CHAPTER6
Valaria’s lips were soft beneath Callum’s, so very soft.For a moment he just reveled in the touch of them.But then she made a soft sound at the back of her throat and slightly parted them, which changed everything.He wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her against him gently as he traced the crease of her lips.God, she was sweet, like honeyed wine.He never wanted to stop drowning in that flavor.
She placed her hands against his chest, palms flat, and for a moment he thought she might push him away.He felt the flutter of hesitation in the flex of her fingers, but then she tilted her head just a fraction and darted her tongue out to touch his.
He was trying not to lose control.He had already gone way too far, but this woman had been a drug in his system from the first moment he touched her.And he was beginning to be pulled under by the drive to have more and more of her.
He splayed his fingers against her back and took a little more, their tongues dueling in an endless dance of pleasure and desire and heat.She made that soft sigh again, and the sound of her pleasure put his body on edge like it had never been before.
But before the kiss could advance further, before even more imprudence could reign, her hands fisted against his chest and she did push.He immediately released her, stepping back as he panted in heavy breaths.They stared at each other in the dim light that filtered onto the terrace from the house.
She shook her head, her eyes wide and wild.Her mouth opened and shut a few times, like she was seeking something to say.But then she pushed past him and walked back across the terrace, back to the door into the parlor where their friends waited.She never looked back.
“Fuck,” he muttered, and crossed to the terrace wall to look out over the garden below.His entire body shook and he fought to regain some small semblance of control.
Control he had thrown away and now…well, now there would be consequences.Not the least of which was the guilt he felt in taking advantage of a woman in mourning, his late best friend’s wife.What kind of man did that make him?
“The worst kind,” he grumbled, and moved toward the parlor.He looked through the window as he approached.Valaria had gone inside and she now stood with the others.She had a glass of madeira in her hand, she seemed untroubled as she spoke to Theo and the duchesses.
But when he entered the room, she glanced over her shoulder at him.Her cheeks paled, her pupils dilated, her hands shook ever so slightly.He had done that.
And he hated himself for it.
* * *
Valaria had never thanked Silas for much, but tonight she felt in his debt.After years of putting on a mask and pretending not to feel fear or pain or heartbreak or anger, she was very good at it.And so she’d been able to mask her panic…and other feelings…as she shared supper with the group.It hadn’t been easy…but she’d done it.
And now she sat at the table, the empty dessert plates not yet taken away, and she knew her face was unreadable.But her mind was racing, just as it had been for the last hour.
She’d kissed Callum.Well, he’d kissed her?It was hard to recall anything but the feel of his lips against hers, the taste of him when he pressed his tongue to hers, the way his arms had felt around her.
It would have been easier if it had all been distasteful.If she could hate him for taking such liberties.But she didn’t.He had been kind to her, he had touched her and she had…wanted.Wanted the kiss, wanted the touch…wanted him.It had been years since she’d felt that tug of desire.Since the beginning of her marriage, before Silas had revealed all his true colors and made her loathe him.And even then, the wanting had been a faint tug, not this cascading waterfall of need that had thrown her off guard and made her want to run away so that she wouldn’t be so off kilter.
“What do you think, Valaria?”
She blinked as she realized that Bernadette was speaking to her and that the entire table was watching her, expecting some kind of response to whatever was being asked.
“I apologize,” she said, and didn’t have to force her blush.“I have been caught woolgathering, I fear.What was the question?”
“Charades, Your Grace,” the Duke of Lightmorrow said, his tone gentle.“We were debating what activity would be best for after supper entertainment and Etta was asking your opinion on charades.”
Valaria cast her glance again at Callum.He was gliding a finger along the rim of his glass, his posture as uncomfortable as her own felt.If she had to go into a parlor with him and play games…oh, she wasn’t certain she wouldn’t combust with all the tangled emotions going on inside of her.
She sighed.“I do love charades.Though I wouldn’t say I’m the best at them.But…I’m afraid I must be the worst guest.I have not been out in company for so long, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.And it’s led to a headache.I would not ask that the other duchesses leave the fun, but I think I should return home.”
Flora was seated on her left and she caught Valaria’s hand.“Oh dearest, you should have said something earlier.Being out in company must be complicated for you.Mourning is not an easy thing.We shall escort you home.I’m sure the gentlemen understand.”
Callum’s mouth tightened slightly, but he inclined his head.“Of course we do.”
Lightmorrow nodded.“We shall be bereft without your feminine company, but somehow we will soldier on until the next time we are together.”
Bernadette laughed softly at his playful words, but Valaria couldn’t bring herself to do the same.She hoped that would be taken as a reaction to her pretended headache and that no one would feel the tension now coursing between her and Callum.
“Let me have your carriage fetched,” Theo said, casting a quick look down the table at Callum.He got up and the ladies did the same, which made Callum move to his feet, as well.
He cleared his throat as he came around the table toward her.“Let me escort you, Your Grace.”
He held out a hand to her and she could hardly breathe as she thought of how those same outstretched fingers she had felt clenching against her back as he held her so gently such a short time before.
