With Felicity at his side, her arm hugging him, their life together a certainty, he’d never felt taller, stronger, more capable of conquering the world than he did in that moment.
Miraculously, she seemed as happy with their circumstances as he did.
The crowd carried them to the dancing area, lights zig-zagging overhead, where behind it, an orchestra added to the raucousness of it all.
Mantis turned and bowed over her hand. “May I have this dance, my lady?”
He had known Felicity since even before she’d made her come out and, in all that time, had admired her refined but cool beauty. But in addition to those things, in addition to her status and popularity, she was always kind and compassionate.
But she had been off-limits. She might as well have been royalty.
“I would be honored to, my lord.” Delicate pink lips tilted up as she glanced at him, looking demure and shy. As she nodded and grasped his shoulder, their differences in height brought them closer together. He settled his hand around her back, resisting the urge to draw her even closer, and ignored the inappropriate urges that sprang to life.
He’d been unable to forget her quietly spoken confession that had been unfortunately interrupted.I pretended that I didn’t have a choice… in my mind. And if I didn’t have a choice, then… I could…
If I were to drive you into the woods, bend you over a fallen tree, and lift your skirts to take you from behind…”
His suggestion had been most inappropriate, but she’d not admonished him for making it.
How long had these desired simmered inside of her? It wasn’t that she wasn’t proper. She most definitely was.
But she was also a woman of passion.
If not for that blasted shot in the park, he would have driven them somewhere private where he could bring one of her delightfully scandalous fantasies to life.
Music struck up, a lively waltz, and Mantis stepped forward, guiding them around the perimeter of the dance floor. With each turn, the steps became easier, almost as though they had done this thousands of times before. He only moved his gaze from hers when necessary, to avoid another couple or to assure he had room to send her on a twirl.
Of which she seemed to enjoy immensely. She laughed whenever he raised his hand, and he couldn’t help but laugh along with her.
The dance ended and as they stood together, catching their breath, another began. This one slower, romantic, intimate.
Mantis pulled Felicity closer.
“I’ve never danced like this before.” Her voice sounded thin and breathy, and his groin tightened. She’d sounded the same when he’d made love to her that night.
“You expected me to smash your toes?” Because of his size, most people assumed he lacked agility. At school, he’d used the mistaken assumption to dispense with more than one bully.
That agility, most conveniently, carried over to dancing—a benefit he’d never appreciated fully until tonight.
“I might have,” she answered with a wince. “However, do extend my compliments to your dancing master.”
Mantis raised their clasped hands to his heart. “You don’t believe I was born gifted?” Their hands rested on his chest between the two of them. It wasn’t a proper manner for dancing, but they were not dancing at a proper ball.
They were at Vauxhall, where society’s invisible lines between titles, position, and power faded. If only for a song.
Mantis would be certain to pass her words along to Masaki.
“It felt like flying, didn’t it?”
“It did.” He grew serious. “What does this feel like?”
She held his gaze.
Dancing with her, like this, felt like a prelude to making love.
“I don’t have a dance instructor, only Masaki, my sensei. But fighting is much like dancing, isn’t it?
“Masaki. Does he work with the children by the docks as well?” Mantis had forgotten he’d told her about that. It wasn’t information he shared with many. Not even Cordelia knew about it.
