Page 41 of Courting Elizabeth

“Forgive me.”

Her lips were red, her eyes dark.

“Why?”

“I didn't want to frighten you.”

Her gaze dropped between us. Color flooded her face.

“Is it… is it always like this?”

“With you, yes.”

She looked up, surprised by my frankness.

“Since when?”

“Netherfield.”

“That's impossible!”

“Do you think I spent so many evenings watching you because your conversations with Mr Collins interested me?”

She laughed, then fell silent when I let my thumb trace her lower lip.

“I desired you before I esteemed you,” I continued. “I esteemed you before I admitted I loved you. None of it made me particularly reasonable.”

“And now?”

“Now you are my wife, and I sleep behind a closed door.”

Her breath quickened.

I withdrew my hand before I could yield.

“We should rejoin Georgiana.”

“She knows we're here.”

“Precisely.”

“Fitzwilliam.”

Her voice held me back.

“Yes?”

“Kiss me again.”

I didn't ask her to repeat it.

This time, her hands slid into my hair the moment my mouth found hers. I buried one hand in her hair, unintentionally loosening a pin. The freed curl slipped against my fingers.

I kissed her until I lost all sense of time, until her lips followed mine without hesitation, until her body strained against me with an instinct no instruction had taught her.

My hand slid from her waist to her hip.

She shivered. I slowed, ready to pull away.