Page 67 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
“You really mean it?”
He took a deep breath. “I know I was not honest. I know that perhaps I should have told you everything. But I was scared to. I didn’t want you to think badly of me. I hated myself for what happened. I didn’t want you to lose your good opinion too.”
She swallowed hard. “Perhaps you might have told me sooner.” She grinned. “But you did tell me. Now I know. I am grateful that I know. You trusted me.”
“I did.” He took a deep breath. “I do trust you.”
She felt his hands tighten on hers. She took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I’m sorry that I did not trust you. I’m sorry that I couldn’t wait to hear the truth.”
He chuckled. “Perhaps it’s better that you asked now.”
She gazed at him warmly. “Well, you told me. And you know now that you can trust me.”
“Yes,” he whispered.
She smiled and squeezed his fingers and he squeezed hers back.
“You know,” he said softly. “I never told you before how beautiful you are when you lose your temper. You were so beautiful that first day, when I met you. I wanted to tease you just to see the way your eyes get even greener.”
She giggled. “Do they?”
“Yes.” He lifted her hand, pressing it to his cheek. “You’re a beautiful woman, Eleanor Thornton. A beautiful woman. Don’t you ever forget it.”
She sniffed. “You’re rather nice to look at, as well, Sebastian Thornton.”
He laughed. “You know,” he repeated, staring into her eyes. “I am glad I got to tell you. It also means that you know that I trust you, and that you know I love you.”
She tensed, her cheeks flooding with color as he said that.
“I never told you?” he frowned. “I should have. I should have said it weeks ago. I love you, Eleanor. I love you.”
She swallowed hard, feeling her throat stiffen up. “I love you, too,” she managed, her gaze unswerving from his. “I love you, Sebastian. So very much.”
He stared into her eyes, his own dark gaze widening as she spoke. He reached forward, lifting his hand and resting it on her cheek. She stopped breathing for a moment as he leaned closer, and she leaned towards him as he drew her into his arms, crushing her to his chest.
All her longing, all the feelings of desire she had been ignoring and sidestepping crashed through her, powerful and compelling as a wave on the shore, and she wrapped her arms around him and drew him to her, hugging him close as his lips clung to hers.
He leaned back and gazed into her eyes.
She stared up at him.
He reached forward, resting his hand on her cheek.
He leaned in and kissed her again, this time slowly and deliberately, in a way that sent flames of desire coursing along her spine, consuming her inside and out. She grinned, blushing furiously, and took his hand as he kissed her and then led her towards his quarters.
Chapter 25
The curtains swayed gently, and Eleanor blinked, the movement catching her drowsing eyes. She shifted on the mattress and blushed, feeling Sebastian’s sleeping form beside her. She turned and gazed at him. The soft early light poured through the chink in the curtains where the morning breeze ruffled them, and it showed her his chiseled profile. She smiled down at him, then slipped swiftly out of bed.
Her cheeks reddened again as she looked around the room. The morning was still pale blue-lit, as the sun had just risen, but the half-light was enough to show her clothing lying on the floor. Her green day-dress lay in a rumpled heap by the door, her shift just beside it. She grabbed the shift and hastily pulled it on to cover herself, then reached for the dress and stepped inside, buttoning the buttons up the back hastily.
She wanted to have breakfast ready and served before Sebastian woke up. She went into the breakfast room to see if breakfast was already served and she saw Sebastian’s jacket having been forgotten there lying on a chair. She went close and tried to hung it over a chair when her fingers brushed over the lapel near the bottom, and she felt a lump of paper in the pocket. She frowned.
He might have left something he needs in there, she thought, slipping her hand in and taking the object out. She had thought it might be a document, or even a note from the bank. She frowned as she lifted out a small cloth-wrapped bundle.
She eyed it curiously. It was wrapped in thin linen, like the fabric for a fine handkerchief, and it was light; light enough that it still might be a note from the bank. She felt her frown deepen and she slipped it into her pocket, swiftly, as she heard footstepsin the hallway.
