Eve had taken two steps toward a nearby couch in order to sit down before Freddie grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back to him.Before she could utter a word of protest, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her hard against him.“I’ve been wanting to do this since the first day we met,” he said.
His lips descended and she felt the soft heat of his mouth as he took her in a searing kiss.She tilted her head back and relaxed into the embrace.
He ran his tongue along the bottom of her lip, and when she opened her mouth, his tongue swept inside.The kiss deepened as their tongues met and slowly began to move against one another in a passionate dance.This was everything she had ever hoped for in a first kiss.Heat and passion.
His hand drifted down lower and he took a firm grip of her bottom, pulling her even harder against him.The layers of her cloak and gown could not disguise the hardness of his manhood as he held her in this tight embrace.The knowledge she was arousing him both frightened and thrilled her.
She softened her lips.He kissed exactly like she had hoped he would.There was no youthful fumbling in his actions.
“Oh, Eve,” he murmured, pulling away from her lips.
She looked into his eyes and saw the glaze of passion in them.She reached up and put a hand to his cheek, drawing him back to her.Their mouths met once more in a soft kiss, which rapidly grew in its intensity.A kiss that spoke of an understanding of the change in their relationship.His hands pushed open the folds of her cloak and she felt fingers brush against her nipples.When he took her nipple between his fingers and gently squeezed, she let out a low groan of satisfaction.
Desire stirred within her body, and she sensed she was about to lose the little power she had over the situation.If Freddie decided to lower her to the sitting room rug and take her innocence here and now, she would let him do it.
He pulled out of the kiss and let out a stuttering breath.“Sorry, I got a tad carried away there for a minute.”
Eve stepped back and tidied up the front of her gown and cloak.Through the lace curtains of the sitting room window she saw her family town carriage draw up out the front.Disappointment descended on her happy mood.The moment between them was at an end.
“I have to go,” she said.
“Yes, of course.Thank you for the dog.He is exactly what we need.”
An awkwardness descended on what had been an intimate moment only seconds before.Freddie ushered Eve toward the door, but he no longer met her gaze.
As she climbed into the carriage, she gave him a hopeful smile.He returned it with a friendly wave and closed the door.When the carriage drew away from the edge of the road, Eve looked back.
A second carriage now drew up outside Rosemount House, and Freddie turned away from her.She silently wished he would look back, but whomever was in the other carriage had captured his attention.
She sat back and faced forward.They had shared a kiss—one which spoke of desire and a hungry need.She could only hope he felt more than mere lust for her.With her heart now in dangerous territory, her greatest fear was that he would be guided by society expectations and be forced to offer for her.She might beat Caroline to the altar, but a loveless marriage would be the most hollow victory of all.
It would be the greatest gamble of her life to risk both her heart and reputation, and it was a decision she was going to have to make alone.With Lucy on her honeymoon in Paris, and Caroline barely on speaking terms with her, there was no one to turn to for advice.Freddie was a risk she was going to have to take on her own terms.
