“I think you are. Iwantyou to be, Rosalind. I want you to be so jealous that you wish to kick me senseless. I want your green eyes to be so envious that you want to kiss me till I see only you, feel only you, taste only you.”
“Blaggard…blackguard.” But it came out miserably. The lavender scent was eclipsing her roses, and a tear escaped down her cheek.
“Christ, Rosalind. I always make you cry. I don’t mean to; I just want the truth. Look at me.”
“No,” she said, but a warm hand came under her chin, to turn her face, and she knew she had to follow it or be pulled into a most undignified expression.
“Open your eyes or I’ll kiss you.” She debated that one, but the scent still stung her nostrils so she opened her lids.
His eyes were no longer stormy and angry, but silvery and burning. “Lottie sends her love.”
“Lottie?”
“O’Carroll’s wife.”
“I know who–”
“Lottie very benevolently brought me water to wash with this morning. I expect she thought adding lavender to it was a kindly thought. I didn’t want to use it – makes me smell like a garden – but since I’d spent all night getting fleeced by O’Carroll at cards, I needed a wash.”
“Playing cards?”
“Yes, cards. Not swiving, or drab-tupping, or any of your other related words.”
“Oh.”
“Indeed.”
“I’ve made a fool of myself.”
“No, it is I that is at fault.” He took his eyes from hers, head lowering. “It’s just… I was captured because of betrayal. A man I called my friend betrayed me. So to this day, I struggle to trust. I feel bitter and incensed when truth is withheld from me…whatever the reason.”
This time it was Lucas who turned his head away and she sighed; would she ever truly know this man? He had such dark things in his past, things that had changed his view on life and everyone in it.
Rising to her toes, she tried to reach his face with her lips, but he was too tall, so she slid her slipper-shod feet onto his boots and levered herself up to reach his mouth. She still couldn’t manage it and instead met his chin – that would have to do.
“Rosalind, you do not understand what you do to me. I can’t–”
Giving up on his chin, she started on his neck instead. She’d always wanted to kiss it: powerful and thick, tanned from the sun, and she didn’t even mind the scent of lavender any more, although she missed the musk and mint. She didn’t know if he was aware but his hands were still around her wrists, clenching as she kissed below his earlobe. She wondered if she grazed her teeth there what–
A deep groan escaped his chest and he bent down, turned his head and caught her mouth with his. He kissed with passion and wildness, pressing hard against her body. Hands released the wrists and moved instead to cup her cheeks, his broad palms encompassing them.
She felt completely covered, completely held and completely safe.
His mouth tasted of mint and a hint of coffee. With hands now free, she ploughed fingers into his messy hair and attempted to pull herself higher against him.
One of his hands dragged lower, over her shoulder, brushing the side of her breast and landing at her hip. He made a slight move backwards, enough for him to push a hand around her rear, lifting her gently so she was on a level with him.
And in all that time, his mouth never left hers, his tongue caressing and exploring in haste and heat.
His lips moved on, kissing down her neck, and she arched her back for more.
“God, Rosalind,” he murmured gruffly against her skin, “how could you ever think I’d want any other woman? You are all I think about. It’s as if I’ve known you forever.”
Before she could even think, his fingers were pulling on the small pearl buttons at her neck with surprising agility.
As soon as he encountered skin, he gave a muttered groan and buried his face there, kissing her collarbone and the top slopes of her breast until he met her shift. His fingers still pulled urgently at the lower buttons, pushing the dress open, revealing her shift-covered bosom. Rosalind was vaguely aware they were in the breakfast room and although the door was shut and it was early–
She didn’t care and instead let out a short, strangled gasp. His fervent gaze caressed her body and she ached to have his hands, his mouth there as well. His touch made her skin feel heated and feverish, yet the cure was for more…
