While Delaney was searching the surroundings, Rowan moved with sudden speed. His civilized, polite gentleman persona completely vanished the very second they were out of sight.

Rowan stepped forward, closing the small distance between them instantly. He did not drop the wooden box, but he used his large, free right hand to reach out and gently, but very firmly, grasp the very nape of her neck.

His warm fingers tangled deeply into the soft dark hair at the back of her head. He pulled her completely against his chest and tilted her face up.

He crashed his lips down onto hers, pulling her directly into a deep, desperate kiss.

Delaney did not push him away. She melted instantly into his strong embrace. She raised her hands, grasping the lapels of his deep green coat, and hungrily kissed him back.

It was a sudden explosion of pent-up yearning and desire. They were both acting exactly like wild animals dying of terrible thirst, finally finding a cool, deep pool of water.

Rowan’s mouth moved forcefully over hers, his tongue sweeping inside to taste her.

Delaney let out a soft, eager sound, pulling him closer by the fabric of his coat. She had missed his touch so entirely.

Rowan broke the kiss on her lips, gasping for air. He did not pull away. Instead, he trailed his hot, open mouth down the side of her jaw. He moved his head and kissed the soft, sensitive skin of her neck, right below her ear.

He moved his body forward, gently pushing her backward until her shoulders hit the cool, solid stone wall of the alcove. He held her steady against the wall. He pressed his large body firmly against hers, letting her feel the hard evidence of his deep desire through the layers of their clothing.

His mouth was hot and incredibly demanding against her neck. He kissed her deeply, breathing in the sweet lavender scent of her skin.

A sudden, sharp thrill of pleasure shot straight down Delaney’s spine. The feeling was completely overwhelming. She threw her head back against the stone wall, exposing more of her throat to his hungry kisses.

Delaney quickly bit her own lower lip. She had to bite down hard to muffle a loud moan that was building in her chest. She knew that if she made a loud sound, the sound would carry over the hedges, and her aunt would certainly hear them.

Rowan felt her tremble. He moved his mouth back up, capturing her lips once again in a fiercely possessive, deeply passionate kiss. He kissed her until her head spun, completely entirely lost in the warm, perfect feeling of holding her.

Suddenly, a voice cut sharply through the quiet garden air.

"Delaney, dear? Where are you?"

It was Aunt Renee. Her voice was not right beside them, but it was loud enough to carry across the lawn from the stone balcony. The chaperone had finally noticed that her two charges had mysteriously vanished from the main gravel path.

The sound of the older woman’s voice brought them instantly back to reality.

Rowan stopped kissing her immediately. He froze, his broad shoulders rising and falling rapidly as he took in deep, harsh breaths of air.

He slowly pulled his face away from hers, but he did not step back.

He leaned forward and rested his warm forehead gently against her own. He kept his hand firmly on the nape of her neck, holding her close while they both desperately tried to catch their breath.

Delaney’s chest heaved against his. She kept her eyes closed for a moment, letting her spinning head slowly settle down. The sudden interruption had shattered their passionate bubble, but the intense heat between them still burned brightly.

Delaney slowly opened her hazel eyes. She looked at Rowan’s handsome face, just inches from her own.

She reached up her hand. Her fingers were trembling slightly. She gently touched his lips.

His lips were noticeably swollen from their deep, hungry kiss. And they were stained a soft, distinct shade of red from her colored lip stain. If he walked back out onto the lawn looking like that, Aunt Renee would know exactly what they had been doing in the bushes.

Delaney smiled softly. She moved her hand and gently caressed his warm cheek, using her thumb to slowly wipe the red stain away from the corner of his mouth.

"I cannot wait to be yours officially," Delaney whispered. Her voice was incredibly soft, breathless, and filled with a deep, honest ache. "The wait is completely killing me, Rowan."

Rowan closed his eyes. He leaned his face heavily into her soft touch, turning his head slightly to kiss the palm of her hand. He felt the exact same, burning impatience. He wanted to carry her upstairs to the master bedroom and lock the doors for an entire week.

"Just wait a little longer, my darling," Rowan murmured smoothly, his voice a low, rough rumble. He opened his eyes and looked at her with the same longing. "Just wait a little longer, and then I will be yours forever."

Delaney smiled warmly. She leaned forward and pressed a very soft, very sweet kiss directly onto his forehead.

"Delaney?" Aunt Renee’s voice called out again, sounding slightly more impatient this time. "Your Grace?"

Rowan let out a high amused sigh. He took a slow step backward, finally putting a respectable, proper distance between their bodies.

He looked down at Delaney, a new, exciting thought crossing his mind. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"I have a plan for tonight," Rowan invited her smoothly, his tone returning to that of a proper, polite gentleman. "I heard from the innkeeper that the local country theater is having a very good, highly entertaining show this evening. It is a comedic play. I have already bought three tickets in a private box."

Delaney’s eyes lit up with excitement. She had never been to a theater before. Her uncle Cole had never allowed her to leave the estate for entertainment.

"I will definitely go," Delaney replied eagerly. She quickly smoothed the front of her peach-colored dress, trying to make sure it did not look wrinkled from being pressed against the stone wall. "I would love to see a play with you."

She looked back toward the edge of the tall green hedge.

"But let us leave from here immediately," Delaney warned him with a playful smile, "before my aunt actually walks down those stone stairs, starts looking for me, and finds us hiding here."

Rowan chuckled softly, fixing his own appearance. "Agreed."

Rowan quickly ran his free hand through his messy blond hair, smoothing the strands back into perfect, neat order. He adjusted the crisp white cravat at his neck and straightened the lapels of his deep green coat. He made absolutely sure there was no red lip stain left on his mouth.

Delaney quickly checked her own hair, making sure her curls were perfectly in place.

They fixed each other up until they both looked exactly like two highly innocent, perfectly respectable members of polite society.

Rowan held out his right arm again. Delaney smiled, stepped forward, and placed her hand politely into the crook of his arm.

Together, they walked smoothly out of the hidden stone alcove. They stepped back onto the main gravel path, directly into the bright winter sunlight. They looked toward the balcony and offered Aunt Renee a completely innocent, happy wave.