She struggled to inhale.
He ran his eyes back up.
And this time she saw something raw there. Those hazel eyes, the color of chocolate in the dimly lit room, stared at her. Didn’t budge from her.
Wanting him overwhelmed her. She leaned closer, taking him in. Taking in his gorgeous face, that thick, wavy brown hair. That perfect mouth.
So damned handsome.
She leaned closer.
He didn’t move, and her heart thrilled with it.
Her Viking. She’d kiss her Viking now.
Closer.
His lips parted. She trembled, getting closer.
She brought her hand to his chest. Rested her palm lightly on him. She felt his muscles tense, so tight and hard beneath his waistcoat.
She was mesmerized. Those eyes of his, with just a little bit of gold that she could see now, up close.
Lean down, Will.
Why wasn’t he leaning down? She had the bodice on, now it was time for her Viking to rip it from her.
He tilted his chin down. Brought his hand slowly up, cupped her cheek.
Yes.
A bell jingled as the front door opened, and Rollo closed his eyes as if in pain.
“Hello?” The shopkeeper sounded confused, suspicious.
Rollo brought his hand back quickly to his side.
Felicity made a tiny deflated sound, and he marveled at the endearingly feminine noise.
Had she truly wanted him to kiss her?
Good Christ.
He’d almost kissed her.
He inhaled deeply, exhaled sharply, and opened his eyes to her. What had he been thinking?
That open and guileless gaze snagged his. He held it as he called, “Aye, just here. We’ve finished.”
They needed to go, but still, Rollo couldn’t take his eyes from her.
Those brown eyes with that yellow hair. The delicate features of some fairy-tale beauty. And breasts that he wanted to free from her gown, take in his mouth. And suck. And ravage.
Those goddamned buttons had mocked him. He wanted to tear them off, to take her in his arms, and see if the rest of her was as creamy and pale as the delectable stretch of décolletage that he’d decided would surely then and there be the death of him.
“Hello?” The disembodied voice was closer now.
Rollo turned, reached for his cane, and just then stumbled. His damned legs had cramped up, so tightly wound had he been holding himself.