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She heard him breathe out loudly and looked over to see him leaning his head onto his fingers, looking as if he was trying to figure her out. “I suppose it’s quite late,” she said, “and I appear to have said too much already. I need to rest before I see my patients tomorrow.” She tried to stand, but when she did so, she wobbled a little. In a flash, Angus was by her side. He grabbed onto her elbow and placed a soft hand on the small of her back. She turned to see his face close to hers, and she nearly fell into him.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “I must have had my fair share of wine. How embarrassing.” She chuckled nervously.
She tried to walk forward, but Angus’ grip on her only tightened. She could feel the heat of his hand on her back. She began to take short, tight breaths. She felt as if the room had suddenly filled with heat. Angus looked down at her. “I think what ye’d really like is tae escape my dull presence. Ye dinnae seem tae me tae be the fainting, swooning type.” He didn’t smile, but his voice was light.
Charlotte pulled back a little so that her elbow was out of his hand. But, he did not remove his hand from her back and was still just as close. She could see that he’d cut his beard so that it was neatly covering his jaw. His hair had been washed and pulled back into a low bun, and he smelled slightly of mint. For some reason, she was staring at his mouth and his perfect lips, which she had only registered at that moment. His eyes had always been her main focus, but now, his lips were drawing her in.
Attempting to change the subject, she replied, “Of that, I am not, Sir. But, this room feels very stuffy. I feel like we need to open a window or something.”
“Let me do so for ye.”
He let go and wandered over to the window to open it. A rush of cool night air flowed in, and with that, and the fact that Angus had left her side, Charlotte felt like she could breathe again. He leaned back against the wall near the window, loosened his tight cravat, and crossed his arms. “Stay, lass. Until ye are feeling better. I know what ‘tis like tae go tae bed when the world is spinning. Come and sit.” Angus had no idea what he was saying anymore. He just didn’t want her to leave. She couldn’t leave, or else the moment would be broken.
They would go back to normal tomorrow, she arguing with him, and he trying to get her to do what he thought was best. When Charlotte saw his neckcloth hanging open, the ends hanging down his chest, she swallowed slowly. She could see his Adam’s apple and a thin layer of hair that lay at the base of his neck. The wine had gone to her head. Now, she was afraid that she’d reveal to him right then and there that she wished he would put his hands back on her again. But that thought no longer seemed so ridiculous.
She moved towards him, even though he was motioning to the chair located next to him in front of the fire. She wasn’t thinking anymore. Her mind was focused in one direction. The heat that had filled her veins was pooling between her legs, and she ached with desire for this man who was everything she thought she did not want. And still, she moved. It seemed as if time had slowed, and she saw Angus’ hands move to his side, and his lips part in a slight surprise as he watched her walking towards him.
She wasn’t thinking. She didn’t want to think anymore, at least at this moment. She just wanted to act impulsively for once without worrying about how stupid or weak or ill-behaved she would look to others. There was something between them this night that wasn’t there before, or, at least, they’d never allowed it to be. She wanted to explore it, just a little.
Soon enough, she was right in front of him, and with one glance into his soft brown eyes full of surprise and question, Charlotte grabbed hold of his collar with both of her hands and pulled his face closer so that she could place her lips on his. She didn’t care about the arguments right then or the fact that she would probably regret it tomorrow. He pulled back a little in surprise, his arms at his sides, but he didn’t break the kiss.
Then, in an instant, Angus opened his mouth to hers and wrapped his arms tightly around her. She could feel his tongue entering her mouth, and she moaned into him, moving her tongue forward as well, tasting him. She turned her head to deepen the kiss and placed her hands on the side of his face, feeling the soft tickle of his beard under her hands.
He tasted like sweet wine, and Charlotte could feel her center throbbing with need. Never before had a kiss she’d shared with a man in London felt like this. Before, it had always been forbidden but still with a sense of decorum. This was wild and untamed, and a fire kindled between them that began to grow. She could feel his hands roaming around her back and then gripping her waist, pulling her body towards his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth once more to kiss him again.
The heat was becoming too much. Her body threatened to burst into flame. So, she slowed and pulled away. They breathed heavily in front of each other, their lips nearly touching. Charlotte moved her hands away from his face and backed up. She felt something new as she broke the kiss, and it scared her. “I have to go to bed,” she said, and Angus nodded wordlessly, his mouth still open as he tried to catch his breath.
She began to walk away, annoyed, and a little hurt that he did not try to stop her. She turned back to him and said over her shoulder, “You’re not dull at all, Angus MacLean.”
Angus was rubbing a hand on the back of his neck and looked up at her. He said in a low voice. “And even if ye dinnae think it, lass, ye are already perfect.”
Charlotte blushed and picked up her skirts to leave the room, her head swimming. Had Angus MacLean just called her perfect?
