“I've had enough of things being complicated between us," I replied. "I will never stop being terrified of the prospect of marrying you. How could I? It would make me queen of a land of nightmares. But I would like to settle this side of things, at least."
"This side of--?"
I kissed him matter-of-factly. He drew back, and at last he seemed to understand the significance of my interest in spending the night in a tent, as well as my joke about the wine.
"You know," he said, beginning to smile, "the cottage would be rather more comfortable."
"The cottage is too crowded for my liking," I replied. "And I don't wish to give Rose another reason to scowl forebodingly at me. Would you prefer to wait?”
In answer, he kissed me--- much more slowly than the kiss I had given him, and more skillfully too, I'm afraid. Afterwards he didn't lean back as I'd expected, but trailed his lips down my neck, sending a shiver skittering through me.
"You can begin by removing your clothes," I said. "If you would like to. To clarify, this is a suggestion, not a demand."
"Oh, Em," he said, laughing softly against my neck. I had my hands in his hair, which was now quite mussed, something that made me absurdly happy.
"I'm sorry," I said, self-conscious now. "Perhaps I shouldn't talk."
"Whoever not?" He drew back, examining me with a perplexed smile. "I like the way you talk. And everything else about you, in fact. Is that not clear by now?"
I felt laughter bubble up inside me, but I hid it behind a mock-serious impression. "I'm not sure."
His smile changed, and he trailed his hand down the side of my neck. "Let me show you.”