Page 21 of Love Letters & Lemon Drops

"Arthur," I murmur against his lips.

"Yes?" He pulls back so he can look at my face.

"I've never wanted this before."

"Wanted what?"

I frown and consider how I'm feeling. "I don't really have words for it. But I can show you?"

He raises an eyebrow. "All right."

I chew on my bottom lip and lower my hand until it's at the neck of his shirt. The warm skin of his throat is just under my fingers, making me want to explore further.

Arthur's breath catches in his throat, but he holds very still, almost too still. "Sola..."

I swallow hard. "Can I?" I touch the ties of his shirt.

He nods, watching me intently with his deep blue eyes, the ones that always seem so full of thoughts and emotions.

My actions are fumbly as I undo the ties at his neck, pulling open his shirt. It doesn't reveal much skin, especially as he's still wearing a waistcoat that's blocking me from doing much more. I consider it for a moment, both nervous and bold at the same time. I'm not really sure what I'm doing, I just know that I want to.

I slide my hand further down until I'm at the waistcoat and slowly push the silk-covered buttons through the buttonhole. My heart races and my mouth is a little dry as I manage to get each of them done. I push the fabric off Arthur's shoulders, letting it fall away from him.

"Sola." His voice cracks as he says my name.

"Yes?"

He leans in and captures my lips with his, kissing me far more deeply than I expect. Deeper than we've ever kissed before. There's a need in it, and something awakens in the pit of my stomach, desperate to get out and not knowing how.

With his waistcoat on the ground, it's easier to work with his shirt, and I tug at it until it pulls free. My fingers brush against the warm skin of his stomach and he sucks in a breath, even through our kiss.

"Tell me what you want," he murmurs, leaning his forehead against mine.

"To touch," I respond. "To be touched."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

He chuckles. "I'm not sure that's helpful."

"I don't know, Artie, this is the first time I've really wanted to do something like this."

"Then we can go slow," he promises.

"Have...you...?"

"No."

I pull back and look at him. "But you've told me that the Falhaven rules about being alone together aren't as enforced as those in Someil."

"Clearly," he responds, gesturing around us. "And yes, I'm not saying that I didn't have the opportunity. I'm saying that I've never been in a situation where I wanted to. I've been in love with you for years. Why would I want to sleep with someone else?"

A thrill goes through me at the admission that he loves me. I know it from his letters, but hearing him say the words out loud for the first time is something else. It holds a deeper meaning, especially with everything that's already passed between us.

"I don't think that would stop some people."

"I'm not some people, Sola. I love you, I don'twantanyone but you."

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