Without releasing her hand Ethan manoeuvred the door open and tugged her straight across the lounge area.
Ruby disengaged her grasp to scramble up the ladder and into the bedroom. Now the reassurance of his touch had gone a sudden shyness threatened, caused her to circumnavigate the bed and approach the window.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood to attention as she sensed his presence behind her, and then his warmth enveloped her. His hands rested on her shoulders and began to knead gently. Tension ebbed away as she gazed out at the garden, where moonbeams danced on the birches and skittered in gleams on the duvet of snow.
Ethan swept her hair from her nape and she gasped as his lips grazed the sensitive flesh. An urge to see him overcame her, and as if he instinctively knew he stepped back and gently turned her to face him.
‘So beautiful...’ he murmured, one thick finger stroking her cheek.
His grey-blue eyes shone in the moon’s illumination, the light played on the planes of his face and emphasised their strength. Her heart melted and ached and she reached up for him, greedy for the devastation of his kiss.
It was a kiss that seemed to take up from where they’d left off—only this time with the knowledge that there was more to come. There was no need to think or analyse or worry, and that added a sharp edge to a desire that dizzied her. Propelled by instinct, she gripped his shoulders and Ethan lifted her effortlessly, so her legs wrapped his waist and his hands cupped her bottom.
He carried her to the bed, their lips still locked, and Ruby moaned as he slid her down the hard length of his body before tumbling her onto the mattress.
* * *
Hours later Ruby opened her eyes, aware of an immense contentment that swathed her limbs in languorous satisfaction. For a long moment she lay and gazed up at the ceiling, cocooned under the weight of Ethan’s arm, his dark brown head next to hers. A gentle shift and she could study his face, bathed in the streaks of dawn that slid through the slats of the shutters. Softer in sleep, yet still his features held a tautness—as if even in slumber he were loath to relinquish complete control.
A qualm tugged at her heart as it hopped, skipped and jumped. But there was nothing to worry about—she had decided that she wanted to grasp this opportunity, to live in the moment and just be herself. Because with Ethan that was who she could be—she’d shared her past and she’d shared her future. Now she wanted this time with him to explore their attraction.
Though somehow the theory no longer seemed so simple. Certain flaws had popped into her mind. These past hours had shown her an attraction that flamed with a heat she hadn’t envisaged. But the fire would burn itself out. Though when fires burnt themselves out didn’t they often leave a whole lot of collateral damage...?
His eyes opened and instantly focused—barely a fraction of a second between oblivion and awareness.
And she doused every qualm as his smile warmed her. She was being daft. They only had a day and a night left. Then it would be over. So what was the point of worry? It was not as if she had any intention of calling a halt to proceedings. Of not experiencing the wonder of the previous hours again...not falling asleep in the safe cocoon of his arms—the idea was unthinkable.
‘Ruby? You okay?’
‘Of course I am.’
Of course she was. Jeez. She really needed to work on her live-in-the-moment technique. The whole point was to enjoy each and every moment of the next twenty-four hours.
Twenty-four hours. Tick-tock went a metaphorical clock.
Concern lit his eyes and she summoned a smile. ‘Just hungry. Guess it’s time to eat. Not that I have a single regret for missing that Michelin-starred Christmas dinner.’
‘Me neither. Our evening was spent in far more enjoyable ways. But now you mention it I am pretty hungry. I think we need to build up our strength,’ he added with a wiggle of his eyebrows that made a giggle bubble up to the surface.
‘And why would that be, Mr Caversham?’
Leaning over, he nuzzled her ear. ‘In fact, perhaps I could muster up my last reserves of energy right now...’
‘Hmm...’ Desire sizzled through her with intoxicating speed—perhaps enjoying each and every moment would be a cinch after all.
* * *
An hour later he grinned lazily at her. ‘Now would be a good time for breakfast.’
‘How about I whip us up a brunch fondue?’
‘Sounds perfect. I’ll check our Boxing Day itinerary.’
‘Okay. And thank you for a magical Christmas Day—the planned bits and the...the...’ Her cheeks heated up.
‘Impromptu night-time activities?’ he supplied, with a wicked smile that curled her toes.
The morning hours swept by and she could almost see the magical motes of happiness fleck the air. Magic infused them both—brought laughter and warmth, enabled Ethan to dance round the kitchen disco-style whilst she sang along into a wooden spoon in lieu of a microphone.
Even the fondue worked—the mixture of Emmental, Gruyère and Comté provided a tang that burst onto their tastebuds, and the consistency of the bubbling cheese and wine was neither too thick nor too thin. Perfect for dunking cubes of baguette.
‘Ruby, that was awesome. I am truly replete. Why don’t you relax by the fire and I’ll wash up?’
‘You wash. I’ll dry. You did help cook.’
‘That’s a generous interpretation of grating cheese.’
‘You did an excellent job of stirring as well.’
Ruby looked over her shoulder as she carried their plates towards the kitchen area and glanced at the clock. A sudden sense of panic touched her. Tick-tock.
Stop it, Ruby.
This was an interlude—it couldn’t go on for ever and she wouldn’t want it to. Work was way too important, along with her goals and her future life. A future in which Ethan would only feature in a professional sense.
‘Anyway, we’d best get this cleared up quick—the carriage will be back to take us into town for the Boxing Day market, followed by a mountain ascent.’
‘Sounds brilliant.’
Maybe Ethan was right—the key was to keep moving, garner the maximum number of precious memories from this time capsule.
The hustle and bustle of the town square soothed her. It was littered with stalls, and the air was alight with chatter, wafting with a cluster of glorious scents. As she stood and inhaled the tang of gingerbread, the scent of the pine so evocative of the Christmas Day just gone, her qualms faded away along with the concern they had created.
This was all about a magical interlude and for once she was in control. There was no question of delusions or false dreams or hopes. This fling had been her idea, entered into with the knowledge that Ethan wouldn’t change, and she was good with that.
She opened her eyes to find Ethan’s grey-blue eyes fixed on her and she smiled at him, drank in the craggy features, the breadth of his shoulders, his aura of strength. Desire lodged deep in the hollow of her tummy—this freaking gorgeous man was hers. For now... And that was enough. For now she would live in the moment.
‘This is such a wonderful place,’ she said. ‘I’d come on holiday for the market alone.’
The fresh produce was enough to make her tastebuds explode in anticipation. Cheeses abounded, bowls heaped with olives glistened, dried meats and saucissons hung in tempting displays.
‘Shall I buy ingredients for dinner tonight?’