“We really do.” He caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. “However, I rather enjoy it when we arenottalking, because it is another way to get to know each other intimately.”
“Yes, but—”
He pressed his mouth against her lips again, momentarily stopping her words and her thoughts. She couldn’t control her sigh this time. Oh, this man knew exactly how to make her melt. He would be the death of her, she was certain.
She reached up to remove his hands from her face, but he linked his fingers with hers and then lifted their hands together above her head and rested them against the wall. The position made them even closer—his breast to hers, and his hips fitting quite nicely with Priscilla’s. As the kiss grew more urgent, his palms slowly slid down her arms. This particular cad knew how to control her both body and mind as he kissed her deeply, thrilling her completely. She was putty in his hands, but she didn’t mind at all.
Suddenly, a knock on the door snatched her right out of her dreamy desires once again. Gavin turned his head toward thedoor. The spell was broken, and although she knew they needed to talk, she wanted the heated moment back.
“Your Grace?” Mrs. Jones’s hesitant voice came from the other side of the door. “Your grandmother wishes your presence in the sitting room immediately.”
He released a defeated sigh. “Tell her I shall be there momentarily.”
His voice was husky, clearly affected by the passion they had shared. Priscilla tried not to grin, but her mouth stretched wide anyway.
“As you wish, Your Grace.”
When he looked back at Priscilla, he smiled while stroking her neck. “As much as I would love nothing more than to stay right here and kiss your sweet lips—and other things—for the rest of the evening, I’m afraid my duty as grandson must come first, since I know how impatient the dowager duchess is when she wants my attention. But rest assured, after supper, I plan to continue where we left off, but maybe in a more relaxing and comfortable position.”
Priscilla couldn’t stop the blush from covering her face. He had a way with words, and the pitter-patter of her heartbeat hadn’t slowed down since he first entered her room. “I understand.”
She loved the way his gaze held hers and she could see the intense emotions inside him. Surprisingly, they matched the way she felt.
“Try not to miss me,” he said with a chuckle.
“Oh, I think it’syouwho will missmemore.” After she had said it, she wondered why she was flirting with him. Wasn’t she supposed to be upset? Perhaps her body needed to cool down in order for her mind to work properly. Yes, that must be it.
He grinned. “You know, I believe you are right.” He gave her another kiss, but it was very brief. “Keep those tempting lips warm for me. I shan’t be gone very long.”
When he left her side and exited her room, a great emptiness consumed her. Trembling took over her body and she became cold.
She stumbled to the bed and lay down, hugging her pillow to her chest. What had Gavin done to her? The way she felt at this precise moment, she realized that she was falling in love with him. But it was different than before. Now the feelings were more intense, more intimate. She actuallywantedto be near him. She wanted him to love her.
She prayed he would return her feelings this time. She wanted him to be the man she had dreamed about for so long—the man who would love her unconditionally and not look at another woman. But she also knew Gavin’s past. A lovely woman had always turned his head.
He had better not break her heart this time. If so, she would be forever shattered and not want to trust a man ever again.
Chapter Twelve
It had beentwo hours. Two hours of apprehension building inside Priscilla’s chest. She feared she would explode into nothingness if someone didn’t tell her what was going on. Gavin and his grandmother had been in the sitting room with the door closed, and although Priscilla had walked—tiptoed, actually—by the room many times in the past two hours, she couldn’t hear much of what was being discussed. However, the raised voices were enough to set her on edge.
When her ankle started aching, she moved to one of the chairs in the large corridor, sat down, and waited. She fidgeted in the chair and wrung her hands in her lap. Were they talking about the fire in the stable? Or were they by chance discussing the marriage Gavin thought was supposed to happen so as not to ruin her reputation? She wondered if he worried more about his family’s reputation than hers. After all, her family was poor. Could the Hartwells be ruined any more than they had been because of gossipmongers?
Finally, the door opened, and Gavin strode out. Right behind him was the constable. She quickly rose.
She watched Gavin’s manners as he walked the constable to the door and bade him farewell, and it surprised her to see how much he had changed. Eighteen months ago, he wouldn’t have done that. Perhaps marriage to him wouldn’t be miserable at all. He had told her that he had changed, but she had been hesitantto believe. However, now she believed him. This was a man she didn’t know at all, and she couldn’t wait to fall in love with him.
Gavin noticed Priscilla and moved in her direction. He had been scowling, his forehead wrinkled and his mouth pulled tight, but the closer he came, the more his face relaxed, until he was smiling and taking hold of her hands.
“Have you been waiting for me all this time?” he asked in a jovial voice.
“Well, you and your grandmother, of course. After all, am I not still her companion?”
“Yes, you are. For a few weeks, anyway.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “But then you will be my wife.”
Her heart leapt to her throat. “Gavin, I fear we need to talk about that. I’m having doubts—”
“What is there to discuss that we haven’t already worked out between us?” he asked, stepping closer to her. “Your kiss has been on my mind since I left your room.”
