Page 114 of One Wicked Secret
“Walk with me,” he said, giving an appreciative hum as his gaze lingered on the upper curve of her breasts, “and I’ll tell you.”
Elsa took his arm, allowing him to guide her down the steps and into the garden, where the air was heavy with the scent of blooming roses. She gave a silent nod to her mother, a gesture to a love that lived beyond the physical world.
“Should we not keep our eyes on Clara?” she said, anticipation stirring within her as Daniel led her behind the broadtrunk of the tree. “In that daring dress, many men have looked her way tonight.”
Daniel pressed her back against the tree, where the soft strains of a waltz drifted from the ballroom, and the moonlight lent an ethereal quality to their lovers’ liaison. “Rutland is with her. He’ll make sure she’s safe. He would kill any man who tried to hurt her.”
“It can’t be long until he announces his betrothal to Miss Woodall.”
“Let’s not talk about morbid things, not now I have you all to myself.”
He reached behind her, his fingers deft as he untied the ribbons of her mask. It slipped away, forgotten, as his mouth found hers—hot and urgent. The kiss was anything but careful. It stole her breath, scattered her thoughts, and chased the chill from the night air.
There was hunger in his eyes as he pulled away. “I’m no longer the man who would settle for a chaste kiss,” he said, his voice a husky whisper. “The need to have you makes me insatiable.”
He stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers and brushed her hair behind her ear. Somewhere beyond the garden, music and laughter drifted faintly, but here, in the shadows with him, nothing else existed.
“I’m no longer the woman who keeps secrets,” she said. No longer the woman who waited at the window, hoping he would come. Though this man still left her heart pounding. “Now I’m not afraid to tell you I love you. I’ve always loved you, Daniel.”
His grip on her waist tightened. “I love you. More than I could ever express in words.” His lips found hers again,slower this time, more deliberate, as if he needed to savour every second.
When they finally parted, their breaths ragged, he whispered, “Do you know what I got for two shillings, Elsa?”
“No. What did you get?”
Daniel captured her chin gently. “A lifetime of moments like this.” His gaze softened as he traced his thumb over her bottom lip. “A family and a future, a future with you. And that, my love, is priceless.”
