When his tongue traced along my lips, I opened for him, unsure what he wanted me to do. But then the kiss changed. It had been nice before, but now it was something altogether different. Something wilder than what I’d thought possible. His tongue surged into my mouth as he tilted his head and deepened the kiss. Something within me came alive, and I found myself ravenous for more. I tried to match what he was doing, tracing my tongue along his.
He let out a soft groan, which I took as encouragement. I don’t know how long we stayed like that, our mouths exploring each other’s. All I knew was that it wasn’t long enough for my liking. When he raised his head and stared down at me, our breathing was heavy.
“If I wasn’t so worried about Tuttleford finding us here and tearing you away, I’d throw you onto that bed and take you right now.”
Instead of scaring me, his words had the opposite effect. “I think I’d like that.”
He closed his eyes, and I had to push away my disappointment when he released me. I told myself there would be kissing, and so much more, in two days’ time.
“I’m going to go downstairs and let them know we’ll be ready to leave in…” He raised a brow.
“Fifteen minutes,” I said, determined to keep to that timeline.
Victoria was smart, and she would have packed dresses easy for someone to don without a maid. But it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if I had to call upon my soon-to-be husband to lace up the back of my dress. A shiver went through me at the thought of his hands on my bare skin.
He nodded. “Lock the door. But don’t go downstairs without me. I’ll return to collect you.”
I watched him go with a sigh before following to do as he’d asked. Now that I’d had a hint of what lay ahead for me in my marriage, I wanted it with a bone-deep ache that almost made it impossible to breathe.
CHAPTER 15
CLIFTON
Our kiss put the last of my concerns to rest—it would be no hardship to marry Diana Atherton. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’d found it difficult to leave her and even now was anxious to return to her side.
It seemed that my desire to protect her went beyond a sense of duty to my mother. She’d valued her friendship with Lady Atherton above all others, and I knew mother worried about Diana’s welfare. Seeing Diana so greatly diminished under the Tuttlefords’ care showed me she’d been correct to worry. And after overhearing the baron’s threat, I felt responsible for ensuring her safety.
I would be lying if I didn’t admit a part of me had been concerned my feelings for her would be sisterly. But then she’d let down her hair, and desire had hit me. I couldn’t explain why since heaven knew I’d seen many women in all manner of undress. It was a surprise to see her wild, untamed hair, the fiery threads hidden within the tresses like specks of flame dancing throughout the brown, and the green that came out at times in her eyes, giving her the appearance of a vixen. The sight had called to something within me.
Yet this was still the same young woman who’d been so buttoned up and tightly held together. When she’d woken with her hair a wild mass, I’d wanted to do the same thing to the rest of her. To unravel the woman hidden beneath her composed exterior. Ruffle her up. And when we’d finally kissed, instead of cold detachment, a spark had sprung to life within me. I was shocked to find that the woman herself had a wildness concealed within her prim exterior. I hadn’t wanted to stop at merely kissing.
It was now more important than ever that I spirit her away to Scotland as soon as possible. After checking with the stables to ensure everything was ready for our escape north, I headed back inside. I was speaking to a maid about having a quick luncheon brought to our room when the young man I’d spoken to earlier pulled me aside.
“Someone has just arrived, my lord. He claims to be looking for his niece.”
Everything within me tensed. “What did you tell him?”
“When he gave me your name, I told him that your carriage was last seen heading west earlier this morning.”
I closed my eyes with relief. “Did he leave?”
He nodded. “Yes, and he was in quite a hurry.”
I gave him my thanks and intercepted the maid who was bringing up the small meal that I’d been able to procure. It was nothing fancy, just some bread, meats and cheese, and something to drink. I took the tray from her and climbed the stairs to our room.
At my knock, there was no answer. I kept my voice low. “It’s Clifton.”
After a moment, I heard footsteps, and the door opened.
My gaze swept over Diana. She was now wearing a dark-blue traveling gown. Her hair was up again, but this time it was in a loose chignon.
I barely resisted the urge to run my fingers through it and send her locks tumbling back down. “Your uncle was just here,” I said.
She took a step back, her hands flying to her mouth as I locked the door behind me.
“Is he downstairs?”
I shook my head. “He went after my carriage, but we must leave quickly. In a few hours when he catches up to it and realizes his mistake, he’ll return.”
