He stared outthe window but he saw Maxim, standing in the doorway to Oliver’sstudy at Roxegate House, his hand held tightly in Alexandra’s. “Hecame back, Sera,” he said hoarsely.
“Iknow.”
With a harshsob, he turned in her arms, burying his head in her shoulder. Sheheld him, making soothing noises as he shuddered in herembrace.
Slowly, themaelstrom receded, and he felt...lighter. Taking a breath, helifted his head. Sera looked back at him, her own eyes damp, andall he could see was her. He cupped her face. She searchedhis.
Slowly, helowered his mouth to hers.
Her lips openedto his, so sweetly, and he poured everything into this kiss, allhis gratitude and his thanks, his desire, how much he missed her,how he’d longed for her. All this time, he’d needed her and hehadn’t even known it, and now she’d forced herself back into hislife, and he couldn’t be more grateful that she’d done so. Thatshe’d made him see. That she was here, with him, and she wantedhim.
They brokeapart.
He stared intoher eyes and she stared back.
“This isn’t because of emotion,” he said.
She blinked.“Pardon?”
“WhyI kissed you. It isn’t because of Maxim, or Harbor. It’s because ofyou.”
Her browcreased. “All...right.”
“It’s because I want you.” He kissed her brow. “I desire you.”He kissed the other. “I need you.” He kissed below herear.
She shuddered.“I did not think otherwise.”
“ButI want you to know.” He pulled back. “I am not losing myself inyou. This is not because of grief.”
She smoothed hishair at his temple. “I believe you.”
“Good,” he said simply. And then he kissed her.
Chapter Twenty Four
SERA HADN’T KNOWN WHAT to expect when she finally madeStephen talk to her, but it hadn’t been this. It hadn’t been anoutpouring of emotion, of devastation and loss, and then for him tokiss her as if he couldn’t breathe without her.
Not that she wascomplaining.
Tangling herfingers in his hair, she opened herself to his kiss. His tongueswept inside to tangle with hers, and she tasted salt on hislips.
Her heart achedfor him, for all he’d endured. And it ached for her, that shehadn’t been able to comfort him. But she was now and, God willing,she always would be.
Pulling back,she swept her thumbs over his damp cheeks, and he smiled ather.
She sucked inher breath. Lord. That smile.
His gazedarkened, and he drew her to him once more. This time, his kiss waslike fire. He kissed her, and she never wanted him to stop, shewanted to be with him like this always. She had missed him so much.Now, they were together, and she could think of nothing but beingcloser to him.
Pulling hismouth from hers, he trailed kisses down her jaw, his hands tight onher hips. He licked her neck and she shuddered. Desperately, shepulled at his coat and he struggled out of it, cursing as it caughton his arms. Attacking his cravat only made it tighter, and shemoaned in dismay, wanting to taste his skin only to be stymied byfabric.
With a growl,Stephen ripped the knot open, and she unwound the fabric as heassaulted the buttons on her back. Her dress gaped and then fell,exposing her stays and chemise, and he curled his hand around herneck, his thumb forcing her chin up. She met his gaze withchallenge and he took her mouth, his other hand sliding over hershoulder to cup her breast through her stays. Her nipple hardenedas he pushed her flesh up, his fingers shaping her as he liked. Shemoaned his name, feeling the tug of it deep in her belly, her corewet and aching. He pushed his hips into her and he was hard againsther stomach, his mouth savage as he devoured her with hismouth.
The edge of abed pressed into the back of her thighs and then she tumbled,landing in a swirl of fabric. He followed her down, dropping kissesover her collarbone, her breasts, and she arched into him, wantingmore. Wanting everything.
Straddling herthighs, he reared above her, all lean strength and pale skin.Muscle rounded his shoulders and corded through his arms, thebulging of his biceps revealed as he tugged his shirt over hishead. A curl of blond fell over his forehead, and he stared down ather with intense dark eyes, his face a mask of desire. He was sopretty, and he could have any one of a hundred women.
Unaccustomeddoubt crept in. Perhaps they shouldn’t do this. She had no desirefor him to feel trapped, or for him to believe she’d planned totrap him. What if he thought she had planned to trap him? “Do youwant this?”
