Unfortunately, in all their excitement they had forgotten they were still outside. That is, until Lady Newberry walked up and gasped.
“Do you know,” she said, putting her hands on her hips, “I have caught you two in some of the most compromising situations I have ever seen?”
Kessen froze. Christian hid behind her head while she mouthed traitor to him.
Lady Newberry groaned. “It’s a good thing you’re getting married this weekend, a darn good thing.” And she walked off.
“Maybe we should…” Christian started to say.
“Yeah, we should go inside before…” Kessen was also without words.
“Before I destroy you!” A voice boomed behind the tree. They both turned to see Duncan with a helmet, two paintball guns and at least four sets of clothing on.
“Run!” Christian yelled, pulling Kessen to her feet. Frantically they grabbed their outer clothes and made a beeline for the house.
Kessen, remembering she merely needed to run faster than Christian, tried to open the back door. It was locked. She watched as Christian, arms over his head, shouted for her to run to the front of the house. They split up, each going around one side on their own.
When they reached the front of the house cameras began flashing.
“And here we have the happy couple now.”
“We are so glad to have the wedding in just a day here at the Vandenbrook country home,” the duke said excitedly.
Kessen froze in her tracks and sent a searing glance towards Christian.
He appeared to be swearing as he put on his coat and smoothed his hair. Lucky for them, it appeared they were being chased, not rolling around in the grass, mauling each other without a care for propriety.
What looked like a lot of media personnel ended up being only one news channel. The only one allowed to cover the wedding.
The next three hours consisted of tireless questions and lots of walking. The crew wanted to be shown everything. The bridal gown, the location, the flowers.
It was enough to give Kessen the sudden urge to elope.
After her little tryst with Christian in the grass, elopement was sounding better and better idea by the second. She hardly noticed when, after giving the news team a tour of the garden, he walked by and slipped a folded note in her hand.
Tonight, ten. My room. Don‘t let anyone see you.
She could hardly hide her smile, which threatened to take over her face.
Ten couldn't come fast enough. By the time the clock had struck a quarter till ten, Kessen gave up and promptly knocked on Christian’s door.
No answer.
She knocked again, this time a bit louder.
She looked down the hall to see if anyone was coming, just as the door swung open and Christian pulled her in.
“Lock it,” she said breathlessly, but his hand was already turning the latch.
Moaning her name, he carried her to the fireplace and set her on a large blanket. Next to the blanket was a plate of chocolate-covered fruit and champagne. Next to the champagne was the book he had started reading to her the night before. Tonight they weren't going to chance any interruptions.
He lowered the lights in his room and motioned for her to scoot closer to him. She scooted, but apparently not fast enough for him. In one giant swoop, he gathered her off the floor and placed her in his lap; his arms went around her as he began alternating between massaging and kissing her neck.
“I'm getting you out of this,” he grumbled, tugging at her sweatshirt.
Either she was done trying or her morals had gone straight out the window, because rather than fight him about being proper, Kessen fully compromised herself by lifting her hands so he could slip it off her easier.
“I'm not going to seduce you,” he whispered huskily into her ear. “Yet.”
Her toes tingled with delight.
“But,” he said, “I'm going to continue with this wooing business if it kills me. “ He slipped the sweatshirt effortlessly from her and stared at her athletic form. She had nothing but a tank top and shorts on, making her feel naked and exposed sitting there.
He began expertly running his fingers across her shoulders in smooth motions. His hands ran down her arms slowly as if to savor every moment his hands were touching her skin. Kessen watched, afraid any noise might break the spell.
Christian wasn't even watching her face; he was too focused on her arms, legs, and every part of her that screamed for his attention. He kissed down her arm to the sensitive part inside her wrist. She shuddered with delight as he brought her other wrist to his lips and caressed it with his tongue.
He gently placed both wrists in her lap as he rested his hands on her hips, then he moved her gently against him and breathed into her hair. His grip tightened on her waist, and he spun her around to face him.
Kessen turned, and with his help was now straddling the future Duke of Vandenbrook in his room. Lady Newberry would have a fit if she was to barge in, but nobody was going to barge in. It was just them.
Christian sighed and placed his hand firmly over Kessen’s chest as if he wanted to feel her heart beat through his hand. Her breathing sped up. He leaned in and kissed her on the side of the mouth. The room felt heavy and tense as he tugged at her bottom lip with his teeth.
Gently at first, then more forcefully as she opened her mouth to welcome his slow invasion. He took his time, as if each taste told him more and more about her. She might as well have been naked for as exposed as she felt.
Her arms were still limp at her sides; Christian reached down and wrapped them around his neck. She braced herself against him and he continued to kiss her as if she was the only reason for his existence.
His kisses could ruin a girl.
She felt thoroughly ruined at that point.
Just when she didn't think she could take anymore, he slid his hands down her sides and paused, pulling away from her face for just an instant. His eyes were black with desire.
“How many days?” His voice was hoarse. Apparently his wooing was doing just as much to him as it was to her.
She smiled seductively, pushing her hand against his chest and biting his ear. “Two days.”
Christian groaned. She kissed his neck.
Muttering something in French, he threw his weight over her, his body acting as her blanket as he suggestively started pushing up her shirt.
Heat personified, he possessed her with a hunger she never knew possible. Desire coursed through her veins as she pulled him closer.
A knock echoed distantly through the haze.
They froze.
“You've got to be kidding me…” His breathing was uneven as he hovered over Kessen. He looked like a lion ready to pounce at any minute.