Page 75 of A Touch of Charm
Without a word, Thea pressed her back against the door, her body arching slightly as if to meld with his. She pulled him closer, her eyes never leaving his. Andre’s breath hitched; he knew this moment was a precipice, a point of no return. But the look in her eyes, the way she silently asked him to stay, made it impossible to turn away.
“Andre? Are you in there?” Alfie called, but Andre didn’t hear anything else. A murmur of voices in the hall faded as Thea pressed her chest against his, her hands now on his shoulders.
She kept him there. His audience with the princess was in full swing, and she didn’t want anyone to disturb them.
“You have perfumes at the apothecary?” Mary’s voice came muffled from the other side of the door.
“I’m not opening,” Andre whispered into her mouth.
Thea chuckled but didn’t break the kiss.
This was scandalous.
And brilliant.
Then the footsteps grew fainter and withdrew.
For a fleeting moment, Andre smiled, his lips quirking up in a rare expression of pure, unguarded joy. But then Thea’s tongue darted into his mouth, and the world around him vanished. His insides clenched a visceral reaction to the soft, insistent pressure of her kiss. He was lost, utterly consumed by her.
Her taste was a heady mix of sweetness and longing. He responded with an urgency that matched her own. Their kiss deepened even further as his hands roamed her back, feeling the smooth silk of her gown beneath his fingers. He could feel every shift in her body, the way she pressed closer, her fingers tangling in his hair. A faint smell of vanilla and custard from their meal only minutes ago lingered, but there was no room for anything between them. The space around them melted away, leaving only the two in a cocoon of shared desire.
Thea’s back arched further, pressing her hips against his, and Andre’s hands slid down to her waist, pulling her even closer. The feel of her against him was exquisite torture, a blend of pleasure and anticipation that set every nerve alight. He could hear the soft gasps of her breath and feel the rapid beat of her heart against his chest.
Thea’s fingers traced the line of his jaw, her touch feather-light and teasing. Andre responded with a groan, his hands gripping her tighter. The need to feel her completely overwhelmed him. Her body molded to his, fitting together as if they were made for this moment—for each other.
Thea’s lips left his, trailing a path of fire down his neck. Andre’s head fell back, a low moan escaping him as she kissed and nipped at his skin. Every touch was a promise, a declaration of desire that left him breathless.
Andre’s hands moved of their own accord, sliding up her sides to cup her breasts. Thea’s sharp intake of breath spurred him on, his thumbs brushing over the peaks through the thin fabric of her gown. Her reaction was immediate, her body arching into his touch, a soft moan escaping her lips.
Thea’s hands were everywhere, exploring, teasing, driving him to madness. She was a siren, calling him to abandon all reason, to lose himself in the depths of her passion. Andre’s control slipped further with each passing second, the need to possess her, to make her his, growing unbearable.
“Thea,” he rasped, barely managing a coherent thought.
Their kisses grew fevered. Thea’s nails raked down his back, leaving trails of sensation that made him shudder. He responded by gripping her hips, lifting her slightly to press her more firmly against the door. The feel of her heat, the way her body moved against his, was almost too much to bear.
Andre’s mind was a haze of desire; his world narrowed to the feel of Thea in his arms and the taste of her on his lips. He wanted to devour her, to claim every inch of her, to make her his in every way possible. The room seemed to pulse with their shared heat, the air thick with the scent of longing and arousal.
Thea’s hands slid down to his waist, tugging at the waistband of his trousers, but then she hesitated again. Andre sucked in a breath, his entire body tensing with anticipation. Her touch was both a torment and a blessing, each movement driving him closer to the edge. She looked up at him, her eyes dark with desire, a silent plea for him to continue, to take her completely.
But this wasn’t the time nor the place.
“Thea?” Stan’s voice came from the other side of the door.
They both froze.
Andre took a significant step back, combing both hands through his hair.
“Are you in there?” Stan’s voice was commanding.
Regal. Dangerous.
She cleared her throat, clutching both hands on her cheeks, but she never stopped looking at Andre. “I’m coming out in a moment.”
“Is Andre with you?”
Andre shook his head. There was nowhere to go. He considered the window. This would have never happened if he had climbed out and walked around the block to return with pastries from the other side.
But it had.
