He was being very quiet and Elise watched as he crossed in the moonlight, treading carefully so he didn’t make a noise.
“Did you win?” She spoke in a hushed tone, not wanting to wake their elderly hosts.
Kit gave a start and then laughed quietly. “Why are you awake?”
“I couldn’t sleep, not until I knew you were home. Did you see Tamsyn outside?”
“I did. She is very comfortable in a bed of pine needles.”
Elise sat up. She wore the white muslin. Her other two dresses were on the peg beside his oilskin. The material was thin without a chemise beneath it, the left shoulder still torn. “Did you win?” she repeated.
He had crossed to the bowl and basin. Elise had emptied the water when she’d used it earlier. He now poured in fresh and splashed it over his face. He took the cake of soap and washed his hands before answering, “Enough. I earned enough.”
Kit walked toward the bed. Elise straightened. There was room in the bed for him...
She should speak. She couldn’t. Her tongue couldn’t move because he’d stopped and removed his jacket, the neckcloth, the shirt. The moonlight from the room’s two windows bathed him in silver. She caught a moonlit glimpse of a flat abdomen, hard muscles, and strong arms before he moved back into the shadows.
He lowered himself to the floor, but he didn’t lie down. Instead, he leaned against the bed frame, his back to her. “It was a long night,” he said quietly.
She slid off the bed to sit alongside him. Not touching—she couldn’t be that forward. She wanted him to come to her. “It was a long day,” she whispered.
“It was.” He smiled at her.
She looked down at his long legs. He’d removed his boots and she’d been so nervous, she hadn’t registered the action. Now she noticed the hole in his stocking. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she said,pointing to it. “I could have repaired that. I’ll do it in the morning. I’m certain Mrs. Forkner has needle and thread.”
“I’ve become accustomed to it.” He wiggled his toe. “I rather like it. Well, unless I have water soak through my boots.”
And then he did something truly amazing. He removed his socks.
Elise watched with a feeling akin to amazement. She still wore her socks wrapped around her feet. She’d always thought feet ugly. They were just necessary appendages, but his were different. He had beautiful feet. They were long with well-formed toes, and the sight of them in the moonlight was remarkably intimate.
“You didn’t braid your hair.” He spoke as if he’d just noticed.
Elise didn’t say anything.
“And what are you wearing?” he asked. His gaze ran over her. The simple gown with its graceful lines was what she and her sisters were known for in London. While others went to parties wearing lace and satins, the Lanscarr sisters made their entrance in white muslin, and no one forgot them.
His gaze lingered on her bare shoulder where she’d tucked the frayed edges under. And then dropped lower.
Under his scrutiny, her breasts seemed to grow fuller, rounder. The nipples hardened.
Did he notice? He must.
She wanted him.
And he knew it.
He reached out and ran the back of his fingers against her cheek. “Elise?”
His touch set off a steady, impatient thrumming deep inside of her, and she braced herself. Of course, she’d been kissed, but there had never been this heady anticipation.
But he didn’t move. Instead, his brows gathered as if he weighed the consequences, and she knew that if she didn’t act now, she’d lose her courage. And so, when he didn’t move beyond a touch, she threw her arms around him and kissed him fully on the lips with all the power of her fervent being.
***
Kit was shocked when she slammed her lips on his. She pressed hard against them with an enthusiasm that would have been appreciated... if her mouth wasn’t closed tighter than a clam’s shell.
For a long moment, they sat, Elise’s arms holding him trapped because he darednotmove. Or laugh.
