Without thinking first, he placed a kiss on her head, lingering before pulling away. “Please don’t cry.” Literally, her sobs were tearing him apart—as was holding her so closely. “I would never punish you in such a way. Never.”
Slowly, she shook her head, still against his chest. “Why can I not remember?” she whispered.
He touched his lips to the skin below her hairline. “The doctor said your memory would return in its own time.”
She lifted her head, meeting his eyes. “Honestly, I cannot recall this Macgregor. In my mind, all I see is a shadowy figure of a man. A beastly man with a raspy voice. But…” Her mouth quivered again. “I can feel how frightened he made me. I truly believe he’s very dangerous.”
“I swear to you, Louisa, I will not allow him to come near you.” He stroked his thumb across her cheek, removing her tears. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
Her gaze dropped to his lips, and suddenly, his mouth turned dry. Long, wet lashes fluttered against her cheeks as she licked her lips. Her green eyes darkened and desire leapt inside him. She slid her hand up his chest slowly. His muscles flexed beneath her fingers. By the time her palm rested on his neck, his heartbeat had quickened considerably. Heaven help him, but her touch was so sweet he wanted more.
“Trevor Worthington, you have such a giving heart. You are the kindest man I know.”
It was the first time she’d said his given name, and the words breezed from her mouth like an angel’s kiss. He enjoyed the wayhis name sounded from her musical voice, and he realized he wanted to hear it more often.
He couldn’t fight it any longer. Perhaps if he kissed her just this once it would satisfy his craving…it would appease his curiosity so he could put her from his mind—and dreams—once and for all.
“Why,” she whispered as her fingers brushed fire into his skin, “are you so wonderful to me?”
How long had it been since a woman’s sweet words had stirred such emotion inside him? Her intoxicating eyes melted his resolve, and he wanted to hear more of her words whispered in kindness.
His breathing turned ragged as he slowly brought his mouth down to cover hers, still moist from her tears. He kissed her gently, first the top lip and then the bottom. A sigh escaped her throat as she leaned closer. Cupping her face, he pressed his mouth more firmly against hers until she relaxed. As he continued the kiss, heat seared through him and explosions erupted in his ears.
Letting out a little sigh, she clutched his shirt. He moved a hand down her back, urging her against him more. Finally, he was able to touch her back and waist the way he’d craved earlier when she stood on the stool in his library. As she returned his kisses, he swept both hands over her, stroking her blonde hair, her slim shoulders, strong back, and tiny waist.
It had been too long since he had kissed a woman who responded so quickly. Hesitantly, he withdrew. Happiness filled her expression through her closed eyes and parted grin. Her cheeks were pink, her lips moist and swollen. He loved staring at her this way. But more than that, he loved partaking of her sweet lips and melting kisses and wanted this feeling to last… forever.
Unfortunately, forever was a shorter time span than he’d liked because off in the distance, her name was called.
Dash it.He pulled away. By the dazed look in her eyes, he knew she hadn’t heard. “Someone is coming,” he said.
She gasped and turned away from him, swiping her hands through her hair frantically. How he wanted her back in his arms.
What they had done should never happen again. Breathing deeply, and slowly, he willed the yearning pain to leave his heart and never return. He stared at the pond, wondering if he should jump in. After all, the cool water would bring him back to reality.
Before the voices reached them, he felt confident enough to walk beside Louisa out of the grove of trees. Mrs. Smythe and another maid came their way. Louisa’s frown had returned and she wiped under her eyes, giving the impression that she’d been crying.
“Oh, thank the Lord, His Grace has found you.” Mrs. Smythe rushed to Louisa and took her in a hug. “I worried where you had run off to.”
Louisa sniffed, keeping her gaze on the ground. “Please forgive me for causing such trouble.”
Trevor stepped closer, forcing himself to act like a duke and not a seducer of distraught young women. That was what Hawthorne was good at—not Trevor. “Louisa, I told you not to worry. We know you cannot remember much, but your memory will return in due time.”
She lifted glassy eyes to his for a brief moment before looking back at her feet. “I thank you, Your Grace. You are certainly a man with a big heart to forgive so easily.”
He met Mrs. Smythe’s eyes. “Please let her rest. She’s had a difficult morning.”
“As you wish, Your Grace.”
They walked back to the house, and with each step, he scolded himself. What had he been thinking? Obviously he’d not used his brain, but his lonely heart instead. The sad thing was hecouldn’t stop thinking about that kiss…about how she sighed his name, and most importantly, how she felt in his arms. Finally, he was able to feel like a desirable man, and heaven help him, he wanted to feel this way all the time!
It didn’t matter. This could never happen again. He must see to it that Louisa was trained in something and then sent to another household to live.
Chapter Thirteen
Richard Macgregor rodehis horse hard. Frustration built inside of him like a festering infectious wound, threatening to kill him within time.
