Her pulse leapt in response to his smooth tone. “Very well, James.”
“That’s better.” He paused, then asked, “Are your eyes closed now?”
She nodded, then recalled that he wouldn’t be able to see her doing so and said, “Yes.”
“Good. Because unless you plan to keep a constant barrier between us or only to speak with me in writing, we need to tackle your nerves and bring them to heel. After all, I would like to kiss you.”
Her eyes flew open and he was suddenly there, just inches away. Somehow, while he’d been talking, distracting her with his words, she’d missed the fact that he’d been approaching.
“Shh... Easy does it,” he murmured when she took a step back. “Close your eyes again so you don’t have to look at me. We’ll work through this together, all right?”
Sucking in a deep breath, Abigail did as he asked and nodded. The queasiness that usually overcame her when he was near had started to rise the moment she’d seen him right before her. So she took another series of breaths and tried to ignore it.
“You’re feeling ill again, aren’t you?”
“I’m so sorry, I just—”
“Don’t be. Now that I know why this is happening, there’s no need for you to apologize.” His comment was followed by the gentle touch of his palm against her cheek. It was wonderfully warm and inviting, and she found herself leaning against it without even thinking. “You should know that I also find you incredibly attractive.”
Abigail’s face grew unbearably hot and her heart started skipping around as if not quite sure of where it belonged. But then she felt the soft press of James’s lips against hers, and all her focus went to that point of sensual contact. She forgot who she was and where she was. Every uncertainty she felt in his company was swept away by this new kind of touch, and all she could do was feel.
His free hand moved to her back, settling firmly against the base of her spine and holding her steady. The other continued to cup her cheek while angling her head just so. The scent of him, a combination of sandalwood and bergamot, filled the air around her.
Needing to steady herself in the face of the heady experience, she wound her arms around his neck, bringing herself flush against his solid chest.
A low groan of pure satisfaction rose from his throat, stirring to life a series of new sensations inside her. Gone were the awkward nervousness and the dreaded fear she might cast up her accounts at any second. In their place was an eager need to explore this new experience to its fullest. So she didn’t draw away when he deepened the kiss, nor when he pulled her more firmly against him. Instead, she started to wish he’d do something more, though she wasn’t quite sure what that “something more” should be.
#
GOD, HOW HE WANTEDher. The way she responded as he kissed her proved what she’d told him was true. It wasn’t an aversion toward him that made her act strange, but rather a burning desire, the likes of which he’d never known before. She’d claimed an attraction, but this was far more than that. This...this was a force that would bind them together forever and make sure they had no trouble at all in the bedroom. Hell, he was ready to lift up her skirts right now and take her against the hedge he was so bloody mad for her.
The confession she’d made and the courage it must have taken to make it only compounded his need to claim her. Which was rather odd in a way, when considering how frustrated and angry she’d made him not so long ago.
His hand crept down over her bottom so he could secure her more firmly against him. Christ, that felt good! And the sigh she emitted...
He kissed her harder, releasing all of the aggravation she’d caused him, while relishing the new turn their relationship had taken. If they could maintain this degree of wild passion, they’d be all right for decades to come. But since claiming her innocence here in her parents’ garden would be utterly reprehensible, he carefully, gently, and most regrettably, eased her away and took a step back.
Cheeks flushed and with her hair in slight disarray, she stood with her eyes still closed, looking wonderfully ravished. For a few long seconds, all James could do was stare at her, this lovely impassioned woman who’d soon be his wife.
“That was,” he finally managed while sounding as though he’d just raced up a hill, “sensational.”
A shy smile pulled at her lips. “I must confess, I’ve never experienced anything quite like it.”
“I should certainly hope not,” he muttered.
In response to which she opened her eyes and looked at him, not with unease this time, but with absolute clarity and...something he reckoned was a mixture of happiness and yearning. “You taste incredible.”
Her remark was so unexpected, James couldn’t stop from laughing even as he felt his own cheeks grow warm. Hell, he’d never been one to blush and yet he was doing so now. “So do you,” he said when he noted the wariness in her eyes. Now that she’d started relaxing around him, he’d fight to keep her from going back inside her shell.
“I have the oddest desire to touch you right now,” she confessed after a moment of silence. “Is that normal?”
James coughed and made a stoic attempt not to conjure up all sorts of wonderful ways in which her hands might please him. “Um. Yes.” He cleared his throat. “I want to touch you as well.” Everywhere. While they both wore fewer clothes.
Her smile widened. And then, confirming that her mind was not as filthy as his, she held out her hand for him to take. “Thank you for helping me banish my nerves,” she said as they walked back toward the terrace. “My stomach’s still somewhat uneasy, but it’s nowhere near as bad as it was before.”
“I’m glad.” He squeezed her hand. “And Abby, I want you to try and be honest with me from now on. No matter how hard it may be at times, confronting the truth as quickly as possible can prevent misunderstandings and save us days’ worth of aggravation.”
“You’re right.” She glanced at him and blushed. “I’ve been very silly, I know.”
