raphe said, taking Greer’s hand.

“March?” she stared at him, deeply disappointed at the thought of waiting so long. Did he not want to be with her as much as she wanted to be with him? She looked away from him so he could not see the hurt in her eyes.

“Greer,” he said softly, but she didn’t turn, and the atmosphere in the carriage grew tense.

Thankfully, they arrived at the hall moments later and her parents hurried off to give them the privacy to talk it out. Greer released Raphe’s hand as he helped her down, not looking at him.

“Greer,” he said, his voice firm. “Walk with me.”

She shook her head, too upset to be reasonable. “It’s cold, I want to go inside.”

“For a moment. Please, love. I’ll keep you warm,” he offered, lowering his head to speak quietly by her ear. The words slid over her, making her ache with longing to be closer to him, which was exactly her point.

“And how will you keep me warm from Monmouthshire?” she retorted, knowing that was where his family home was.

He held out his hand to her, his not-quite-blue eyes full of warmth. Greer sighed, relenting.

“I know I’m a spoiled child, but I don’t wish to wait, and I don’t understand why you do,” she said, her voice plaintive as he led her away from the Hall and into the gardens.

“I don’t want to, you ridiculous creature,” he replied, shaking his head. He hurried her down a flight of stone steps and behind a long topiary hedge where they were out of sight of the house. As soon as they were alone, he pulled her into his arms. “How can you be so addle-pated?” he demanded, before taking her mouth in a kiss that stole her breath and made her heart ricochet about behind her ribs like a trapped bird.

Greer sank into him, instantly caught in the spell he cast over her. His large, hard body enveloped her, deliciously warm, his heat reaching through her clothes and making her tremble with relief. She pressed closer, seeking more, sliding her chilled hands under his coat.

“Greer,” he said hoarsely, as he lifted his head. “Don’t, love. Christ, you’ll drive me mad.”

Greer didn’t care. She wanted him mad with lust, unable to refuse her, then perhaps he’d not make her wait. She tugged at his neck and sought his mouth again. He complied hungrily and Greer allowed her hands to move over him. Her palms slid down his chest, down his lean hips to his thighs, and then one hand coasted back up to cup the blatant arousal tenting the fabric of his trousers. Raphe gave a primal grunt of appreciation, his kiss deepening and his breathing increasingly erratic as she caressed him.

He pulled away with a groan of effort and reached down, grasping her wrist to still her hand.

“Bad girl,” he growled, glaring at her. His eyes were so dark, the violet blue only a slender band, swallowed by the blown black of his pupil.

She shivered as his hot breath fanned over her skin. He looked as if he wanted to devour her.

“Let me touch you,” she said, staring up at him. “I want to.”

He made a pained sound and rested his forehead on hers. “Not as much as I want you to, but I’m not tupping you in the garden, love, so don’t test me.”

Greer let out a breath of frustration and he put a finger to her chin, lifting her face to his.

“I’ll make it up to you,” he offered, amusement in his eyes. “But I need to know you understand. You can’t possibly believe I don’t want to be with you. I will be miserable every second of every day I spend apart from you, and I’ll no doubt regret the decision the moment I leave, but I have things I must do for my own pride, love. Things I ought to have done a long time ago. I want to be a better man for you. Help me be worthy of our future. Please, Greer.”

Well, really. What could she possibly say to that?

“That’s not fair,” she huffed, resting her cheek against his chest. “Don’t go saying such lovely things, because you make me seem spoiled and unreasonable, and I know that’s true, but it’s very bad of you to point it out.”

He laughed softly, and she sighed, knowing she was beaten.

“You are already the best man I know, Raphe. You don’t need to change for me.”

“I want to be better. I’ll be the best husband I can be, Greer. I know that might not be saying much, but I will do my utmost.”

She looked up at him, studying his handsome face. The longing for him, the emotion that filled her chest was so all-encompassing it made her want to weep with a strange mix of happiness and sorrow, of tenderness and pure animal lust.

“I love you,” she said, daring to say the words, even though they made her feel vulnerable.

She trusted him, and he needed her to say it first, for he’d hidden his own heart behind thick, defensive walls for too long. She could risk her own for his sake. She smiled as his breath hitched.