He bent to kiss Mellie, still stunned that she’d risked her reputation to come and see him in the middle of the night, but so very pleased. In truth, he’d been wishing to return to her all evening to be sure she was still calm after Julia’s injury.
Rather than continue at the front door, Walter caught her hand firmly, intending to lead her into his parlor. They could talk in the dark for an hour perhaps and he could steal another kiss or two before helping her return home unobserved.
“Should we not go upstairs to your bedchamber?” she whispered.
He snapped his mouth closed and drew closer. “Ah, Mellie. If we go upstairs, I won’t stop kissing you. I’ll make you mine and there will be no turning back for either of us.”
She nodded. “I agree.”
“You’re sure?”
“No, but when I’m with you, I don’t seem to worry about what is right or wrong. Everything makes sense when I’m with you.”
“I’m so very glad to hear it.” He scooped her up into his arms before she changed her mind. Melanie hugged his neck and rested her face against his shoulder with a sigh of pleasure. He carried her upstairs, directly to his bedchamber, and turned the lock once they were inside.
The room was dim, only lit by what little moon shone through the window, but perfectly warm from the fire. Since he’d been in bed when Melanie’s knock had roused him, the covers were turned back. He released Melanie and set her on her feet.
There were papers scattered over his bed. Imogen’s latest work should be packed away from sight. He gathered a few sheets together. “Another story of Imogen’s.”
Melanie smiled. “She has such a clever turn of phrase. The number of people who claim to know the author always astounds me.”
“You kept her secrets. Thank you. Not many know about her work but if they did, I dread to think what would be said to her.”
She grinned and handed him a stray sheet. “An easy task to hold my tongue. No one would ever expect me to know the author of such daring prose. She’s almost considered notorious, which I’m sure she finds amusing.”
Walter pulled Melanie against him. “What shall we talk about?”
“I have not stopped thinking about what you said to me about intimacy.”
“Desire, kisses, touching.” He grinned slowly, loving the feel of her against his body. He let his hand drift over her back and lower. “I must confess that when I saw you downstairs, I hoped you had come for me.”
She nodded, and slid her hands up his chest. She teased the expanse of skin revealed by the loose fit of his shirt. “I don’t know anything about desire.”
“I will teach you the rest.” He kissed her again, devouring kisses that made Melanie moan whenever their lips parted. He fumbled with the buttons on her gown and pushed the garment off her shoulders to reach her skin. Beneath, he found a light chemise but no corset. He drew back in surprise.
She blushed and glanced down. “I could not manage a corset without my maid’s help. She would ask questions.”
He lifted her chin and kissed her lips softly. “I’m not scandalized. I am delighted by your practicality.”
“She has been looking at me so strangely since last night, and I discovered tonight she and Julia have been talking.”
“They wonder about us?”
“They do.”
“I was right. You are loved and belong here.” He cupped her breast and tucked her hips against his. “With me.”
She gasped, turning her face into his neck. Her lips brushed his throat and her hot breath drove him wild.
“Take down your hair for me,” he whispered.
She smiled and moved to his dressing table stool. Her gown had fallen down her arms and she slipped them free so it pooled at her hips. Walter’s breath caught at the arousing sight of Mellie half-dressed in his mirror. Through the thin chemise, her nipples were two dark patches teasing him.
As her hands rose to remove the pins from her hair, he dragged his shirt over his head and let it fall to the floor.
Melanie’s soft gasp filled his ears and despite her inevitable blushes, he moved closer so she could see him. Her gazed fixed on his bare chest reflected in the mirror and her tongue darted over her lips to wet them. The way she stared made his cock thicken.
She shook her head then finished removing her pins, laying them neatly beside his ivory hair comb. She pushed her hands through the mass and let it tumble down her back in great dark waves. Her hair was almost long enough to sit upon and he groaned. He’d not expected her to leave it so long.