Page 61 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
As selfish as it sounded, that realization heartened Alison. She could feel the connection growing between herself and Daniel, just as she knew now that he did not hate her, nor did he want to dismiss her. Whatever it was that caused him to storm off the last time had nothing to do with her at all. And for that reason, Alison knew what she had to do.
Or rather, what she so desperately wanted.
Maybe it wasn’t the right time? Maybe it was stupid? Maybe she would come to regret it? But she could feel the tension between them growing. She could see the way he had been looking at her. And most of all, she could read his thoughts as if they were her own.
“Daniel,” she said softly.
“Yes?” he looked up.
Without waiting for permission, because she knew he would not give it, Alison leaned in and kissed Daniel on the lips. And, as she knew he would, he kissed her right back.
It was not like the last time they kissed. Or the time before that.
This kiss felt more real somehow. It felt more purposeful. It was a kiss that spoke the words neither were willing to say. One that cut through the confusion so that all that was left was the deep and burning attraction felt between them both. No need to question it. No need to wonder what might happen next. Alison wanted this, Daniel wanted this, so why deny it any longer?
The sleigh moved gently across the snow. The sun shone down on their shoulders. Birds sang in the trees. A light wind blew about them. And Alison kissed Daniel with unbridled passion and want because he could see her like no one ever had before, just as she could see him.
For the first time since Alison had woken up in that library, she was glad that her family left her behind. And if that didn’t mean something, she didn’t know what did.
Chapter Nineteen
The following few days passed quickly for Daniel, far more than he might have liked. Strange that this was the case, as just last week he wanted the complete opposite. With Lady Alison staying in his home until her family were able to return for her, he needed her gone and quickly. Every minute she was around him was another where he was at risk of losing control and giving in to his urges and that was something he could not allow to happen.
Now, he was hesitant to admit that he no longer looked so forward to the day when she would finally leave. And that wasn’t to mention what would come only a few weeks after… his trip to the Americas from which he would not return.
Daniel did his best to ignore the brimming sense of foreboding that slowly overtook him as each day passed. He tried to instead focus on the good, the fact that he was enjoying himself for the first time in years. Ironically, doing such a thing only made it worse, because dammit if he wasn’t happy like he could not remember.
And, of course, it was all thanks to Lady Alison.
“What are you reading?” Lady Alison asked as she walked into the library.
Daniel was sitting by the fire, one leg folded over the other, a book open on his lap. But he looked up when he heard her voice, and he even smiled to see her. “Don’t we knock anymore?”
She rolled her eyes. “As if you could not hear me coming.”
He had heard her, but he liked to pretend otherwise. “It is still polite. Seeing as you are a guest in my home.”
“Perhaps I wanted to surprise you?”
“Perhaps you enjoy catching me unawares, so I do not have time to formulate an excuse.”
“An excuse for what?”
“Whatever it is you are about to ask me.” He closed his book and looked pointedly at her. “Come on then, out with it.”
Lady Alison folded her arms and looked down at him with a dismissive scowl. “I was going to ask you something, but now I have changed my mind. Seeing as you are being so –”
“So what?”
“Annoying.”
“Annoying, am I? If I had known that was the easiest way to get rid of you, I might have done so sooner. All this time wasted, treating you politely and with respect. What a fool I am.”
“Is that what you have been doing?” she scoffed. “I had not noticed. Should I walk out of the room and try again? Will that make you happy?”
He laughed at the banter. “No need, seeing as you are here already. So, what is it? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Lady Alison was smiling through the feigned bickering. That’s how they were now, their conversations always walking that fine line between humor and argument. But they both understood this, knowing well that hostility was not the intent. Rather, it was a sort of return to how they had always been, only nowhere near as aggressive or purposefully rude.
