Page 72 of No One's Bride
What did that mean?
Was he plagued by lustful thoughts, too?
Undoubtedly.
They were at the mercy of medieval magic.
“Then we must break the spell tonight, as originally planned.” The rain had stopped. Nature had workeditsmagic, turning the barren into something beautiful, restoring their withered hearts. But the storm clouds had parted to reveal the crescent moon and soon their fate would be in their own hands. “I pray it helps us to see this relationship for what it is.”
“And what is that?”
Sheer madness! An act of lunacy!
“Merely two lonely people seeking comfort.”
“Who said I’m lonely?” He plucked a blossom petal from her hair, studied it and rolled it between his fingers.
“Who said I’m lonely?” she countered.
He laughed. “You did.”
“Aye, because my mind is nae my own.” Part of her was still sitting astride him beneath the cherry tree, hugging him tightly, panting with pleasure. “Let us bring an end to the confusion.”
He snatched a towel and began patting her hair dry. “I’m not confused. I want you. You want me. Thirty minutes of frantic lovemaking proved that.”
“What are ye saying? That we begin an affair?”
“Why not?” The devil continued his caring ministrations, gently pulling the hairbrush through her damp tendrils so as not to hurt her. “We’re free to do as we please.”
Why not?
Because she was already more than obsessed with kissing him. Because she would likely fall deeper under his spell.
“Because, in case ye’ve forgotten, an intruder broke into my home. An intruder who is still at large. A man who probably murdered Mr Hibbet in the most dreadful fashion. We must focus on finding him.”
He sighed like solving the case was a dreaded inconvenience.
“And what about yer brother?” she added, seeking ways to strengthen her argument. “Should we nae read his grimoire and try to understand what happened aboardThe Perseus?”
Sebastian stopped brushing her hair, the serenity in his eyes fading. “We’ll repeat the recantation tonight, but I suspect it won’t make a blind bit of difference.”
“A difference to understanding yer brother’s plight?”
“A difference to understanding ours.”
She feared he was right. She would have to live with this yearning for a lifetime. “Still, we must try to solve the mystery. We owe it to those who’ve lost their lives.”
“Then let me help you dress. Gibbs is probably so tired of waiting to ferry us back to Fortune’s Den that he’s taken an axe to the front door.”
Her soiled stockings and chemise were fit for the bonfire. Though Sebastian folded the garments neatly and placed them with his own sodden clothes.
He played the role of maid, tightening her corset and buttoning her into Delphine’s dress. Finding a reel of string, he cut a length with the gardener’s knife and suggested she use it to tie back her hair.
His blue eyes blazed hot as he watched her fasten her locks into a braid and secure it with string.
“Here’s the note renouncing the spell.” His hand shook a little as he removed the folded paper from his coat pocket and placed it into her palm.
The instant they touched, the air sparked to life.
