He groaned as he sank heavily between her thighs. “I can happily live with that.” He caught her lips in another deep kiss. Waves of aching need rolled through her until it felt as if her entire body was made of fire. She began to hike her skirts up in rough, jerky movements, determined to sate this impossible hunger. But the movement seemed to wrench Alec from their cloud of lust. He pulled back, his eyes as hot as coals. “No. We can’t do this now,” he gasped. “Mrs. Houston is waiting back at the house.”

Lottie could hear the slight note of hesitation in his voice. She ran her fingers through the front of his hair and Alec stretched into her palm, like a cat begging to be scratched. “But then we might not have another chance to be alone together.”

Then he arched a brow. His gaze was so sharp, so intense, that Lottie felt it in her bones. “Now that you’ve accepted me, you think I have any intention of not marrying you as soon as possible?” His incredulousness sent a delightful shiver through her. “I’ve wanted this too much for too long.”

Lottie grinned. “Yes, my thoughts exactly.”

Alec let out a chuckle and threw up his hands in resignation. “Fine, I’ll respect your decision. But may I suggest we move to the camp bed at least?”

“I defer to your excellent judgment in such matters, seeing as your knowledge supersedes my own.”

Alec gave her an amused look as he pulled her to her feet. “Perhaps.” Then he wrapped a hand around her waist and drew her close. “But I suspect it will always feel like the first time with you,” he whispered against her ear, his voice both rough and warm.

“I’m beginning to think your father might not have been the only poet in the family,” she said as she moved them toward the ancient camp bed.

Alec smiled softly as he kneaded the nape of her neck with his warm fingers, weakening her knees even more. “I just needed to find my muse.”

Her eyes prickled at the potent mix of burning desire and endearing fondness swelling within her. “And I’m so happy you did.” She sat down and pulled Alec’s mouth toward hers once again.

And this time he offered no resistance.

Epilogue

Three months later
A village near Pistoia, Italy

Alec looked up from his book and shielded his eyes against the bright Tuscan sunshine. The better to see his wife as she stepped out onto the terrace, having just bid goodbye to Signore Ernesto for the day.

After their lengthy reconciliation in the fairy cottage, Mrs. Houston had insisted that they all travel to London immediately. “I know you’re both angry with Sir Alfred, and rightfully so, but give him the chance to make amends,” she urged. “You won’t regret it.”

The old man had been quite overwhelmed by their appearance the next morning, but his eyes had taken on an unexpected shimmer at the sight of Mrs. Houston. Even Alec found himself moved watching as Sir Alfred reached for his lover’s hand in their presence, then whispered private words that brought tears to the formidable woman’s eyes.