Page 18 of Only You
Her eyes met his, bold. He almost chuckled but doubted she would take it well. Instead, he cupped her face, running his thumb over her cheekbone. She sighed, her body relaxing under his touch until her eyes closed. Only then did he lean forward.
Their lips met softly, and Damien stayed still until he felt Sabine stretch up to press her lips firmly against his. He kissed her slowly, coaxing her lips to part. She did so, sighing into his mouth as he took her bottom lip between his. She slid her hands up, wrapping her arms around his neck. Sabine moaned quietly, the sound still filling the room and Damien smiled against her lips. He gave in to one more lingering kiss before pulling away.
Sabine rested her cheek against his, her eyelashes tickling him as they fluttered open.
Damien memorised the look on her face, how she swayed towards him for more, before reluctantly letting her go. ‘We should go back, princess.’
He turned before she could ask him for anything, like stay in the darkness with her, but he had already crossed enough lines for the night.
‘Are you all right?’
Sabine looked up from where she was picking at her breakfast and to her father. General Roulet and his wife were visiting a friend, so it was just them in the dining room for once.
‘I’m fine. Just a little tired from the party,’ she told him, but he didn’t look convinced. He leaned forward and took her hand.
‘If any of the guests made you uncomfortable…’
She shook her head before he could finish the suggestion. ‘No, not at all.’
She ate a couple of berries before her thoughts started to wander back to last night. Her lips still tingled whenever she thought of Damien, reliving the kiss all over again. It felt like torture waiting to train with him, much less looking at him. She popped a strawberry in her mouth before peering at her father from the corner of her eye.
This was an awful situation. Her father was looking for her husband and she was sneaking off to kiss soldiers! Well, not yet –not at all, she reprimanded herself. She couldn’t do this. To think if someone caught her… a shiver went down her spine and she had to close her eyes for a moment as a face from long ago popped into her mind. She remembered running her fingers over the wide bridge of his nose, his broad smile as he told her to quit messing with him, not meaning a word he said.
She couldn’t do this. ‘Mon trésor.’
Eyes snapping open, she looked at her concerned father. ‘Do you feel ill?’
‘No. I… I’m just contemplating the future. Everything seems to be changing so fast. I don’t think I’m ready for what’s coming.’
‘My dear, no one is ever truly ready for change. As long as we find the strength not to cower before it, we will come out stronger.’ He took her hand. ‘And who knows. Maybe you will welcome these changes.’
‘But what if it’s not something I want?’ She felt childish asking the moment the words left her lips.
‘Wants pass. Needs do not. Do you know what you need?’
Sabine bit the inside of her cheek. Of course she did. She needed choices. She needed sunlight against her skin. She needed a chance to be herself. Every time she thought of the upcoming months, they were grey and filled with shadows, like Paris. Yet, when she thought of what made her happiest, her thoughts always wandered back to the garden…
Her lips tingled.
‘Yes,’ she answered.
‘Good,’ her father said. He kissed the back of her hand. ‘Focus on that. Then, all the strength you need will come to you.’
‘Yes, Father.’ She smiled at him before continuing her breakfast.
Hours later, Sabine walked with Damien through the Luxembourg Gardens. She waited until they were by the fountain again, alone once more, before she took his hand. She pulled him behind a tree, away from the prying eyes of other visitors. Damien followed her willingly.
‘Kiss me again,’ she demanded.
Damien looked at her, his shock at her confidence melting into a knowing smile. ‘Your wish is my command.’
Chapter Eight
Paris
February 1896
Her father always said time was a valuable resource no one could afford to waste.
