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She shrieked, then giggled and stilled, waiting for him to identify her. The room fell silent, and with his eyes closed, he could pretend for a moment that it was just them.
He ran his hand up her arm, wishing he weren’t wearing gloves, wishing he could experience the touch of her skin. This was the closest he would ever have to touch her freely, so he was determined to make this moment last.
His fingers grazed her collarbone, then up her neck. He felt her shallow breaths, then his fingers touched the place where her pulse beat. Her heartbeat was accelerated. So she was either excited or nervous. Jarvis didn’t dare guess which. He reached up with his hand and cupped her cheek.
“Name your guess, already!” a male voice sounded to his right.
Damn. They weren’t alone, after all. With much hesitation, Jarvis dropped his arm.
“Miss Olivia Landen,” he said and took off the shawl.
The first thing he saw as his eyes adjusted to the bright light was Olivia’s glowing eyes. She was rosy-cheeked and slightly disheveled, probably from running from him during the game.
“How did you know it was me?” she asked with a smile.
“I’ll always know it is you,” Jarvis said.
“Good guess!” Bradshaw’s words were followed by a thump on Jarvis’s back. “Allow me.” He stretched out his arm for the shawl.
Jarvis handed him the cloth, and as soon as Bradshaw turned to cover Olivia’s eyes, Jarvis turned on his heel and walked out of the room.
How could one touch ignite every cell in her body? Olivia heated from the inside, every inch of her body coming to life. Her cheeks heated, her insides turned liquid, while goosebumps covered her skin, and there was a peculiar tingle between her legs. Her breathing accelerated, and her entire body felt as if it were on fire.
It sounded as if it felt uncomfortable, but it did not. She wanted to relive that moment over and over again.
“… and you’re not listening to me at all, are you? Olivia?”
Olivia blinked, returning to the present. Lavinia sat in front of her, her brow raised in question.
“I am. Apologies, I am absolutely listening to you,” she said and nodded resolutely.
“You are? So what was I saying just now?”
“I-I am sorry, I lied, I haven’t heard, I’ve been… distracted.”
“Oh, no apologies necessary. You were probably dreaming of your gentleman.”
Olivia bit her lip.Not exactly.“Well—”
“You do not need to explain, I completely understand.”
“You do?” Olivia picked on the fingertips of her gloves and chewed on her lip. “Lavinia, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Well… you are quite certain you are in love with Kensington, are you not?”
“Shh!” Lavinia looked around and then leaned closer. “Yes, quite certain.”
“Did you… Have you ever?” Olivia stumbled, not sure how to ask the question.
How did you ask someone if they’ve been pursuing one man while constantly thinking about the touch of another?
“Do I ever dream of him? Think of him? If that’s what you want to ask me, then yes, constantly.”
Olivia frowned. “But do you ever… Are you ever attracted to anyone else? Besides him?”
Lavinia immediately shook her head. Then her eyes strayed from Olivia’s face to somewhere behind her, and her face lit up.
