“It’s incredible,” she said, suddenly curious as he opened a tall iron gate and waved her to enter before him. The garden, as far as she could see, had obviously been neglected for years but was not without potential.
“We should be able to enter in the back. Rowan will have kept some flints there.” Addison led her along a flagstone path but was shaking his head. “What was I thinking, bringing you here at nightfall?”
“How could you have known? It isn’t as though either of us planned this.” In fact, they ought to be having dessert about now. And then readying to leave for the theater.
Addison flicked her a wry smile before squeezing her hand and slipping the two of them through an arched opening. Long shadows made it nearly impossible to see where they were walking.
“Collette.” They’d hardly stepped inside before Addison turned and backed her against the cool wall. His mouth claimed hers almost violently, but Collette welcomed the sudden onslaught.
The sky could have fallen, the world could have opened up and swallowed them—and none of it would have mattered.
He broke the kiss just as abruptly and buried his face against her neck. “I’m sorry.”
This large, proud, and powerful man seeking refuge in her arms evoked an overwhelming desire to comfort. It was similar to how she’d felt the day she’d helped him in Miss Primm’s stairwell weeks ago.
But she had not loved him then. Not quite two months and yet it felt like a lifetime had passed.
His lips found hers again, and as he explored her taste, she slid her hands up his chest and around his neck.
Needing closer—needing more--she raised one leg, tightening it around his thighs. She could fight her own desperation but… she didn’t want to.
Addison lifted her off the ground and she instinctively wrapped both legs around his waist.
She’d been allowed to see him on numerous occasions since accepting his proposal, but always with a companion or in public. Unable to be alone together, this pull had become nearly unbearable. And now she had him to herself. This was what she’d wanted. This was what she’d needed.
The freedom to surrender—to relinquish the restraints imposed by nearly everyone around them.
She wanted more than his hands touching her. She wanted to be filled with him, joined to him.
“I want you,” he murmured against her mouth.
“Yes.” More than air itself. Collette tightened her arms and wiggled her hips in an attempt to be closer. She wanted him.
Closer.
Inside.
“Addison.” She couldn’t marry him, could she? But she wanted him, she needed him.
She loved him.
He moved them away from the wall, carrying her across the heavily shadowed room to lower her onto a cot. She hadn’t noticed it before.
She looked at him in surprise and he shrugged.
“My brother is very dedicated.”
But Collette didn’t require any explanations. She lifted her mouth to his again. All she knew was Addison. Breathing the same air—touching her—kissing her.
Loving her.
The last glimmer of dusk stole through the door and in mere minutes, they’d be in total darkness. But for now, she could still make out the expression on his face—the light shining in the back of his eyes.
This was love. It could be nothing but love. How could she not surrender to love?
“Collette,” he breathed.
She sunk into the thin mattress and held out her arms to welcome him.
