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“You’re tired?” Anne asked.
Belle nodded, giving her an apologetic look. “I don’t want to cut your festivities short though, so please, go on without me.”
“Of course, of course,” Lily said before Anne had the chance to. “Stephen, why don’t you carry her to her room. She’s been walking all day and I’m afraid if she does it any more, she might pull something.”
“I think that’s my job to determine,” Robert grumbled good naturedly.
“I’ve learned a lot from you, Father. Stephen?”
Stephen nodded dutifully and got to his feet. He helped Belle up first and then he swooped her into his arms before he carried away. Belle wanted to shoot Lily a grateful look, but she kept it to herself.
The walk to her room was silent, save for their breathing, his steps, and her heart pounding in her ears. So many times, he’d brought her into the room like this, yet Belle didn’t think she would let him leave this time without tasting his lips once more.
Stephen laid her on the bed and sat in the chair next to her. She felt awkward all of a sudden, not knowing what to say. “What sort of unexpected trouble did you run into tonight?” she asked after a few seconds of silence.
Stephen hesitated. Had he not, Belle wouldn’t have thought anything was wrong. “Is everything all right, Stephen?” she asked. “Are your tenants giving you trouble?”
“Not exactly,” he said. “Something happened tonight that I wasn’t prepared for, is all. I know how to handle it.”
“I would believe you if it wasn’t for that troubled look on your face.”
Stephen made a show of changing his expression. She huffed a laugh. “I’m fine, Hannah. Although it warms my heart that you’re worrying about me, I assure you, there’s no need.”
Belle nodded, though she was unconvinced. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come tonight.”
“I couldn’t possibly miss Robert and Anne’s anniversary.” Then, in a lower tone, “Nor could I miss out on seeing you in this dress.”
“You didn’t know I would be wearing it,” Belle said.
“I didn’t,” he agree,. “which makes it all the better.”
Belle held her breath. She knew what was about to happen, could see him leaning in. His eyes dipped to her lips and she licked them without thinking, eager to have him kiss her again. She’d been dreaming about it since the previous afternoon, giving in wholly to the fact that she was falling for him. That she might have fallen in love with him. Belle wasn’t going to think about the technicalities right now. She only wanted to focus on him and the fact that he was currently cupping her chin, tilting her lips up to meet his.
The touch was tender, gentle. he moved slowly, his tongue swiping against her lips a few times before she opened them up to him. Then, the intensity of the kiss grew seemed to have exploded around them. He cupped the back of her neck, bringing her closer into it as she moaned. She couldn't help clutching his shirt, couldn’t help threading her fingers through his hair as they deepened the kiss.
His hands were exploring. They were on her thighs, then on her waist, then trailing up to her breasts. Belle didn’t stop him. She didn’t care to. She wanted to feel his rough palm against her bosom, wanted them to shed the clothing that laid as barriers between them. Such earthy thoughts were welcomed in the skin she wore because she was not a lady. Not to Stephen.
Yes, that’s perfect!As if he read her thoughts, Stephen cupped her breasts gently. She nearly smiled when she realized how perfectly they seemed to fit into his hands, as if their bodies were meant to fit together. He broke away from her lips, peppering kisses down the side of her neck as his hands continued to caress her.
And then he was licking her. Belle gasped when she felt his wet, warm tongue running against her neck, stopping at the lobe of her ear. She shuddered in exhilaration at the way his tongue felt against her skin and when it went lower, down to the breasts he still palmed, she felt as if her body was on fire. Stephen tugged roughly on the dress, allowing one of her breasts to pop out and he captured the nipple in his mouth.
This...this is heaven.
Belle's eyes rolled to the back of her head at the ecstasy she felt from his tongue flicking over her peaked nipple. Tenison grew within her, her body coiling with a sudden pressure that she couldn’t bear to hold in any longer. She clung to him as it shook her to her core, biting her lip to keep her cries from escaping. Stephen held her, weathered the shakes of her body with her.
“What…” Belle panted, “what was that?”
But she didn’t have to ask. She already had a feeling what that was. Stephen pulled away and grinned, kissing her gently on the nose. Then he pulled further away and put her clothes back together. “I wish I could stay all night.’
“I wish you could too,” she admitted. “I’ve...I’ve never felt anything like this before.”
“Neither have I, Hannah. I think I’m falling in love with you.”
Belle blinked at him. “What?”
“Well, no. I’m wrong. I’m not falling in love with you. I’ve already fallen for you. Hard.”
“Stephen…”
