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“Opportunity knocked,” he replied and pulled her close, wrapping her in his arms. She came willingly despite her words. “And besides, my point has been made this evening. Everyone has seen us together multiple times. A ride about the country tomorrow and we’ll be linked on every gossip’s tongue.”
“Are we riding tomorrow?” she asked, her body fitting against his as she wrapped her arms about her neck. “I hope it’s warmer than it is tonight.”
Was she cold? He’d take her inside in just a moment. “We don’t have to ride. My point is that we’re linked.” He reached between them, undoing his coat before he pulled her close again, fitting her into his warmth, his coat falling around her sides. “Now, why don’t I warm you up?”
“How?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as her gloved fingers fanned into his hair.
He had another moment where he wished to say to hell with his plan to defy his uncle and claim her as his own. He was at such odds with himself. One side of him hated seeing the way Kingsley had looked at her. Only Ethan should get to stare at her like that. But another part of him knew he wasn’t the man for her future. He was too broken and too set in his ways.
But that didn’t mean he didn’t want to take just a little more from her before he had to set her free.
He slid one of his hands up her back, over her neck, and around to her jaw, cradling her face in his palm.
Tilting her chin up, he stared down at her. From the first moment they’d met, even as hungover as he was, he’d wanted her. So damned much. And every interaction drew him more tightly in. It was her kindness, her sweet nature, but also the way she seemed to bloom just for him, growing saucy and defiant.
He wanted more of everything Natalie offered. But he’d have to settle for just one kiss. He brushed his lips over hers, barely tasting her, but still… The kiss was everything he’d imagined it would be, soft, warm, and delicious. His cock grew instantly hard at just the simple touch. “Natalie.”
“Not Red?” she whispered back, her lips still only a breath away from his.
He liked the nickname, truly. But it was the name he used when he wished to keep a distance between them. When he wanted to fit her in some category, like petite brunettes or vivacious blondes.
But she was becoming so much more than that. She already was the most important person in his life, because she was the one that he’d actually told about his uncle, asked for help from, shared his insecurities with. When had he done that prior to her? Never.
And this was all beyond dangerous. “You’ll always be Red to me.”
In other words, he’d always be trying to keep some distance between them. Did she understand that was what he meant? That despite the intimacies he’d allowed, he’d forever be trying to keep her at arm’s length?
She stared up at him with her lips softly parted, so close that he was tempted to kiss her again. “Ethan?”
“Dinner will be served any moment. We should go back inside.”
She gave a tentative nod, her gaze still searching his. “We should.”
He stepped back, rebuttoning his coat and taking her hand. He had no intention of being caught on the patio now. This had gone deep enough.
CHAPTER NINE
Ethan stared unseeing into the darkness as the carriage rumbled through the night. The ball had lasted well into the early morning hours, and he wouldn’t be surprised if they saw the sunrise before they reached Upton Falls.
Across from him, Rush sat next to his wife, her head resting on his shoulder. Smiths liked to defy social rules in all their own ways.
“How was your evening?” Rush asked, the timbre of his voice just above a whisper, and Aubrey snuggled deeper into his side.
“Asleep?” he asked, noting the protective arm Rush had wrapped about her body.
“Yes,” Rush answered, brushing a light kiss on the top of her head.
Ethan stared at them for another minute. “Is her weight comfortable or uncomfortable?”
“Sleeping like this? Comfortable. I like having her against me, even in sleep.”
His mouth twitched down into a frown. “What about in life? In general?” He was tempted to say more. Could he explain that he’d never been responsible for anyone but himself and he’d clearly done a crap job of caring for himself? How did a man manage the responsibility of a woman and then a family?
“Is a woman’s weight comfortable in general?” Rush repeated the question as though he didn’t understand it. “Well. I never want to sleep without it.”
Ethan’s brows lifted. He could see the appeal of warm, naked, silky-soft skin against his all night. “I meant more abstractly.”
“I know you did.” Rush looked down at the crown of Abigail’s golden curls. “Their weight makes you stronger.”
