And Beatrix heard it was true.
The rain had, at last, worn itself out, and the stable had gone silent.
“We’ll be able to leave in the morning.” He gave Little Wicked’s muzzle a parting stroke and strode down the central aisle. “It’s getting late,” he tossed over his shoulder.
That was one way to avoid answering a question.
She knew the satisfaction of having struck a chord, even as she experienced the frustration of having been dismissed.
Her feet scrambled to catch him and only just did so as he was passing through the wide gate into the stable yard. However, she’d misjudged the solidity of the ground beneath her feet.
Or, rather, the slickness.
One moment, she’d drawn abreast with Deverill, a demand that he explain himself poised on her lips, and the next, the world went suddenly sideways as her foot skidded across a slick cobblestone and gravity had her tumbling arse over head.
Or it would’ve done.
A pair of quick, masculine hands shot out and grabbed her—and pulled her upright…
Into his broad chest that had all the give of a brick wall.
The tip of her nose could attest to the fact.
Her heart threatening to hammer free of her ribs, she went still and assessed herself. All seemed as it should be.
Well.
As it should bewas alsonotthe case.
For a pair of strong arms yet held her, leaving her no choice but to feel the length of his body along the length of hers…the warmth of him…the strength of him… She tipped her head backto inform him she could, indeed, stand on her own two feet, unassisted. But her gaze only made it as far as his mouth and the words became stuck in her throat.
His lips.
She’d dreamed of his lips.
It was shamefully true.
The beauty of them…thefeelof them.
Of their own will, her feet were lifting onto the tips of her toes. Then her mouth found a will of its own, too, and was pressing to his…
Soft, yes…
Firm, too…
Delectable…
Kissable.
Lips that invited one to keep kissing them.
His hands tightened around her upper arms, and gently, he set her away from him, breaking the kiss as quickly as it had begun.
Aquamarine eyes glittered with bemusement. “What was that about?”
“Confirmation.” She supposed that was the best word for it.
His eyebrows creased together. “Confirmation?”
