37. Darcy
Darcy
The last week had flown. The too-short days comprised of me strolling past the small library, where Lizzy was now furiously typing, approximately one thousand times a day, or taking coffee, tea, and cakes into her in different increments.
When I’d done so much of the strolling and taking-in-tea it was getting ridiculous, I walked past her window and pretended to brush off the outdoor furniture and check the patio heaters.
Which I had absolutely no idea how to do.
Once, I’d even grabbed a wheelbarrow filled with trimmings and clipped some topiary, earning myself a stern scolding from the head gardener about how the elephant’s tail was now anatomically incorrect.
The rest of the time, I waited restlessly in my office until noon, when it was a quick sandwich outside, and then four p.m., when it was time for our walk through the forest or to some ruin or view on the estate, after which we cleaned up and had dinner with Tabitha.
Whether we were together or apart, my body was electric with longing.
I yearned for Lizzy, a savage ache that unsettled my every living second.
I wanted to take her in my arms, kiss her, and sweep her upstairs to my bedroom.
It took every inch of my self-control to stop myself, but kissing Lizzy was its own wonderment.
Waiting to take things further meant more.
We were on our last walk together before her departure, a gradual uphill incline, and we were both sweaty when we reached the lake.
She fanned her face. “I have a confession,” she said.
Was this good? I searched her face, but I couldn’t work out her emotion.
“I sent my first chapters to my agent, Charlie.”
A bolt of worry shot through me that maybe her writing hadn’t gone as well as it seemed.
“Oh, Darcy,” she gushed. “Charlie loved the chapters. She said they were the best thing I’d ever written. I’m so excited about writing the rest, and I know I have you to thank for some of that.”
“I’m so happy for you. And don’t thank me. You’re doing all the work.” I wanted us to do something special to mark this moment. Something she loved. A fancy dinner wouldn’t do the trick.
For once, I was going to suggest something impetuous.
“Why don’t we go swimming to celebrate? In our clothes, of course.”
“What a perfect idea. I’d love that.” She bounced up and down, clapping her hands at the prospect.
We stripped off our hiking boots and socks and waded in wearing our shorts and T-shirts, her racing, me doing my usual, picking my way through the water.
What the hell? I ran in, kicking my knees high, water splashing around me, and dove under.
We both swam up and down for a while, then laughed and joked and splashed each other like kids.
“Wish you could stay longer,” I said as we treaded water.
“I need to get back to Oodles and…” She didn’t seem sure now.
I didn’t point out that she could bring him. “It’s your last night. Do you know what that means?”
“No. What does that mean?” She seemed puzzled.
I dragged my foot along hers. “Whatever you want it to mean.”
She moved in a circle around me, her eyes now mischievous. “What do you want it to mean?”
I moved to where I could stand and support her weight. I beckoned her to join me. We’d been dancing around this deeper change in our relationship all week, and I knew I was ready. The question was if she was ready for more with me.
“I’d like to spend the night with you in my bed.” My voice was low and raspy, but it still only betrayed some of my desperation to be with her.
“Oh.” She seemed shocked at how blunt I was. Then a flirty smile crept on to her face. “Would you now?”
Water dripped down her cheeks and over her mouth.
My breathing went shallow. I took her hand and pulled her closer.
“Very much. I think it’s time.” I heard my voice become a growl.
I was losing it. “Past time to make you mine. I’ve loved getting to know you, talking about your writing and your friends and your family and your thoughts on…
everything. I love kissing you. You have been driving me wild all week.
Would you want that?” I was ready. I’d fallen in love with her, my feelings deepened into a place where her leaving tomorrow filled me with panic.
She’d brought lightness and fun and passion into my life, and because she was here at Pemberley, I now loved this place even more. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.
“Yes, I want that,” she said. “My feelings have changed. I know you now, and every minute I spend with you, I like you more. You are shy and private and fiercely loyal to those you love, which made you act a certain way when we first met, but now I understand. Since I’ve arrived, you have been nothing but kind and generous and thoughtful in the way you treat people and always genuinely interested in what I am writing.
” She sighed. “And you are so hot, I can barely keep my hands off you. It’s been a week of the slowest of slow burns, and now I know how frustrated my readers feel. ”
I dragged my hands down her curves and palmed her round arse with a low groan. She jumped up on me and wrapped her legs around my waist.
Maybe I couldn’t wait until tonight. Not with how she now saw me so wholly, my faults and all, and still wanted to be with me, the real me. And she wanted me, maybe as much as I wanted her. I crushed my mouth against hers and kissed her hungrily.
A flutter and squawk behind me made me jump. I turned to see a flock of birds tear into the sky. I blinked in that direction. My estate manager walked along the lakefront. Shit.
God. So, so many blockers in my life. Maybe this was better, though. I didn’t want my first time with Lizzy to be interrupted or rushed. With her, I needed time and privacy to show her how I felt about her.
I led her out of the water. Dripping, hand in hand, we raced over the front lawn, up the main stairs, then more stairs to my apartment.
Outside my room, I narrowed my eyes at her. “We have dinner shortly and, after dinner, have to say goodbye to Tabitha. Then it’s us. I’m going to make it so worth your while to walk down this hallway tonight,” I whispered, my chest tight.
She tilted her head to me. “I can’t wait.”
We parted, each of us to our rooms.