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He sat back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head, grinning at her. “You did indeed. You should bow down to me as the chess master.”
Delia gave a bark of laughter. “The chess master? You are rather grandiose, aren’t you?” She couldn’t help smiling. “I would hardly call you thechess master. You had a lucky game. That is all.”
“It had nothing to do with luck,” he said, pretending to be affronted. “It was pure skill. You are just a sore loser.”
“No need to crow about your victory,” Delia said with a laugh. “No one likes an opponent who boasts!”
He leaned forward, across the table towards her. His dark eyes were gleaming. “Best of three?”
A slow smile spread across Delia’s face. “Whyever not? There is nothing else to do in this place, is there?”
His eyes darkened. She blushed. He was thinking of something else they could be doing in this place. She felt a tiny shiver down the length of her spine, trying not to think about the incredible thing he had done to her on that hard mattress in the room.
The utter ecstasy of it. She felt like she had surrendered another piece of herself to him—as if he was slowly unravelling her, peeling off the layers of skin around her, until he got to the very centre of her.
If it is so good now, she thought,how much better could it be if we actually consummate it? What other delights would be in store?
But that was a dangerous thought. She couldn’t do that. There was only so far she could go with him on this amazing sensual exploration. More was the pity.
She coughed into her hand, breaking the spell. He shook his head slowly as if he was coming back to earth. He set up the pieces again. She tried to ignore the fact that his hand was shaking slightly. He was having as hard a time keeping control as she was—they were both trying to keep the genie in the bottle as much as they could.
She stared at the board, trying not to look into his face. Hopefully, they could control it. She was already going to be heartbroken when they finally arrived in Bradford. And she realised now that the fatalistic attitude she had last evening to grab any moments between them with both hands wasn’t serving her. All it was doing was making her fall in love with him just a little bit more.
Shemustresist him. It was going to be extremely hard, but there was simply no other way. She couldn’t afford to surrender any more of herself to him without losing herself entirely.
Unrequited love was a tragic thing, she thought, her heart lurching. I would not wish it upon anyone.
Chapter 29
Ambrose walked out of the inn into the raging storm. He had been playing chess with Delia all morning. And while he had been absorbed in their games, greatly enjoying the challenge of playing with her, it had also been a small torture.
He wanted to touch her. He wanted to drag her to that small room and do the same things with her they had done the night before.
Eventually, Delia had grown restless, leaving the room. It had taken all his willpower, but he hadn’t pursued her.
Then Mr Hawkins had sat down, and he had played another two games with him, which hadn’t been quite so enjoyable. Mr Hawkins wasn’t as skilled a player as Delia, and he had beaten the large man easily on both occasions. There was no challenge in it, as well as little of the banter that he and Delia shared.
Now, he was stretching his legs a little. The thought of being holed up in this inn for days was beginning to get to him. They couldn’t even go on walks to break the tedium. And resisting Delia was going to be the biggest challenge of all. There were only so many games of chess or cards he could play before his thoughts inevitably turned back to her and how much he wanted her.
He ran through the swirling snow to the stables again, thinking about her. She had grown defensive again when he had asked where her grandmother lived in Bradford. His suspicion that she wasn’t who she claimed to be was growing stronger with every passing hour, along with his desire for her. They both seemed to be growing at the same pace.
Who was the woman he desired? Would he ever know?
He sighed, leaning against a post. It shouldn’t matter to him. He wasn’t planning to see her when they got to Bradford, was he? And yet, itdidmatter. She was an enigma that he couldn’t unravel. The closer he became to her, the more mysterious she seemed. It was almost as if he were trying to catch an elusive fairy within the palm of his hand.
He sighed again. He was already far deeper into this attraction to her than any other woman he had ever been with. It had been no hardship to walk away from any of them when the desire had started to dim, as it inevitably did. But he knew it was going to be difficult walking away from her. In fact, it was going to be one of the hardest things he had ever done.
Suddenly, his heart lurched as he saw her running towards the stables, her shawl over her head to ward off the snow. She must have had the same idea as he did to get some exercise and respite from the indoors. She stopped short when she saw him, her mouth dropping open.
“Oh,” she said, looking alarmed. “I did not know you were here….”
“I will go,” he said quickly. “I know that you do not want to be alone with me anymore.”
She bit her lip. “It would be for the best,” she said in a voice filled with sorrow. “For I cannot keep indulging in this with you. It is far too dangerous.” She took a deep breath. “Last night must be the last time. You understand, do you not?”
A sliver of pain entered his heart. “I understand completely. I will not press you when you are unwilling.” His voice was filled with regret, and he suddenly felt insecure. “Youdidenjoy yourself last night, though?”
Her eyes shone. “How could you ask such a thing? I thought it obvious how much I did.” She blushed fiercely. “That is the reason it cannot continue, Ambrose. For every time I am with you like that it makes me yearn more for something I cannot have.”
