She turned her head, and now their lips were only a shared breath apart. He hadn’t intended to kiss her when he came over—he wanted her trust more than anything—but he couldn’t resist the temptation. He cradled the back of her head and took her mouth.
She moaned and gripped his shoulders. The kiss started exactly where their first by the spring had left off, with no tentativeness, no stumbling. Nicholas had to fight not to let his hands wander as they had by the spring. If he hadn’t stopped then… but he had, and now he couldn’t give into the desire demanding more than a simple taste of Sadie. Not now, when he knew he wanted more than the physical.
But he also couldn’t bring himself to pull back, much as he knew he should.
It was Sadie who wrenched herself away this time, her breathing harsh. “Nicholas—”
“Nick,” he corrected her, wanting that intimacy, even though he wouldn’t ask for any others until she trusted him.
“Nicholas,” she said deliberately, erecting a barrier between them no less strong than his wards. “I’m not going to spill my secrets over pillow talk.”
“That’s fine, because there will be no beds involved until you’ve already shared.”
???
Sadie gaped atNicholas. “Wait, a week ago we couldn’t kiss because I’d assume it meant more than it did, and now you are saying you want it to mean more?”
When he had said he’d made up his mind, she had assumed he was talking about indulging in a fling. Not… whatever this was.
Nicholas rose to his full height, towering over her as she sat on the settee, and crossed his arms. “It already means more, or will you deny that?”
“It shouldn’t,” she whispered. “We both know why this can’t work. You want more than I can give.”
“And I’ll take nothing until you are ready to share. Whatever you’re hiding about your magic, Sadie, it won’t change how I feel about you. If you tell me, I can share the burden with you.” He lowered his arms, his hazel eyes going soft. “I know you don’t believe that yet, but it’s true.”
Sadie shook her head.
Nicholas reached out and cupped her cheek. “Take the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.” He dropped his hand. “But I will let you ponder this in private for now.”
He turned and made his way to the door, a shimmering ward she hadn’t even noticed before fading away as he approached. He turned and gave her one last lingering look before he stepped out of the room and left her to her solitary thoughts.
Thoughts that were beginning to resemble hopes a bit too much. Hopes always shattered; Sadie knew that all too well. She didn’t want to be left picking up the pieces yet again.
Unfortunately, all her choices would lead to shards of pain now. She could take the risk of confiding in Nicholas and lose her haven in Lamsdel if—no, when—everything fell apart. Or she could guard her secrets and spend the rest of her life wondering what could have been between them if she weren’t a telepath. She knew which path she’d choose, but that didn’t mean they didn’t both hurt.
Twenty
???
Only five guestsfaced Nicholas across the table at luncheon the next day. Lenora had leapt at the chance to leave, riding out of Marstede in his best carriage shortly after sunrise. Her departure didn’t dim his mother’s determination at all, however.
“I know we are all sad that Lenora couldn’t remain with us for the remainder of the month, but we will still have fun without her,” she told everyone over a dessert of peach cobbler. “In fact, today we will start the next phase. Each day, one of you will get to choose an activity to do with Nicholas. Something you enjoy, that you want to share with him.”
A week ago, Nicholas would have groaned hearing this. But he’d put up with a lot to get a day alone with Sadie.
Even spend a day with Abigail.
Of course, his mother wasn’t done. Her expression was as serene as always, but Nicholas wasn’t fooled. He recognized the anticipation shining in her eyes. He braced himself for whatever she’d say next.
“But your chance to get to know Nicholas better won’t end there.” The Dowager Baroness of Marstede set down her fork, pausing just long enough to have everyone leaning forward in anticipation—even those with no interest in getting to know him. “Each night, one of you will take a turn sleeping in Nicholas’s room.”
“Mother!” There was no amount of bracing that could have prepared him for that. “You cannot be serious.”
She continued talking as if everything she had said was reasonable. As if he weren’t glaring at her. “Naturally, Nicholas will not be sleeping in his room these next few nights. He’ll take a guest room. But this will give you ladies a chance to see who he is in private.”
No objections Nicholas uttered would sway his mother, but for a moment he held out hope that one of the women would raise concerns over this unconventional turn of events. Beatrice was wholly unconcerned—no help coming from that direction. Helen and Jane were shocked, but not enough to speak out.
He turned his attention to the other side of the table. Abigail had a speculative glint in her eye that worried him, and Sadie had her lips pressed together, no doubt holding back laughter. He met her eyes, which danced with amusement at his expense.
