“She should be.” He moved close—scandalously close.
From outside the greenhouse, women’s voices were heard. He groaned, knowing exactly who had come looking for him. He pulled away from Diana, hurried to the door and locked it. From out the front windows, Ladies Jane and Margaret, and Miss Lilly walked by. He flattened himself against the door then motioned Diana to hide. She crouched low.
When the door handle jiggled, Diana’s eyes widened. She released a small gasp but then quickly covered her mouth. He held his breath, hoping Jane and her friends would not become suspicious.
After a couple of minutes, Jane and the other two finally left. Tristan crept away from the door. When he reached Diana, he grabbed her hand and pulled her deeper into the greenhouse, farther away from the lanterns and stopped them by a thick wooden beam.
“That was close,” he said.
“I know.”
She sighed and relaxed her back against the girder, then chuckled. “Tristan, being with you has certainly been an adventure.”
He smiled. “Shall I assume you are enjoying yourself, then?”
“Very much.”
“Splendid. I’m certainly enjoying the evening.”
A fly buzzed by her head, and he moved it away with his hand. The only discouraging thing about being this far in the shadows was he couldn’t see the color of her eyes. But if he stepped closer… He followed his thoughts.
Her chest moved with quick breaths. She licked her lips, and he couldn’t tear his eyes from that spot—except when the fly buzzed between their faces, pestering him once again. Just as he was ready to knock it aside, an idea hit him, making him grin. “Why don’t you blow away the fly like you did the bee yesterday?”
She laughed and shook her head. “I fear if I do, you may get the wrong impression of my intentions.”
“But my dear, sweet Diana. I’m led to believe your intentions are as wicked as my own.” He arched an eyebrow. “Or am I misreading you?”
Even in the dim lighting, he detected a blush on her cheeks. He swept his knuckle across her heated skin to get his answer.
“Tristan,” she said as she fingered one of the gold buttons on his over jacket. “I don’t know why I’m here with you now. If we were caught, my reputation would be ruined.”
“Then I’ll make certain we are not caught.”
The fly darted by his face again, and he tried to swat it. Soon, her hands were trying to make the insect go away as well. After missing their target, they started laughing.
“Hold still,” he instructed, keeping his eyes on the fly. When it neared her hair, he batted his hand. Instead of knocking the fly away, he bumped her styled hair, making the pins fall out. Her locks tumbled out of the coil and hung around her shoulders.
“Oh, dear,” she gasped and tried to fix it.
Mesmerized, he stopped her hands, lowering them to his chest as he held her palms against him. “Don’t,” he spoke in a deep voice. “I’ve never seen hair so beautiful before.”
“Tristan, this is indecent.” Her voice cracked.
“Please, allow me this one thing.” He caressed her hair, running his fingers from the top of the curls all the way to the bottom where they rested against her arms. She inhaled sharply but didn’t remove herself from his touch. “Your hair is so silky.”
Her chest heaved with quick breaths. He ran the tip of his fingers up her hair once again, until it reached the curve of her neck before sliding his touch to her skin. Creamy, just as he’d imagined it would be. In slow circles, he rubbed his fingers along her collarbone. Her breaths grew quicker, as did his own.
“Tristan, I fear this isveryimproper.” Her voice was abnormally low and so very soft.
“Diana, I want to hold you so bad it’s killing me.”
Closing her eyes, she sighed heavily. That’s all the encouragement he needed. Cupping her face, he pressed his mouth against hers. Softly, he kissed her lips, gently urging them to part.
“Diana,” he muttered, “your lips are like wine, so pleasing to taste.”
Another moan rattled through her chest as she clung to his shirt. He pushed his body against hers, pinning her to the wooden beam. Diana slid her palms up his chest and linked her hands around his neck. Suddenly he craved her touch like nothing he’d ever experienced before.
Tristan didn’t need to tell her what he wanted. It was like she could read his mind. She rubbed her hands over his shoulders, then around his back, pulling him closer.
