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He drew in a breath and said on the exhale, “Abject misery. Having you right here and not being able to hold you close… I can’t imagine a worse form of torture.”
She didn’t want to smile at his misery, but she couldn’t hold it in.
“Oh? My misery brings a smile to your beautiful face?”
Emotion filled her, and she hoped she wouldn’t cry. “That you’re miserable for me, Nolan. That you feel so deeply about me. I’ve never had that in my life. Never been so invested in, taken with, drawn to, connected with, consumed by a man as I am by you.” She didn’t dare say love. Not yet.
Now he was the one smiling. “Do you mean that?”
“I do.”
Nolan released one hand from her waist. He gently cupped her chin and drew her face closer to his. Sitting down, they were closer to the same height. She focused on his blue eyes.
“You consume me, Madeline. I’ve fallen so hard for you, I’m sure I’ve broken bones and torn ligaments, but I don’t care. I’ll break anything, go through anything, simply to have you close, to know you care, to believe there’s a hope that we can be together.” His voice lowered and his gaze grew even more intense. He whispered fiercely, “Anything, Madeline. Anything for you, love.”
Love? He’d just called herlove.
Madeline wanted to hear him say he loved her. She could listen to his sweet words of devotion all night long. They’d get to the ‘I love you’ part, but right now it was time to see if his lips could seize her like his blue eyes did.
She blinked up at him and moistened her lips.
His gaze grew hungry. “What can I do for you?”
“Kiss me,” she whispered.
His smile broke through. “With pleasure.”
Nolan’s mouth captured hers, and Madeline realized she’d had no idea what consumed meant until this moment. His mouth moved against hers and she was completely captivated, devoted, inspired, addicted, obsessed, and consumed by him and with him.
She slid her arms around his neck as he cradled her in his arms. The kiss continued and continued, and she never wanted it to end. Nolan was her everything—her passion, her love, her perfect match.
She’d never felt this depth of connection and love—not with her husband, and not with any other man. Had he felt this with Anne?
The very thought of his deceased wife yanked her from the moment and from his lips. She pulled back and stared at his handsome face. They were both pulling in quick breaths. His hair was mussed, and she could bet her lips were swollen.
She’d grown so close to him the past month, and they’d never spoken about Anne, even though her picture was in various rooms in the castle and sometimes his children brought her up. She didn’t want to be jealous of a deceased and angelic woman, but she wanted her love with Nolan to be unique, to be theirs, to not have a shadow in the room making a knot of jealousy grow inside her.
“Madeline,” Nolan moaned softly. “That was incredible.” He softly kissed her and then pulled back. “I wish I could kiss you all night long, but I’d better get out of here if I want to stay in control.” His smile was teasing, but his gaze was deep and heated.
“You’re right.” She all but jumped out of his arms, off the couch, and hurried to her door. He was right that they had to stay in control. She needed some time to wrap her mind around loving another woman’s husband. Jealousy was ugly and would taint the friendship and love she and Nolan had built together. She didn’t want to bring it up, didn’t want him to know what was fixated in her mind. She’d appear immature and selfish, and that wasn’t her.
Nolan stood from the couch. Madeline’s eyes widened as she appreciated how strong, tall, and manly he was. The king. The man she’d fallen in love with and had just kissed the dickens out of was the king. The king who mourned the loss of his perfect queen. Of course he still loved Queen Anne. How could he not? Everyone had revered the Queen Mother, and Nolan had been married to her for over thirty years. The sweetheart of a woman had been beautiful, pleasant, and was now immortalized.
Nolan strutted toward her. She’d always appreciated his confident walk, but she’d never seen him strut quite so smugly.
He stared down at her. “This is to be continued,” he said huskily, making her quiver inside. “When we’re not in your bedroom, it’s not late at night, and my exemplary self-restraint is firmly in place.” His smile was confident and alluring. “Let’s plan on kissing standing up next time. Maybe then I won’t want to throw any reservations in the garbage and kiss you for days and nights and weekends and holidays …”
Madeline wanted to laugh and cry. Nolan was incredible. She was in love with him, but he loved someone else.
Why were all these questions about Queen Anne surfacing right now?
Nolan cupped her jaw. She leaned into his hand, savoring his touch. Savoring him. He bent and kissed her once, twice, three times. Then he backed her into the wall and devoured her mouth with his. He deepened the kiss, and she forgot all her worries. Forgot her own name.
Madeline wrapped her arms around his strong shoulders, held him as close as possible, and returned kiss for kiss. She’d found heaven on earth.
Finally, Nolan yanked himself away. She couldn’t catch a breath, and he seemed to have the same problem. He released his hold on her, backed up a step, and folded his arms across his chest. She leaned into the wall, weak and so in love with him.
“Standing up while kissing is unfortunately not the solution. Maybe we can only indulge in public places?” He smiled, but it was crooked and she could see the pulse point in his neck going like mad.
