“Stop talking, Ailis.”
“All right, but I love you.”
He responded by delivering a kiss filled with heat and exquisite tenderness, a kiss that devoured her soul.
This kiss went farther than the others before it, as he meant it to do by the intimate press of his muscled body against her soft, yielding curves. She felt his ardor and that purposeful press of his weight against her.
It was a delicious heaviness, just enough to make her feel him.
Not enough to ever hurt her.
Their kiss was deep and bonded by her love. It was also bonded by his desire, for he always made her feel adored whenever he kissed her.
Now, it was her turn to make him feel the abiding love she held for him.
She did it the only way she knew how, by accepting the divine crush of his mouth on hers, the tangle of their tongues and molding of their bodies, themeltingof their bodies into one. This kiss was about accepting him in every way, about getting to know the feel of him and how her senses wrapped around him.
The kiss was intimate and infinite. It was a declaration of recognition on the deepest levels.
She was memorizing the granite strength of him, and she hoped he was remembering the shape of her curves and thesoftness of her skin. He tasted of coffee, strong and forceful, while she tasted of gentle mint tea. His scent was spice, woods and earth, while hers was of autumn flavors, of nutmeg, cinnamon, and apples.
This kiss was meant to bind them through time.
And this was how she would love him, eternally and throughout time.
He had not made this same commitment to her, but she did not think he was capable of committing to anyone just yet. It was too much to ask of him.
Still, this kiss was beautiful, and it felt as though he was committing to her, body and soul.
If only it were possible.
She had to remind herself it was an important expression of trust but not a commitment of love.
He had the skill and prowess to make her believe it could be love, to make her feel that he might abandon all rules just for her.
Finally, he let out a ragged breath and drew back slightly to end their kiss. His body was no longer pressed atop hers, and she missed the warmth of his weight on her. “Ailis…”
Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. “Did it feel like a kiss of love to you?”
He smiled. “Yes, it did.”
“Does this mean the lion is ready to come out of his lair? Or shall I leave you in peace now? I must get back to the rectory anyway. We are adding all the festive touches today and plan to start decorating shortly after supper. Will you join us?”
“Maybe.”
Even after their kiss? She was still amaybe?
She hid her disappointment, but what did she expect? It had been her kiss of love, not his. Her feelings were not his. She was the one in love, not him.
But some good had come from their being closed off in his study. She had entered the lion’s den and removed the thorn from his paw. He was no longer hurting over Viola’s discovering his secret.
As for herself, she had received another scorching kiss from him.
Sadly, she doubted her admission of love would lead to anything more, but that was all right.
He now knew someone in the world loved him truly and forever, scars and all.
Chapter Fifteen
