He sat on the end of the bed and gathered her into a tender embrace. “I know I need you, darling Torie. I know I do.”
After several moments of enjoying the warmth of his arms, Victoria pulled just far enough away to ask, “Were you serious about getting married today?”
“Absolutely.”
“But that's impossible. We have to post banns.”
He smiled wickedly. “I procured a special license.”
“You did?” She gaped at him. “When?”
“Over a week ago.”
“A bit prematurely certain of yourself, don't you think?”
“It all worked out in the end, didn't it?”
Victoria tried to adopt a suspicious expression, but she couldn't do anything about the laughter in her eyes. “I think, my lord, that some might deem you an overbearing ass for this type of behavior.”
“An overbearing ass, or a really overbearing ass? I should like to know, as the welfare of my skull depends upon it.”
Victoria melted into a pool of giggles. “Do you know, Robert, but I think that I might actually like being married to you.”
“Does that mean you forgive me for abducting you?”
“Not just yet.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I shall have to withhold forgiveness until I have milked the situation for all it is worth.”
This time it was Robert's turn to explode with laughter. While he was catching his breath, Victoria poked him in the shoulder and said, “We cannot marry today in any case.”
“And why is that?”
“It is well past noon. A proper marriage must take place in the morning.”
“A silly rule.”
“My father always abided by it,” she said. “I know, for I was always forced to pound away at the organ at every wedding at which he officiated.”
“I didn't know we had an organ at our village vicarage.”
“We didn't. This was in Leeds. And I believe you're changing the subject.”
“No,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “Merely a temporary digression. As for morning weddings, I believe that the early hour is required only for conventional marriages. With a special license we can do whatever we please.”
“I suppose I should be thankful that I am cleaving unto a man who is so supremely organized.”
Robert let out a happy sigh. “I shall take my compliments in any form you wish.”
“Do you really want to get married this evening?”
“I can think of nothing else as appealing. We've no playing cards, and I have already read most of the books in the library.”
She swatted him with a pillow. “I am serious.”
It took only a second for him to pin her down onto her back, his weight flattening her bare breasts, his eyes gleaming into hers. “So am I,” he said.
She caught her breath, then smiled. “I believe you.”
“Besides, if I do not marry you tonight, I shall have to ravish you again.”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed. But you are a good churchgoing woman, daughter of a vicar no less, so I know that you will want to keep your premarriage ravishments to a minimum.” His expression turned suddenly serious. “I always swore that when I made love to you, it would be as man and wife.”
She grinned and touched his cheek. “Well, we ruined that vow.”
“Once, I suppose, is not so very great a sin,” he said, turning his attention to her earlobe. “But I should like to get my ring on your finger before I am overcome with lust again.”
“You're not overcome now?” she asked with a disbelieving expression. It wasn't very difficult to feel the imprint of his desire on her hip.
Robert laughed against the underside of her chin. “I'm going to enjoy being married to you, Torie.”
“I-I suppose that is a good reason to propose,” she gasped, trying to ignore the spasms of pleasure he was stirring within her.
“Mmmm, yes.” He moved back to her mouth and kissed her deeply, teasing her until she was quivering beneath him. Then, abruptly, he rolled off her and onto his feet. “I'd better stop now,” he said with a wicked smile, “for in another moment I won't be able to.”
Victoria wanted to shout out that she didn't care, but she contented herself with tossing a pillow at him instead.
“I wouldn't want to compromise you any further,” Robert continued, easily dodging her attack. “And I wanted to remind you of”—he leaned down and dropped one last kiss on her mouth—”this. Just in case you were having second thoughts.”