Page 22 of Winter of Passion (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“The poor thing must be exhausted. We are both trying to warm ourselves after being completely wet and frozen,” she added. He noticed some more pillows and blankets on the armchair near the fire. She was barefoot, her toes and ankles red and slightly swollen.

“Then come and sit, and I shall help you warm up.” He smiled, arranging a pillow behind her back and wrapping her completely in blankets.

“What are you doing here? I am happy to see you, but it is almost dinner time. Have we not decided to be prudent?”

“Well, prudence has betrayed me to one person. My cousin saw us when I helped you enter the house. He heard me calling you by your name and guessed there was a relationship between us. He enquired, and I had to tell him.”

“Oh…” she whispered with apparent distress.

“Please forgive me. I know I should have agreed it with you first, but he was pressing me, and in truth, I trust him implicitly. I have never hidden anything from him.”

He sat down on the rug next to the armchair, looking up at her. She slowly slipped down, with all the blankets around her, and rested in his arms.

“I cannot be so far from you,” she whispered. “And why would you apologise? Surely you know I would not disagree with you.”

Her face was now inches away from him; her arms had escaped from the blankets, and they encircled his neck. His lips moved closer to her face, covering it in kisses.

“What did the colonel say?”

“He was shocked, but he recovered rather quickly,” Darcy answered. His hands were already engaged in warming her with gentle caresses, and her sweet moan of delight proved his success.

“And Georgiana?” she asked, breathless.

“I shall tell her tomorrow, or even tonight if you approve.”

“I do…as long as we all keep the secret for another day. We may tell Jane and Charles as soon as the ball is over.”

“We shall do that,” he agreed, his lips tantalising her earlobe. “I am so glad I found you alone, Elizabeth.”

“You have come at the right moment. Georgiana and Mrs Annesley have just gone to rest. My maid helped me change and wash as I was a real mess.” She withdrew another inch from him — enough for their eyes to meet.

“I must have looked like I did that day when I walked to Netherfield to see Jane. I still remember your appalled gaze at seeing my improper appearance, Mr Darcy.”

“I remember that day too, Miss Bennet,” he teased her back. “And that precise moment. However, appalled was certainly not my feeling at seeing you.”

“Surely it was,” she insisted. “I know you disapproved of my dirty gown and my unladylike habit of walking through the mud.”

“By that time, I already approved of most of you, Elizabeth. What I felt at seeing you with your red cheeks, moist lips, and sparkling eyes was pure lust! Stronger than I have ever felt before.”

He was amused to see her eyes widen in disbelief, and he pulled her closer, allowing his hand to explore her body under the blankets.

“Oh…” she replied.

“Are you still cold?” he asked, his lips moving lower down her throat.

“No…a little…only my feet,” she whispered.

“Let me see…”

He exposed her feet — still red, cold, and swollen — and covered them with his palms, stroking the skin. His fingers caressed from her toes to her ankles, up and down, again and again. She closed her eyes and bit her lip, trying to hide her soft moans of delight.

One of his hands held her feet, while the other glided down along her arms, his lips still tantalising her ear. He felt her shivering when his hand lowered to her ribs, over her hip and thigh, finding a way beneath her gown and resting upon the soft roundness of her breast.

“Are you still cold? Should I leave?”

“Can you stay a moment longer? To warm me a little more?”

She turned in his arms until his mouth finally captured hers in a kiss that only increased his thirst. He stroked along her ribs, hips, and thighs, then cupped her breasts again. They fitted perfectly in his palms, and her erratic breathing inspired him to press harder.

He tasted the skin of her neck, allowing her mouth a little time to breathe.

His thumbs brushed and traced circles around her nipples, then his hungry mouth replaced his hands.

She breathed more heavily and whispered his name until, some long moments later, her lips were captured once again.

The kiss deepened, and passion overwhelmed him.

He knew he should stop and leave, but he could not, as her own hands tried to caress, to touch, to explore.

His moans matched hers; he felt quivers along his skin and burning inside his body.

His hand slowly lowered to her thighs and brushed along her legs, placing them around his waist. In doing so, he could reach her feet and stroke them again.

He felt her body shivering and her desire growing almost as strong as his. No, not almost, not by far. His desire was deep and strong — beyond his control — turning into a maddening yearning for her.

A strange sound and a touch he did not recognise forced Darcy to stop immediately. Elizabeth was trying to catch her breath, and he looked around to understand what was happening. The puppy was climbing onto them, whining, puzzled about what was happening and searching for comfort and warmth.

With a laugh, Elizabeth turned her back to Darcy, took the puppy in her arms, and stroked him gently.

Darcy was still holding Elizabeth close in his embrace, near the fire, covered by blankets, which were now in disorder. Her back was against his chest, and he placed countless kisses in her hair and on her neck, shoulders, and arms.

“I must leave now, my love,” he said. “It is almost dinnertime.”

She put the puppy down and turned in his arms again so her chest pressed against his. Then she glided up, so her lips could reach his. In doing so, her breasts pressed against him, causing him to moan and quiver again.

“I shall leave this moment,” he repeated, standing up and helping her to do the same.

His eyes bored into hers, and his hand cupped her face.

“You look quite dishevelled, Miss Bennet. But I hope you know it is not disapproval in my gaze.”

“I know…it is lust.” She repeated his earlier words, smiling.

“Not any longer. Now it is desire, passion, and ardent love.”

He kissed her once more, then she arranged her gown and hair and glanced out of the door to be sure he could leave safely.

He returned to his room with his heart full of joy, his mind reproaching him for his imprudence, and his body tortured by denied fulfilment.