will we discuss that gentleman’s dislikes and likes. He sounds far too opinionated to me. So, you like Miss Austen’s books.” He nodded. “Have you read Waverley by Sir Walter Scott? I find that gentleman’s writing style much to my taste.”
“I have heard of him, but I confess I have not read any of his books,” she answered distractedly. “I do not understand why you are asking me these questions.”
“It is called conversation, Emily,” Xander teased. “Much as I enjoy making love with you, I would also like to know more about you as a person. Your likes and dislikes.”
Her expression instantly became guarded. “Such as?”
“Favorite color.”
“Blue.”
“Favorite food?”
“Honey.”
“Favorite wine?”
“I do not— Whatever it is we are drinking,” she amended at his censorious expression.
“Favorite flower?”
“Daffodil.”
“The name of your lover?”
She gasped. “I do not have a lover!”
“But of course you do.” Xander gently took the wineglass from her hand and placed it to one side before reaching up to pull her face down to his so he could very soundly kiss her. He released her only when he was sure she was completely breathless. “His name is Alexander Frederick Ernest—yes, a horrible name, and I am not finished yet either.” He grimaced. “Godfrey Whitney. Now I will answer your questions.”
She blinked. “I did not ask any.”
“No, but it seems only fair… So,” Xander continued briskly as she looked about to protest. “I occasionally enjoy both the ballet and the theater. Green—for your eyes. Strawberries—because in future I will always think of you whenever I see or eat one.” He kissed her lightly on the lips as she blushed becomingly. “You are right, this wine is delicious, and it tastes even more so when I drink it straight from your lips. The rose—because it’s beauty, like your own, lies at its heart. And lastly, Emily Anne Marsden.”
Emily did not know what to make of this conversation. It seemed almost as if Xander was flirting with her while at the same time learning more about her. After five years of marriage, she doubted Edmund had known her favorite color was blue. She also did not think it a good idea for Xander to take such an interest in her likes and dislikes when she would soon be gone from Whitney Park. Perhaps very soon, if he persisted in taking such a personal interest in her.
She was also finding his bare chest and muscular shoulders a distraction. “I believe it is time we returned to the house. I have more work to do this afternoon.” Her manner was brisk as she began to return the rest of the food to the picnic basket.
Xander reached out and pulled her down onto his chest as he lay back on the blanket. “Your employer has given you the afternoon off.”
She eyed him chidingly. “My employer has drunk far too much wine.”
He shook his head. “If I am drunk, then it is from our lovemaking and not the wine.”
“Now I am certain you are drunk!” Emily placed her hands flat against his bare chest to pull out of his arms and push up onto her feet. “I really must return to the house. The servants will gossip if we stay out here any longer,” she added as further incentive.
Xander laughed as he moved lithely to his feet. “Is that not what we are here for, to give the servants something to gossip about?” He was waiting, anticipating the moment, when Emily realized she would have to remove his shirt in order to put her gown on and allow Xander to dress, if they were to return to the house.
“Yes, but—”
That moment had arrived!
Emily’s eyes widened, her cheeks blushed a fiery red, her lips were slightly agape, and she winced self-consciously as she looked down at herself wearing only Xander’s shirt.
Xander quirked a brow as she glanced at him. “My shirt, if you please.” He held out his hand.
Her throat moved as she swallowed. “I— Would you turn the other way,
“I have heard of him, but I confess I have not read any of his books,” she answered distractedly. “I do not understand why you are asking me these questions.”
“It is called conversation, Emily,” Xander teased. “Much as I enjoy making love with you, I would also like to know more about you as a person. Your likes and dislikes.”
Her expression instantly became guarded. “Such as?”
“Favorite color.”
“Blue.”
“Favorite food?”
“Honey.”
“Favorite wine?”
“I do not— Whatever it is we are drinking,” she amended at his censorious expression.
“Favorite flower?”
“Daffodil.”
“The name of your lover?”
She gasped. “I do not have a lover!”
“But of course you do.” Xander gently took the wineglass from her hand and placed it to one side before reaching up to pull her face down to his so he could very soundly kiss her. He released her only when he was sure she was completely breathless. “His name is Alexander Frederick Ernest—yes, a horrible name, and I am not finished yet either.” He grimaced. “Godfrey Whitney. Now I will answer your questions.”
She blinked. “I did not ask any.”
“No, but it seems only fair… So,” Xander continued briskly as she looked about to protest. “I occasionally enjoy both the ballet and the theater. Green—for your eyes. Strawberries—because in future I will always think of you whenever I see or eat one.” He kissed her lightly on the lips as she blushed becomingly. “You are right, this wine is delicious, and it tastes even more so when I drink it straight from your lips. The rose—because it’s beauty, like your own, lies at its heart. And lastly, Emily Anne Marsden.”
Emily did not know what to make of this conversation. It seemed almost as if Xander was flirting with her while at the same time learning more about her. After five years of marriage, she doubted Edmund had known her favorite color was blue. She also did not think it a good idea for Xander to take such an interest in her likes and dislikes when she would soon be gone from Whitney Park. Perhaps very soon, if he persisted in taking such a personal interest in her.
She was also finding his bare chest and muscular shoulders a distraction. “I believe it is time we returned to the house. I have more work to do this afternoon.” Her manner was brisk as she began to return the rest of the food to the picnic basket.
Xander reached out and pulled her down onto his chest as he lay back on the blanket. “Your employer has given you the afternoon off.”
She eyed him chidingly. “My employer has drunk far too much wine.”
He shook his head. “If I am drunk, then it is from our lovemaking and not the wine.”
“Now I am certain you are drunk!” Emily placed her hands flat against his bare chest to pull out of his arms and push up onto her feet. “I really must return to the house. The servants will gossip if we stay out here any longer,” she added as further incentive.
Xander laughed as he moved lithely to his feet. “Is that not what we are here for, to give the servants something to gossip about?” He was waiting, anticipating the moment, when Emily realized she would have to remove his shirt in order to put her gown on and allow Xander to dress, if they were to return to the house.
“Yes, but—”
That moment had arrived!
Emily’s eyes widened, her cheeks blushed a fiery red, her lips were slightly agape, and she winced self-consciously as she looked down at herself wearing only Xander’s shirt.
Xander quirked a brow as she glanced at him. “My shirt, if you please.” He held out his hand.
Her throat moved as she swallowed. “I— Would you turn the other way,
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