“We’ll go into the drawing room so Mrs. Lawton can finish in here.”
“Please bring your wine with you.” He gave her a teasing smile. “Just because I can’t drink doesn’t mean you can’t.”
Brina gave him a lopsided grin. “I’m finished with that too.”
He walked beside her down the dimly lit corridor, all the while thinking what he wanted to do was take her in his arms, shove her against the wall, and well… That was not the reason he came over. He had every intention of telling her what he’d discovered about Remick and what he thought Robert and Harper had gotten themselves involved in. Right now, he had no desire to visit that subject. Their cousins’ problems were fading from his mind. He wanted only to think about her. What he felt when he looked at her. How he felt when he touched her. Tonight, he wanted her to know just how much he desired her, and he wasn’t going to give a damn about anything else.
Zane knew how dangerous it was to bet everything he had on one game. He would caution anyone about being so foolish. You always left something to play again. But time wasn’t on his side. The last ball was only a couple of nights away. Tonight he was going to bet it all.
They walked into the drawing room. The draperieswere still open and the room was shadowed in early evening twilight.
“I’ll light the lamps,” she said. “Sometimes, I go straight upstairs after dinner and never come into—”
“Wait,” he said, taking hold of her hand when she reached to turn up the wick. In the darkness, she turned toward him and stepped into his arms.
Their lips met softly, brushing lightly back and forth in delicate, feathery motions that were meant to stir and entice. The kisses stayed that way until Brina’s arms wound around his neck and she pressed her body against his.
Zane was lost to the hunger he had for her and he couldn’t keep his passion at bay.
Soft, reverent kisses turned fervent and deep. With eager hands he felt the shape of her slender, womanly body. Desire for her soared. He tasted the warmth of her mouth, teasing her with his tongue. His hands pressed firmly into her buttocks to hold her tighter against him. Breathless gasps fell from her lips and he groaned as they both fed on the spiraling sensations that swept through them.
Brina matched his yearning and dug her fingers into the fabric of his coat as she tried to hold him tighter. His lips left hers and he kissed his way down her neck and quickly back up to cover her cheeks, her lips with more kisses.
He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. The only light in the room came from the corridor, but Zane saw she was as passionate for him as he was for her. He’d seen and felt her love for him as she held the kitten. Now, with the last ball moved up, he had run out of time and he had to show he loved her.
It was dangerous. She could use this night against him,but he had faith it was time for him totrusther with his love, time totrusthimself and put all his cards on the table.
“I love you, Brina. I don’t want any wagers or bargains between us. Just me and you tonight. Nothing else,” he whispered huskily.
Chapter 23
Brina didn’t know how they got up to her room. Did they walk? Run? Did he carry her? It didn’t matter. It was bathed in moonlight, and they were completely alone for the first time.
She had been attracted to Zane and wanted him to make love to her almost since he’d come to London, but he had rightly denied her. Somehow, he’d known tonight was the right time. All through their brief courtship he’d surprised her, teased her, and made her laugh. He knew how to listen to her innermost feelings without passing judgment, and she had fallen in love with him.
After she had locked them inside her room, it seemed their lips never parted. At times their kisses were short and fierce, and sometimes they were long and passionate. Still, at other times his lips caressed their way over her cheek, down her chin, and along the column of her neck, causing shivers of delight to cover her before searing her lips with his once more. She felt and accepted thepent-up desire he had for her and gave it back to him with full measure.
They tumbled onto the bed without removing the bedcovers or pillows. No care was taken for their clothing or shoes. Those things were easily disposed of as they kissed and touched and explored each other’s body. Their passion was fierce, driving, and desperate, but always loving. His hands tangled in her hair and her hands raked over his shoulders, back and down his slim hips. She gloried in the feel of his warm flesh beneath her hands. He whispered her name over and over again.
Each touch and kiss was frantic but loving when without reservations, she opened her heart and body to him and he took her for his own. There were moans of sweet, satisfying pleasure from both of them until they were breathless, happy, and sated.
Even though Brina already had some knowledge of loving from her brief marriage, she’d never felt the all-consuming sensual world Zane had introduced her to. Every kiss, every touch, every breath he drew showed her he wanted her. No one else. And that made her love him all the more.
Moments later Zane lifted his weight from her and rolled over. When he pulled her into the circle of his arms, Brina realized it was over and she suddenly felt like crying. Their coming together had been so passionate, so complete that she knew the depth of her love for Stewart had been only a young girl’s flight of fancy with her first beau.
Tears flooded her eyes. Stewart had loved her but never with such fierce passion, never making her feel as if she were the only woman he had ever wanted. As if she were the only one who could make him feel complete.
Memories tore through her mind at rapid speed. Sheknew what had just happened meant that after all these years, she’d given up her undying love for Stewart and replaced it with unyielding, undying love for Zane.
The pain was intense. Guilt crushed down on her. She rose up in the bed and whispered, “I hated him. I hated—” Her voice broke on a sob before she managed to say, “Stewart.”
Zane was beside her instantly, placing his arm lightly around her shoulder. “What are you saying? Brina, no. You couldn’t have hated him.”
“It’s true,” she whispered as tears spilled from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
He softly raked his thumb across her cheek and gave her an incredulous stare. “You loved him.”
“Yes, I loved him, but I hated him for saving all those people.” She clutched at the sheet covering her chest as the familiar rush of intense shame filled her. “I hated him for that.”
