Page 55 of The Lord's Compass
“No, that nothing I can say can change your mind.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Only that you can still be who you are. I like who you are. But you can be yourself and also have this.”
“What do you mean?—”
Before she could continue, he leaned forward in his chair, lifted her from hers, and, upon her startled gasp, pulled her against him and took her mouth in a deep, searching kiss. She was clever with her tongue when it came to conversations, but he was equally skilled with his in this.
Her resistance lasted just a couple of seconds, and Eric could feel the shift when she gave in, melting into his touch, his embrace, her body melding flush against his.
“Eric,” she murmured against him, and he answered her by wrapping his arms around her, one hand lacing into her hair so that he could tip her head backward to better search her mouth.
He skillfully drove his tongue in, tasting her, branding her, showing her that she was his, no matter how much she tried to deny it.
Her palms slid up over his chest as she arched her body in toward him, confirming that she wanted this – neededhim– more than she even realized.
Faith’s nipples grew hard against his chest and her breath hitched, her fingertips curling into him despite all of her protests and any attempts to push him away.
“Eric,” she moaned again, and while he knew that she was pleading for more, they couldn’t go any further, as much as he sorely wanted to. Not here. Not now.
Yet he knew, deep within him, that he had never kissed a woman like this. Had never held a woman in his arms with such a compelling need to keep her there, had never had this desire to convince her to return to him, again and again. For he didn’t see how he could ever get enough of her.
She had asked why. Why her? What was different? The answer was a difficult one, for the truth was,shewas the answer.
“You are perfect,” he murmured against her mouth, trying to make her understand that he would never hurt her, that she was exactly what he needed.
He kissed her deeply, expertly, happy about all the women who had come before her because it meant that he could be perfect for her and be everything she needed.
He shifted them backward until she was leaning against the table, her hands behind her to keep herself steady.
They lost themselves in the moment and in one another until the ship rocked at the same time that a knock sounded on the door, and Eric sprang backward when Faith pushed him off of her, as they stood, staring at one another in shock, before the door opened and Faith’s father walked in.
He looked from one of them to the other, clearly understanding what had occurred and displeased about it, until Faith opened her mouth, her eyes upon Eric the entire time.
“Very well,” she said. “I will marry you.”
CHAPTER18
Faith had allowed her body to think for her.
Unfortunately, that acceptance had been all that her father and Eric had needed to quickly plan a marriage agreement – likely before she could change her mind again. While Faith had insisted on participating in any conversation that pertained to her future, she was certain that more than one had occurred without her knowledge on the short passage home to England. It did not take nearly as long as their journey south, for the frigate her father had hired was built for speed, but it felt much longer as the tensions were high.
Her father was obviously still displeased with how all of this had come about.
And then there was Eric himself.
Try as she might, Faith hadn’t been able to forget how it had felt to be in his arms, his lips upon hers.
Her body had betrayed her, wanting him, needing him, would have likely given in and taken more had he allowed it. And it wouldn’t forget. It wanted more from him and was as eager for their wedding night as she was resistant of the wedding itself.
They were just a few days away from England when Eric found her standing at the railing, gazing over the ocean stretching before her, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her father was speaking to the captain, close enough that he could keep an eye on her but far enough away that he wouldn’t be able to hear their conversation.
Not that it appeared either of them had much to say.
They stood in silence for a few moments, until Eric turned and leaned his hip against the rail as he studied her.
“I can tell you are regretting this agreement,” he said as she continued to watch the waves, hopeful to spot a flip of a fin or the jump of a fish so that she could draw attention to it and away from this conversation.
