The Matter of a Marquess - Jess Michaels Page 0,60
resting, he might not wish to be disturbed by her. Normally she would respect that boundary. After all, if he’d wanted her to join him, he would have likely signaled her in some way during the picnic or on the walk back.
Her nature was to respect the distance. But then again, what good had that done her? She and Nicholas were such respectful creatures that together they never confronted anything. Not the past, not the future. Not even the present. They danced around things so the other wouldn’t be uncomfortable.
“It’s time to be uncomfortable,” she told herself as she marched up the stairs and down the same winding hall he had led her the night before. She knocked on his door, and smoothed her hair and her gown as she waited for him.
But he didn’t come.
She knocked again, this time slightly louder. But still no reply. She girded her loins and turned the door handle. To her surprise, it opened, and she peeked into his chamber. Fortescue lounged across the bed, but otherwise the chamber was empty.
“Nicholas?” she whispered into the empty room, but he didn’t respond, and the dog just grunted at her as she backed from the room.
Nicholas wasn’t there. She frowned. If he had gone wandering the estate by himself, she would likely never find him. It was just too big.
Frustration rose in her, though it wasn’t fair of her to feel it. Nicholas had agreed they should speak on the past tonight. He wasn’t hiding from her—they’d had no agreement to meet. And yet she still worried. Would they ever be brave enough to face the past? Would everything get in their way over and over until they just let it go and moved on? She hated the idea that could happen. She feared it was the path they were on.
She trudged down the hall to her own door and entered her chamber. She locked the door behind her and was about to ring for her maid to help her when there was a rustling from behind her.
She pivoted and found Nicholas rising from a chair in the darkened corner of her room. Her heart leapt into her throat as she stared at him, jacket already gone, sleeves rolled to his elbows to reveal and expanse of toned forearm, soft brown gaze focused on her.
“Should I have come?” he asked.
She couldn’t help but smile then. “I have spent the last quarter of an hour searching this house for you, including your chamber,” she said. Then she crossed to him. “I’m so glad you came.”
He caught her hand, his fingers smoothing across the flesh as they stared together at the place where their bodies met. His hand was so much bigger than hers, rougher, a scar slashed his knuckles. And she loved that hand. Loved every imperfection and how they made him fit against her all the better.
“I have so much to say to you,” he whispered.
She nodded. “So do I.”
“But first…” He trailed off as he let go of her hand and slid his fingers into her hair instead. He tilted her face toward his as her hair came down around them. His breath was harsh in the quiet air around them as he dropped his lips to hers.
She lifted to meet him, starved like they hadn’t started their day this way. Like it had been nine years all over again. The kiss began as a greeting, a welcome, but it transformed in a heartbeat. His mouth grew hungrier and she lifted to meet him. His arm encircled her waist and she felt his desire in the hard press of his cock against her belly.
They had a great deal to say to each other. But it was evident they were going to say something with their bodies before they were finally bold enough to use their words.
Nicholas backed her up in a few steps and Aurora gasped as her bottom hit the door behind her. Now she was wedged between a hard door and a hard man, and she’d never felt so soft and vulnerable in her life. Nor had she ever enjoyed that little thrill of danger so much.
He kissed her, deeply at first but then he pulled away with a sigh. “I really want to hold you up against the door and take you until you shatter. But…” He stepped back, steadying her even as he leaned down to rub the muscle on his injured leg.