Marquess of Menace (Lords of Scandal 10)

He settled her close. “That’s right. I’m relying on you to get me into the house without being caught.”

“Hmmm. How do you feel about climbing garden trellises?”

He wrinkled his nose. “I’d break my neck.”

She gave him a look up and down. “I think you could do it, personally.”

“How about we try sneaking up the back stairs first?”

She laughed, burying her forehead into the crook of his neck. “Very well. But if you get caught, you’re walking home and it’s a cold night.”

He snorted even as he squeezed her close. “Which is better? Freezing to death or falling to my death?”

She lifted her head. “This is fun. Is this what marriage will be like? How interesting. I’d prefer falling. Quicker.”

They started moving toward the back door. “Really? So violent.” But he quieted as they approached the door. Eliza peeked in to see the cook still at the stove but her back was to them. Eliza waved him on. He let her go and tiptoed into the stairwell disappearing around the corner Just as Eliza closed the door.

“Hello,” Cook said as she looked at Eliza. “I just heard a carriage.”

A bit of a thrill raced down her spine. This was exciting. “I was saying goodnight to my fiancé before he left.”

Cook nodded. “Congratulations.” Then she turned to Eliza. “Would you like a cookie or two before bed? I just baked them for tomorrow. Ginger.”

“Yes,” came a whisper from the stairwell.

She nearly rolled her eyes even as she smiled. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

Then, grabbing the cookies, she started up the stairs after Dylan.

He ate both cookies before they’d even made it to her room. “You know, it takes away a bit of the fun out of espionage with you eating like that,” she said as she closed the door.

He gave her a devilish grin. “Don’t worry, love. I’m just preparing for the night ahead.”

A jolt of awareness passed through her. “Give me that last piece of cookie,” she said as she tried to snatch the gingerbread from his hand.

He pulled his hand away and then grabbing hers, tugged her close. Then, gently, he placed the cookie in her mouth. She took a bite, aware of the brush of his fingers on her lips, the feel of his body, the warmth of his ginger scented breath on her cheek.

The gingerbread, still warm from the oven, melted in her mouth. “Delicious,” she murmured once she’d swallowed the delicate bite.

He’d already begun undoing the row of buttons at her back. “It was. But I bet it won’t taste nearly as good as you.”

She gasped in a breath even as he tugged off the top of her gown, then kissed her exposed collarbone.

Dropping down to his knees, he worked off her skirts, kissing her wrists, her palms, each of her fingertips. And when she’d been stripped to nothing but her chemise, he stood again, making quick work of his clothing until only his breeches remained.

Eliza swallowed a lump as she stared at his broad shoulders and narrow waist, muscles rippling as he moved. “You lied.”

He stared at her, cocking his head to the side. “About what?”

She reached out a hand and trailed it along the ridges of his muscles. “You’re completely capable of climbing the trellis.”

He gave a soft laugh then. “I’ll save those sorts of activities for when we’re off on some adventure.”

That made her melt. “Oh. I love that idea. You and I adventuring together.”

“Of course,” he softly replied. “I know the woman I’m marrying.”

He did. And she loved him all the more for it. “This is our first great adventure.”