In the darknessof the carriage, as they bobbled along the road, back to Buckwood Manor, Willamina held her breath. Had Finlay really just asked her to kiss him? And was her body aching to do just that?
Could she?
She did not have much experience with kissing. Gerard never kissed her other than their wedding night. She pushed all the thoughts of her late husband and all his unpleasantness out of her mind.
This was Finlay. He was not cruel like Gerard. He was kind and caring. And he wanted her.
Her.
Not anyone else.
Her.
Ignoring all the reasons floating around her mind as to why she should not, she leaned forward and tentatively touched her lips to his.
His fingers squeezed hers, but other than that, he made no move. She pushed her lips harder against his. She had the sudden urge to taste him. “Kiss me back,” she whispered.
“Och, love. I thought ye would ne’er ask,” he said against her mouth, before his hands left hers and cupped her face, slanting his mouth over hers, his tongue seeking entry as his fingers stroked the side of her face.
The feeling was purely erotic. Were kisses supposed to be so passionate? She opened her lips and his tongue swept inside.
She could not stop the moan that bubbled up from her throat as his mouth devoured hers. He left her panting for breath, her chest heaving.
The carriage came to a halt, and she could only assume they had arrived at Buckwood. She scooted back, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, her palm over her heart as her chest heaved. She swallowed hard. “I, I verra much enjoyed that,” she whispered.
Finlay blew out a ragged breath and chuckled. “I am glad to hear that. I did as well.” He loosened his cravat. “I suppose I should get ye inside, lest Gil wonders what we are doing.”
She gasped. “We must no’ have that.”
He went to push the door open, and she stopped him by placing a hand on his arm. He looked at her, his brows raised in question.
“I have ne’er been kissed like that. Thank ye.”
She felt like a fool for such an admission. And an even bigger fool for thanking him. He was going to think she was an imbecile.
Later that night as she lay in bed, her mind played over the kiss again and again. When she closed her eyes, visions of Finlay flooded her brain.
Sleep eluded her. Finlay consumed her. This was not how their plan was supposed to go. Feelings were not supposed to be involved.
But as the night wore on, the only thing she could think about was the next time Finlay could kiss her as passionately as he had in the carriage.
Och, this was not good. Not good at all. This muddied the waters. But no matter how she tried, she could not get Finlay out of her mind. His hands on her face, it was as if they had seared her skin. She could still feel his touch.
She turned on her side and punched the pillow in frustration. Not falling for Finlay Primrose was going to be much harder than she had originally anticipated.
How did one go from not wanting to get married, to suddenly thinking it may not be as bad an idea as she had once thought?
Ugh! There was no sleep to be had tonight so she shoved the covers away and wrapped herself in her robe. Sitting down on the plush window seat, she looked out into the moonlit night, wondering in what direction Rosewood Manor stood. It would not matter, it was not like she could see it anyway. But she would still like to know.
She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them and rested her chin, facing the window. Was Finlay sufferingfrom her same predicament? She somehow doubted that. He seemed much more put together than she was.
As their wedding day drew near, she knew that she would have to confess the other reason why she had to leave Inverness. No thanks to Clarice and Viola. What were the chances of running into them at the theater?
Once again, she found herself shaking her head at how she ever believed they were her true friends. They were both cruel and self-serving. They only cared about themselves.
She vowed that she would tell Finlay the next day. With all the kindness he’d shown to her, it was only right that she told him the truth. She didn’t want him to think that she had deceived him into marriage. Nay, he should have the option of calling the wedding off if he wanted.
She bit her lip. Finlay backing out of their union was not an option. She needed the wedding to happen. She had nothing. The ramifications of them not marrying would be dire for her.
