I hurt Briony and Thorne in my matchmaking attempts, partially to keep Briony from liking me and to encourage her affections to grow for Thorne, but partially because I liked causing trouble. I enjoyed the discord I stirred.
Briony disliked me the moment she laid eyes on me. Before I’d said or done a single cruel thing.
I hurt my first love, Cosette?—
I didn’t think my engagement would upset you, Monty.This time it isn’t my own voice speaking to me but a memory from the past.It’s not like you and I were ever serious.
I…I hurt my fox?—
I can’t be your pet anymore. I’m leaving.
I even hurt my father, in all my disobedience?—
Why did you keep me from my mother?
Because you’re male and I needed an heir.
I close my eyes tight against the memories and rub my chest as if it will rid me of this invisible ache.
“Monty?”
My eyes fly open at Daphne’s voice. The sight of her standing beside me is so unexpected that my cigarillo nearly slides from my lips before I catch it. My eyes lock on hers, and every dark emotion that clouded my chest disappears. The tightness leaves my shoulders. My lungs expand. She hasn’t said more than my name. Hasn’t done a thing more than simply stand there. Yet her presence is enough. It’s enough.
“What are you doing out here?” I ask, a rasp in my voice. I try to smile, but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes.
“I came to find you.”
“How did you know I was here?”
Her gaze slides down to my cigarillo, and her mouth quirks at a corner. “Lucky guess.”
I clear my throat and control my tone to keep it steady. “You’ve had enough dancing for the night?”
She heaves a sigh. “I’m tired. It’s exhausting trying to be well-mannered and demure. I know tonight was supposed to be a chance to perform for your case study, but I’ve done my part. You’ve clearly done yours as well, considering you’re out here.”
I sit up straighter, surprised by the bite in her tone. “You’re angry with me?”
“You said we’d do this together. That you wouldn’t leave me to do this by myself.”
She’s right. And yet…
“I can’t be there for every step of the way. There are certain…lessons you can only advance on your own with your suitor.”
“Yes, well, I’ve gotten as far as I can with Mr. Wright.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “He’s asked to call on me next weekend, which means we’re on Lesson Four. Waiting to see if his actions align with his words.”
I clench my teeth. “Is that why you came to find me? To update me on my case study’s success?” I can’t help the ire that infuses my tone.
“No, I came to find you because…because I wanted to be with you. I wanted to dance with you tonight, not Mr. Wright. Yet you left.” She stomps as close to me as she can, arms still crossed, until she’s standing between my legs. Her glare is furious as she stares down at me. “You left me all alone with him.”
I want to argue that she wasn’t alone, she was in a room full of people, but that’s not what she means, is it? She wanted to enjoy the night with me, just like I wanted to enjoy it with her. The case study was a mere excuse for her to attend the ceremony and ball.
The truth is, I wanted her here. Withme. No one else.
I stare up at her furious face, beautiful in her anger.
With every fiber of my being, I want her all to myself. I want every inch of her. I want to drag my hands under her skirt, up her thighs, and pull her onto my lap. I want to kiss her until she’s dizzy. I want to bury myself inside her, show her just how badly I want her too. I want to fuck her here on this bench, make her come in this dress all over again. My body radiates with need. With desire. With an unquenchable thirst for her.
Holding her gaze, I extinguish my cigarillo and toss the butt to the ground. Then, slowly, I reach for her knees. She shudders at my touch, the anger on her face shifting to surprise. My fingers skate higher, over the smooth silk of her stockings. Then higher, where the top of her stockings give way to soft flesh. When my hands frame her hips, I give them a squeeze, then pull her onto my lap.
