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Wayne’s pulse beatso fast he feared something was wrong with his body. Was it his nearness that made her speak her mind as he rubbed her lock of hair between his finger and thumb? Or was it the poison? It would drive him insane until he knew the answer to this perplexing question.
He didn’t want to think the poison was still controlling his actions. He enjoyed being close to her like this, as he recalled feeling last night. She had the silkiest hair that he could stroke for hours without getting tired, which was something else he recalled from twenty-four hours ago. Nothing about this woman would bore him. Even her fiery temper kept him entertained.
Hesitantly, he released her lock of hair to fall against her shoulder. As hard as he tried to withdraw his hand, he couldn’t. It was as if it had a mind of its own, especially when he touched her bare shoulder.
“I will admit,” he finally said, “that my memory has been giving me brief glimpses. The only thing I know is that I was quite pleased with our time together. I... hadn’t wanted you to leave the coach.”
Her cheeks darkened, and her silver-blue eyes sparkled. “Do you think it is the poison making you feel that way?”
“I’m not certain.” He softly caressed her skin, which was growing warmer by the second. “How are you feeling at this moment? Are you experiencing anything that reminds you of last night?”
Her slender throat lurched in what must have been a hard swallow. His throat grew dry, and he was tempted to copy her actions. Instead, he waited in anticipation for her answer as he locked stares with her.
Slowly, she nodded. “I recall feeling out of breath as my heartbeat raced with excitement. And...” She licked her lips. “I’m feeling that way now.”
Usually, Wayne was the one charming the ladies, but whether Regina realized it or not, she was charming him. He had never been so tongue-tied or absent-minded before. Although he suspected it was the poison’s effect on him, now he wondered if it was this intoxicating woman who had made him react so foolishly. He wanted to relive last night, but this time he would remember every earth-shaking touch and head-spinning kiss.
His chest tightened so much he had a difficult time breathing. The conversation had spun completely out of control, and he didn’t have the will to stop it. In fact, it wasn’t really about the poison any longer. She was what filled his thoughts, and he enjoyed the feeling.
He hesitated to tell her about the earl behind his suspicions, only because he needed solid proof. But for now, he could certainly make something good come out of the heated moment between them.
He moved his touch up to her neck, briefly remembering that he had kissed her here... and here... and here.
She trembled beneath his touch. “Wayne, I don’t think we should do this.” Her chest rose and fell quickly, proving that she was feeling the same out-of-control emotions he was.
“Then stop me,” he whispered, bending to place his lips on her neck, sweeping them back and forth. “Because Heaven help me, I want to relive the moments I had with you last night, and this is the only way.”
She grabbed his shoulders but didn’t push him away. “This is wrong, and you know it.”
“Do I?” He moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her closer. “Then why does it feel so right?”
If she told him to stop, it would be difficult, but he would do it. He wasn’t an animal, and generally, he acted like a gentleman around women. Why was she so different?
“Wayne, please,” she said in a heavy breath as she pressed her palms against his chest.
He lifted his head, waiting for her to turn him away, but her wide lovely eyes and her sultry mouth told him she was struggling as well.
“Please, what?” He grinned teasingly. “What do you want, my sweet lady?”
Her throat jumped again. “Do you really believe the poison is making us feel this way?”
“What do you think?” He lifted a hand to her mouth and traced the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip. “Do you think you would ever feel this way about me if you hadn’t been poisoned?”
“But... you are Jane’s fiancé.”
As much as he wanted to confess that he didn’t love the earl’s daughter, that he was only doing this because of his job as a Bow Street Runner, he didn’t dare. Not yet. He looked into her eyes again, experiencing the frustration she must be feeling. “We are engaged, yes.”
“Then I should not feel this way at all, and neither should you.”
His gaze dropped to her lovely mouth again, wanting to taste her again to bring his memories back. “No, I shouldn’t feel this way, but I do.”
She expelled a deep breath. “Then we were certainly given poison, and it appears that the chemicals are still within us.”
“It does appear that way.” He paused as he slowly leaned toward her. “I suppose there is only one thing that can be done about our conundrum.” He didn’t want to give her time to ask. “We should go with our urges. That’s the only way to finally get this out of our—”
The moment she placed her mouth over his, his words stopped. It shocked him that she wasn’t fighting it, yet he pushed the surprise aside and gathered her closer as he returned her kiss. Fireworks exploded inside his head, making him dizzy again. But it was so different from how he had felt last night. Instead, an emotion grew inside his chest, making him feel like the happiest man alive.
Using the wall to help hold her, he moved his hands all over her back and then up to her neck. Tenderly, he stroked her soft skin, knowing he had never touched anything that resembled a rose petal.
