AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How are you going to handle the McCloudes and their persistence?” I finally asked.
William shuddered, a pinch in his forehead. “In the only way that is truly gentlemanly. I plan to pay them a visit and have a good heart-to-heart. But all of this is to say, after much thought and consideration, I'd like you to accompany me to the Quinns’ Christmas ball.” William finished, standing to bow and pulled me to my feet.
Though the snow was dense and deep, he placed one hand on the small of my back and took one of mine in the other, as he had the last time we danced. I laughed, curls bouncing against my cheeks.
“You don’t expect me to dance in this, do you?” I looked at the snow and up at him, giggling. He tugged me into him tightly, the length of our bodies pressed together. William swung us back and forth until our laughter filled the still air and slowly became the music we needed.
And just as the first time we danced, there was no one else around. Only him, only me. He led me through the open space, effortlessly lifting when I needed it, twirling when I least expected it. We danced for ages until William pulled me closer still, clasping his arms around my waist and placing his forehead on mine. I could feel him breathing beneath his coat, the rise and fall of his chest such a pin point of pleasure.
“What do you say, Rose? Will you come with me?”
“How can I say no?” I murmured, our mouths so close if I only just leaned in, I’d kiss him again.
He smiled the crooked smile I loved entirely too much, and before I could register it, he kissed me.
His hands sprawled along my back; my stays pressed into my ribs. I did not mind the pain, couldn’t really focus on it at all. It was only his mouth, how he tasted like winter itself. The softness of his hair in my fists, his tongue greedily parting my lips, exploring. The clash of teeth, the utter devastation of this kiss.
I melted into him with each stroke, barely breathing.
And after a moment, I had to pull away, light headed and gasping. So lost in the sensation of him I hadn’t realized just how desperately I’d pressed myself into him with my hips.
“Thank you,” he finally said, pecking me once, twice.
“You're welcome,” I whispered, running my hands down his neck, stopping on his broad chest. “I'm growing cold...”
“We should be heading back then.” William took my hand, leading me back through the throng of trees to the sleigh and his gorgeous horse. As we neared them, I couldn’t help but rush the few paces ahead, skirt hiked high, to stroke the beast’s obsidian mane.
“What’s his name?” I asked, glancing at William whose face filled with awe.
“Hername is Nott.” he corrected, coming to my side and running his hand down her snout.
“Oh, she’s a lady then,” I mused with a small smile, petting her as she nudged William’s hand.
“She is. One of the best, too. She was a gift from my brother, Filip.”
“You have a brother?” I asked, elated to learn something new, something unexpected about him. Picturing him with a family, with a life outside this enigmatic brooding businessman was heady.
“Yes,” he chuckled. “Filip is a brother of sorts. He primarily stays in England, but every now and again he pops up in America, bearing gifts and tales of travel.”
“He sounds like quite the gentleman,” I remarked, still floating on the high of our kiss.
“He is… something like that.” A look of endearment, “Come, let’s get you home.”
William assisted me into the sleigh once more, pulling several flannel blankets into my lap and one around my shoulders
“I’m not that cold!” I giggled, though truly my extremities had gone numb ages ago, all feeling lost in the tip of my nose which I sniffled through every few minutes to keep it from running.
“Yes, you are,” he said, climbing into the driver’s side and throwing his arm over my shoulders, allowing me to lean into him. I was all too aware of where our bodies touched. “I’ll be leaving later this evening to head to New York for business, so don’t be alarmed should I not come by.” He idly traced circles on my arm as we trotted back down the road.
“When will you be back?” My shoulders slumped at the thought of him gone, so far from Boston, so far from me… it was sobering, dousing my bliss in frigid water.
“The morning of the ball. I promise to bring you a present.”
There was a gentleness in his green eyes and ever so slowly, so gently, I placed my hand on his cheek.
“I—I will miss you,” I whispered. He placed a tender kiss on my forehead and faced forward without another word. Only the jingling of the bells and the crunch of Nott’s hooves in the snow filled the air. Sad and forlorn for the feeling I’d had before, I tried to commit the way he felt against me to memory.
When we arrived at the gate of the estate, William brought the horse into the coach house while Michael, our chief steward, led us into the parlor for tea and a warm fire.
