He cupped a hand around my wrist and tipped his head against my forearm, holding himself close. His voice was a rasp when he asked, “Is that enough?”
I raised one shoulder, then let it drop. “For me. For now.”
Kit sighed audible relief.
“We'll let the rest sort itself out,” I said. “It's only been two months after all.” I flashed a cheeky grin that made Kit’s eyes sparkle.
Looping an arm around my waist, he drew me in. His lips pressed against mine, timid at first, then more firm. I leaned into it, winding my arms around his neck. The kiss deepened, warm and wet and wonderful, and the bliss of the moment swept me away.
When Kit pulled back, a whine of protest escaped me. Pleasant heat seared through my body, pooling in my groin as I rocked gently against him.
Kit stared up at me, and I didn’t wait for encouragement to tug the hem of my shirt up over my head. Kit’s hands returned to my hips and settled there as I flung the garment aside and turned back to him. I took his face in my hands again and drew him in for another kiss. His lips parted enough to allow my tongue to slip inside, gliding across his and making him gasp.
Some of the tickling tightness I’d felt in the tavernreturned, seizing my lungs. I pulled back just enough to stifle a cough, recalling how Kit had fretted over me before and not wanting to worry him now.
To further assure him, I smiled, reached down and took one of his hands, then pulled it up to press against my chest. I rolled my hips into him again and went back for another kiss, nipping his bottom lip between my teeth.
The movement seemed to spur Kit to engage. He slid his hand around to my lower back, where he pressed his palm flat against me to hold me close, pushing a satisfied groan out of both of us. His other hand went to the back of my head, catching in my hair and tugging until my head tipped to expose my neck.
Chills rippled down my spine as Kit peppered kisses across my throat and bare shoulders. I was panting, eyelids fluttering, and fingers pressing into him to keep myself from floating away.
Kit’s grip on my hair held me in place, awash in pleasure and craving every touch. I wanted him off the floor and in my bed. On top of me. Inside me. I breathed a needful whimper at the thought.
The moment Kit released me, I grabbed his shirt, pushing it over his head and arms and tossing it aside. I was all over him then, shoving him back against the side of the bed as I raked both hands down his torso. Hungry kisses followed every touch and drag of my fingers, indulging fantasies I’d had in my room alone at night, wondering how he felt and tasted.
We were both breathing heavily by the time I worked up the nerve to slide my hand farther down. Brushing across his crotch found the hardness I’d expected there. I placed a few kisses across his collarbone before curling myfingers around his stiff member through the fabric of his trousers and coaxing out a low moan.
No sooner had Kit’s head lolled back in a brief moment of ecstasy than did he buck upright. He caught hold of my wrist and pulled it away.
I straightened, too, and we stared at each other in mutual surprise.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted, though I wasn’t entirely sure I meant it. “That was presumptuous.”
He retained his hold on me for a few seconds more, then shifted to grasp my hand instead. “You shouldn’t apologize,” he said, “for anything. You’re…” He hesitated, visibly searching for words before settling on the right ones. “You're wonderful, Pen.”
Blush burned my cheeks. “So are you, Kit.”
Pulling back, I pushed up off my knees to stand. Kit stayed on the floor with his hands in his lap and his expression dazed.
When I stooped to pull him to his feet, it spurred an abrupt cough. I turned my face into my elbow, hacking as though there were something caught in my chest, but nothing came free. Kit took hold of my shoulders, steadying me despite his own wobbly legs.
“I’m okay,” I told him, though the wheeze in my next breath said otherwise.
He was tired enough that he didn’t press, and he finally released me to collapse onto his bed looking half asleep already. I stayed beside him, searching the mattress around him for a spot where I could squeeze in. The frame was barely wider than he was, and while I may have been willing to pile on top of him for the night, I doubted he would feel the same.
Kit draped his arm across his eyes and expelled a sigh. “Goodnight, Penny.” His voice slurred with impending sleep. “I’ll try not to wake you again.”
My smile returned, or perhaps it had never left. “Night, Kit.”
I crept back to my own bed and shimmied under the blanket, pulling it all the way up to my chin. I wasn’t sure how much sleep I would get with the weight pushing down on my chest and my mind full of every wonderful thing that had happened that night.
I was almost able to forget what we were here to do and that one or both of us could be dead before the next month was over. For the moment, I was happy, the way Kit said I should be, and that was enough.
9
Penny
The next morning, we dressed and went downstairs for a breakfast of hot porridge with honey and mugs full of milk. I gulped mine greedily down, but Kit’s appetite was still flagging. He pushed his bowl aside and spent most of the meal holding my hand on top of the table, weaving his fingers between mine.
