“I see,” he said. “And how might I be of service to this inquiry?”
“Well, Dr. Hall, I’d like it very much if you would kiss me.”
Thunder sounded in his ears at the request and he went to shake his head, but then that same pang he felt on the steps of the opera house reverberated within his chest and he bent his head down and kissed her.
Chapter Nine
Aseries ofstarbursts flashed behind Grace’s eyelids as a rush of fire coursed through her veins the moment James’s lips touched hers. Her fingers reach up, curling into the dark hair at the back of his skull, and holding him close as his tongue swept against hers as every one of her senses filled with him. She felt the short-clipped hairs at the back of his head against her fingertips, tasted the faint hint of port on his lips. The familiar scent of lime wafted around her as she listened to the way his hands ruffled against the fabric of her dress while her eyes remained only half open, so taken with the moment was she.
When she had kissed Lord Bartley, she had kept her eyes wide open, noting how foolish the man appeared mere inches away from her, with his eyes closed. But now, her eyelids felt heavy and her need to observe faded away as his large, warm hands wrapped around her back, holding her in such a way that he was trying to keep her.
It was rather romantic, she mused vaguely as his kiss deepened. This was wildly different too. Where Lord Bartley had merely opened and closed his mouth, like a fish out of water, making it rather awkward as Grace had been kissedat, instead of partaking in as a partner, James’s kiss felt organic and seeking, as if she might hold some sort of answer or reaction. Like he wished to discover something about her and for the life of her, she wanted to give him answers she did not have.
What would happen if she put her hands on him? With a hazy determination, Grace lifted her hands and pressed them against his chest. A slight intake in his breath made her aware of her effect on him. So, he was provoked by her touch? A detail to remember, she noted as his hand drifted up along her ribcage to her breast—
Oh.
It was Grace’s turn to gasp as the warmth of his hand sank into the fabric to the sensitive skin beneath. Suddenly, her body felt as though it were being slowly set on fire as a heat spread across her skin. She needed to feel his bare hand against her skin. It was a wild, intrusive thought, but one of pure animalistic desire. One she had never experienced before.
Pressing against him, leaning into their shared kiss, Grace followed her own urgent need, but was pulled sharply out of her own mind when James’s hand came to her shoulders and pulled away from her. He settled her back down on the seat behind her before sitting back himself.
Blinking, confused, Grace stared at him slack-jawed, while they both breathed heavily. His eyes seemed alight with an emotion Grace couldn’t name and his mouth was open slightly, his breath labored for some reason, as if trying to control himself. She wanted to feel his beard against her cheek again, and leaned once more toward him, but he held her in place.
“Someone’s coming.”
Grace frowned, unsure or rather unable to comprehend what he was saying. But just as she was about to open her mouth, the carriage door swung open. The driver had done so, only to reveal Aunt Belle, who appeared both pleased and suspicious.
“Ah, there you are, my dear. And Dr. Hall, how curious to see you here. I suspect my niece required your help in retrieving my medicine?”
“I, I mean, we couldn’t find it,” Grace stuttered softly. Why did she sound so breathless? “That is to say, I don’t believe you took it from the house.”
“Really? My mistake then,” she replied, her attention fixated on James. “Are you all right, doctor? You look a bit unwell.”
Grace stole a glance at James whose mouth opened before shutting as he climbed out of the carriage. She leaned forward to watch him leave.
“I’m curious, Lady Belle, what medication were you so desperately in need of that you sent your niece out into the night alone to retrieve for you?”
“But she isn’t alone, Dr. Hall. She’s with you. Which is rather fortunate, as I saw the Baroness Glengirth asking about you in the anterior of the opera hall.” Belle shook her head. “She did not appear very pleased to be abandoned, but I reminded her that professional men have responsibilities and a duty to the public, which seemed to satisfy her for a moment, but I would not keep her much longer. She can be prickly when provoked, I’m afraid.”
He seemed to stare at her for a moment before giving her a single nod.
“I see.”
“I doubt it,” Aunt Belle said beneath her breath as she climbed into the carriage, followed by Arabella, who curtsied.
“Good night, Dr. Hall,” she said before she entered the carriage.
With a final, heated glance, James closed the door rather soundly and walked away, leaving Grace in the presence of her aunt and Arabella, both of whom were watching her with open curiosity.
She swallowed.
“H-how was the rest of the opera?”
“Very interesting,” Aunt Belle said. “You wouldn’t believe who the hero actually turned out to be.”
“Wasn’t it the soldier?” Grace offered as the carriage took off. Although her mind was still reeling from what had just transpired between her and the doctor, she forced herself to remember some detail so as to appear undistracted. “The lowly one whom the duke kept calling a fool?”
“It was the soldier!” Arabella said happily, turning to Aunt Belle. “And you said she wouldn’t remember a thing about the opera.”
