“Keith, stop it. You aren’t stupid or savage.”
“I’ve had enough of people looking down on me because I didn’t inherit my title from my father, or because I don’t come from a wealthy family. He thinks he’s better than everyone elsebecause he’s a rich boy. For years, he taunted me, made fun of me because of who I am. My patience has a limit.”
Her pinched expression relaxed. “That’s all understandable, but we can’t leave now. You must speak with the count and apologise.”
He worked his jaw. What a bloody mess.
“Keith? You’ll apologise,” she insisted.
“I will.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I apologise to you again. I was an ass.”
“Yes, you were.” She folded her arms over her chest.
“Am I forgiven?”
“We’ll see.” She smiled though.
He shifted his weight. “The accident in Rome must have shocked the count.”
“At least we know why he isn’t enthusiastic about your idea.” She craned her neck towards the fountain behind him. “Where are we going? I don’t remember the fountain.”
“Bloody hell.” He gazed around. “I don’t remember the begonias either.”
“Great. We are lost.”
“Isn’t everyone?” He sat on the marble edge of the fountain.
Behind him, a giant cherub sprayed water from a cornucopia. Next to the fountain, tiny yellow roses grew, forming a heart-shaped pattern. Actually, their colour was saffron with red dots, and he didn’t know why he cared about some flowers that looked like smallpox.
Violante sat next to him. “You were right, though.”
“I usually am.”
She laughed and gave him a playful shove. “Braggart.”
He laughed too. “Right about what?”
“About me wanting to stay because I want to see Paul. But that’s the second reason. The first one is because I truly believe in your project.” She smoothed down her skirt. “Yes, the pasthaunts me. In a way, seeing Paul will give me closure, or so I hope. I’m not sure about many things. I think I’m lost, too.”
He kissed her hand and held it, stopping her from fiddling with her skirt. He was glad she let him do it.
They didn’t talk. The only sounds were the dripping of the water and the birds’ songs. A gentle breeze caressed her hair, carrying her lily scent to him.
“I think you’re helping me find myself again,” she whispered, her gaze on her lap.
He took her chin and tilted her head towards him. For years, he’d dreamt about kissing her, but his fantasies couldn’t hold up to reality. Because she was sweeter and softer than he could have ever imagined. Her mouth opened when he ran his thumb over her bottom lip. He had no problem admitting that he had a fascination with her lips.
She drew his thumb in her mouth and swirled her tongue over the pad. Not what he expected her to do. He sucked in a breath. A curse died on his lips.
An ache spread throughout his body, focusing on his groin. He leant closer and shared a breath with her before kissing her. The onslaught of emotions was expected. The sheer fear following them wasn’t. He feared to do the wrong thing, to drive her away as it’d happened years ago, to be an ass, and to lose her again. He pressed his mouth against hers with desperation.
Please don’t leave me.
He stroked her lips with his tongue and slid it past them as she invited him in. A shiver went down his back when she caressed his tongue with hers. She tangled her fingers through his hair and pulled him towards her in a possessive gesture that cracked something within him. The kiss turned furious. He devoured her mouth with long lashes of his tongue and gentle bites on her lips. All his repressed desire came unleashed. Thiskiss might be their first and last, and he’d create a great memory out of it to sustain him in a future without her in it.
She placed her hands on his neck, urging him closer. He held her by the waist, feeling the enticing curve of her hips. He moved his hand up to cup her breast. The layers of fabric didn’t allow him to feel her warmth, but she moaned all the same. They fought for control over the kiss until they stopped, needing to breathe. Her kiss-swollen lips were the same colour as her cheeks.
He touched his forehead to hers. Her chest rose and fell quickly. “That kiss is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” he said among pants.
