A desperate sense of helplessness along with a pain so real and sharp crashed over her like a wave. Will already seemed so different, so out of reach, rattling on about all he would own one day without a thought to all he would leave behind. And Phoebe knew down to her bones that the newfound closeness they had been enjoying that summer couldnevergrow into something more now.
She had been rude to him that afternoon, though she couldn’t remember her exact words now, and hadn’t even said a proper goodbye.
“I never wanted it,” he said suddenly, and shook his head. Will turned to her, his dark eyes full of regret. “I don’t mean to sound so pitiful. I know how lucky I am. But obviously it changed my life.”
Mine too.
Yet here he was, despite all that had separated them. And he could be hers once again. For a little while at least.
“Only I… I didn’t expect it,” he added quietly.
But whoever could expect such a thing? Phoebe’s heart clenched with sudden tenderness for that young man thrust into a position, and a world, he knew little about. “And then I had to leave home to go stay with the old duke who made no secret he thought me beneath his very notice, let alone the title,” he said with a brittle laugh.
Phoebe placed a hand on his arm. “Will…”
“It’s fine,” he said, covering her hand with his own. “We found a way to rub along—eventually. And your father was quite helpful afterward in understanding the enormity of it all, especially the business dealings.”
“Was he?” She’d had no idea.
Will nodded. “I know he always thought of me as a mouthy little upstart,” he said with a smile. “But he was very good to me. I even still employ the secretary he recommended.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Phoebe said as she took his hand. “I never really thought how it must have been for you,” she admitted. “Especially being sent away. Cal was miserable for weeks afterwards.”
And so was I.
Will bowed his head for a moment. “It was… different.”
Phoebe stared into his eyes. There was far more he wasn’t saying. She tried to think back on what she knew about the old duke, but her mind was a blank. It had been easier at the time to dismiss him completely rather than torture herself over the details of his new life. A life she couldn’t really be a part of. Not in the way she wanted most.
And that still hadn’t changed, had it? Her earlier bravado faded as Will slowly leaned toward her. This was a terrible idea. And yet, when he wrapped a hand around her waist to pull her closer, Phoebe followed. And when he leaned in to kiss her, she tilted herhead back to meet him. And when their lips touched once again, she inhaled deeply, as if she had been holding her breath all these years and now,nowcould finally let go.
She thrust her hands into his thick locks and stood on her tiptoes while Will immediately embraced her. How was it that two people so very different from each other could fit together so perfectly? It felt like one of those incomprehensible equations she had never been able to solve. Or maybe his kisses simply hindered her ability to think properly—or at all. She found she didn’t much mind at the moment.
After a few more kisses that syphoned off the last of her reason, Phoebe turned around so he could unbutton her dress, which he seemed to find amusing. Together they made quick work of the rest of her layers until she was down to only her paper-thin chemise and stockings. Then Will gently leaned her back onto the bed and sat down beside her. But as his hungry eyes roved over her body, Phoebe felt the instinctual urge to cover herself. Until he spoke.
“You are so lovely, Phoebe,” he whispered as softly as a prayer.
His words should not have affected her as they did. This was supposed to be about pleasures of the flesh. But that mattered little to her heart, which thundered with joy. She had meant it earlier, about not always being certain of his attraction. Because how often did someone get exactly what they wished? It seemed like a dream. Something too perfect to be real. And eventually, she knew she would have to wake up.
“Kiss me,” she replied. For she could take no more of his fawning gaze.
“If you’d like,” he said with a wolfish smile.
That was a massive understatement.
As he took her mouth in a lush, deep kiss, his warm handspressed against her waist. It felt so much better without the layers of clothing between them, but she wanted more. She wanted to feel his fingertips dragging across her bare skin, touching her everywhere. She arched toward him and his hands immediately snaked down her body to ruck up the hem of her chemise.
She broke the kiss to let out an aching groan as his rough palms caressed her overheated skin. The thin fabric felt positively stifling, and Phoebe drew the hem up even higher. Will chuckled at her eagerness but didn’t stop stroking her. Phoebe faintly thought it strange that his hands weren’t perfectly smooth, but then all other thoughts fled her mind as he began to brush her nipple with the pad of his thumb through the fabric. He stared down at her with single-minded focus, watching for the slightest expression of regret, but he would not find it.
“Yes,” she breathed and he answered by gently pinching it. Phoebe let out a surprised laugh. “Cheeky.”
Will grinned and lightly kissed her mouth. “But you like it?”
“Very much,” she panted as he continued to pluck her nipple.
“Good. And this?”
He put his lips on her other breast and Phoebe gasped as he swirled his tongue around her nipple before taking it into his mouth. She couldn’t stop writhing in pleasure as he sucked her through the fabric. He pulled back for a moment and looked quite proud of himself, but given the wave of all-consuming pleasure building inside her, Phoebe decided he had earned the right.
