Chapter 10
1863
Forever Falling
Finn waited in the shadows, his heart in his throat, worried she might not show, that in the light of day she might have been filled with regrets. He’d left her near dawn with the promise to be waiting for her at midnight. After making love to her, after holding her in his arms, he’d known he’d find it impossible to wait until Tuesday to see her. Even now, he was contemplating stealing inside—
Then the door opened, and she was slipping through the narrow gap. Before she closed the door, he was at her side, inhaling her sweet fragrance, taking pleasure from the way she beamed up at him.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello.” Then because he had no resistance where she was concerned, he kissed her, loving the way she came to him with such eagerness, her arms winding around his neck, her breasts flattened against his chest, as her mouth mated enthusiastically with his. His cock hardened and strained against his trousers, and wicked wench that she was, she rose up on her toes, then lowered her heels back to the ground, again and again, rubbing her belly along his pole, driving him to distraction. It occurred to him that they could suddenly find themselves surrounded by the British army and he’d not notice.
Breaking off the kiss, he grabbed her hand and pulled her after him as he sprinted for the mews where Sophie was saddled and waiting.
“You brought her!” she exclaimed in surprise.
He’d taken the risk because their little trysts hadn’t been discovered. “I didn’t want to go to my brother’s brickworks factory tonight, and I knew you’d miss not seeing her.”
Spinning around, she placed her hands on his shoulders, held his gaze. “You know me so well.”
He knew her almost as well as he knew himself.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise.” Then he hoisted her into the saddle. Slipping a foot into the stirrup, he swung his leg over the horse’s rump and settled in behind Vivi. Taking the reins in one hand and snaking his other arm around Vivi’s waist, he nudged the mare forward.
Vivi snuggled against him. “I love our riding together.”
“What else do you like us doing together?”
She looked back at him. In the moonlight, he could see she’d pressed her teeth to her bottom lip. “Naughty things, things we shouldn’t.”
“Do you have regrets, Vivi?”
Her hand came up, and she cradled his cheek. “No. It was marvelous, Finn, and I’m a woman now. Although, to be honest, I don’t feel any different. However, I did fear my parents might be able to tell that I wasn’t the same as I’d been yesterday morning. It’s a remarkable thing, really, that a woman can give herself to a man and no one is the wiser for it.”
“I’m wiser for it.”
Laughing, she turned back around and settled herself more securely against him. “In what way?”
“I know your nipples are a light pink and pucker if I blow on them.”
She giggled. “What else?”
“You’re a dark pink between your legs, and you glisten when you want me.”
“Am I glistening now, do you think?”
Christ, he hoped so. He pressed his mouth against her ear. “I don’t know. Are you?”
“Maybe.”
He wanted her so badly he thought he’d burst. “Are you hurting from last night?”
“I was a little sore this morning, but not now. Oh, Finn, what are we to do? I know you can’t come to my bedchamber every night.”
“I can’t take you to my lodgings because I share a room with Beast.” Although he was fairly certain his brother would make himself scarce should he ask, but Vivi was a lady of the highest caliber, and it was imperative no one suspect what had passed between them, no one question her reputation, he bring her no shame. “And the rooms I could afford to let for the night aren’t good enough for a proper lady.”
