Her mouth grew dry again, and she licked her lips. His gaze dropped to her mouth. She was breathing so heavily she might just put herself to sleep. Yet her body and mind were awakening in ways she never imagined, and she wanted to taste his sweet kiss one more time. But was she ready for it? Kissing Adrian would make her feel things she had hoped to forget.
“Wha… what happened next?” she said in a shaky voice.
“Whathappensnext?” The corner of his mouth stretched higher than the other. “Well, my love, I would think a kiss would be what would happen next. Don’t you?”
Oh, heavens!Had he truly referred to her asmy love? Her heartbeat accelerated even more, but she mustn’t show him how much those two little words meant. Not until she could figure out her own feelings.
Returning to the conversation, she realized he was taking her words and twisting them again. “No, I mean, with your brother and the unknown person by the tree?”
“You think I should kiss the unknown person?” He laughed loudly and leaned closer. “My sweet Bridget, that is simply out of the question. Besides, I would rather kiss the lovely woman I cannot stop staring at. I would rather have you constantly on my mind. It’s more pleasurable that way.”
“But what if… if…” She swallowed the cotton that had somehow formed in her throat again. “What if your brother comes in? How do we explain it to him?”
He moved his fingers to her forehead and then trailed them across and down the side of her face, going further to her neck. She loved his touch but was worried that if she didn’t stop him now, she might never want him to stop.
“Tell me honestly, Bridget,” he said softly, “how do you feel about my brother? Are you still hoping he will propose?”
“I… I…”
“Do you love him, Bridget?” He moved his hand up, cupping the side of her face. “Because if you do, I shall back away and not get between you and Collin.”
Her mind felt dizzy, but it was because he was forcing her to decide. Could she admit that she’d never had feelings for Collin? Yet if she told Adrian that, she would have to confess that he was the man who’d filled her thoughts, even when she disliked him.
“You… would do that?” she asked.
He nodded. “Just tell me that you are in love with my brother, and I shall stop trying to win your affections.”
Her heart twisted. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she tell him? Perhaps she was still afraid he would break her heart.
*
Adrian saw thehesitation on her face, but she couldn’t possibly love Collin. When Bridget and his brother were together, it was quite obvious to Adrian that she was uncomfortable around Collin. Adrian knew her body language by now, and if she told him she loved Collin, he would know it was untrue.
“But,” he said quickly, before she could answer his question, “I want you to remember something.”
“What?”
“I want you to remember this.” He pulled her face toward him and captured her mouth. She inhaled sharply, but seconds later, she sighed and melted against him. He took her into his arms and kissed her meaningfully—not the urgent way they had kissed in the pantry. Now, he wanted this kiss to make her feel something else. He wanted her to experience the yearning emotions that were shooting through him, and he prayed she would feel the same way.
Her arms slid around his shoulders, and he pulled her against him. Tilting his head, he deepened the kiss, and it thrilled him when she responded eagerly. Her fingers moved to his hair, stroking the strands before she delved deeper, touching his scalp. Her tender caress made him sigh with pleasure.
Suddenly, she cupped his face and broke the kiss. He couldn’t catch his breath as he stared into her lovely eyes.
“Adrian?”
“Yes, love?”
“I… don’t have any feelings for your brother. I never did.”
Groaning with happiness, he gathered her against him once more, turning the kiss wild. He heard Collin’s voice coming from the corridor, asking the butler where Adrian was. Grumbling, he pulled away and quickly stood to move toward the window. He inhaled deeply, trying to compose himself under the desire flaming inside him. All Collin would have to do was take one look at Adrian’s expression to know what had just happened.
In the reflection of the window, he saw Bridget smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress before patting her hair in place. Her cheeks were bright red, and he prayed she would be able to control her embarrassment. Indeed, a blind man would be able to feel the heat sparking between Bridget and himself.
Collin’s heavy footsteps announced him as he entered the room. “William, I—” He hitched a breath. “Miss Hartwell, I didn’t know you were here.”
Adrian turned just as his brother sat next to the flustered woman on the settee. Collin took Bridget’s hand, and as he stared into her face, his expression told of his worry. Trying not to grin, Adrian bit the inside of his cheek. If Collin had been paying any attention, he would know. Perhaps it was the eldest brother who thought only of himself instead of the younger.
“How is your sister?” Collin asked.
