he propped his head on his arm so he could gaze down at me. “Kiera,” he began hesitantly, lifting his other hand to trail his fingers over my cheek. “I know you’re nervous, I know you’re uncertain, but that doesn’t mean I am.” His eyes gleamed with affection. “I know you will be a wonderful mother. You’ll paint. We’ll investigate. Or we won’t. There don’t have to be any absolutes.” His fingers slid around my neck to cup my head. “But I promise you, I will not dictate what matters you can pursue. I know most men believe that is their right, but I’m perfectly aware you have a mind of your own.” His mouth curled into a smile. “And I wouldn’t change that for the world, even when it exasperates and terrifies me.”
My heart tumbled over in my chest and my skin flushed with warmth. My fingers tingled with the need to touch him, and I lifted my left hand to brush them over his smoothly shaven jaw. Urging him closer, the only word I could manage was to breathe his name. “Sebastian.”
His lips met mine, tentatively probing. Until I drew his full lower lip into my mouth before playfully nipping it. Then his mouth captured mine with more insistence. I gave myself over to the slide of his tongue against mine, the heat of his mouth. He tasted of tea and tooth powder and Gage. My breathing quickened as the urgency to be even closer built within me.
I buried my fingers in his soft hair, and began to lift my other arm to do the same, when pain shot through me. I inhaled a swift hissing breath, and he leveraged himself off me, gazing down at me in concern.
“Did I hurt you?” he panted, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
I grimaced, shaking my head. “I tried to lift my right arm too far.”
He rolled to the side, flopping onto his back as he pressed a hand to his forehead. “I suppose I should restrain myself. At least until your shoulder and those bruises heal.”
“It’s as much my fault as yours,” I replied, trying to resettle my shoulder comfortably. I glanced sideways at him. “You are rather difficult to resist.”
“Yes, well, I’ve noticed how anger seems to increase your ardor. Which therefore increases mine.” He grinned playfully. “It’s the way your eyes flash. Yes, just like that.” He rolled to the side to face me again, lifting a finger to press it to the downturned corner of my mouth. “Now, don’t scowl. I’m paying you a compliment.”
“Is that what that was?” I murmured drily. But with Gage gazing at me with such adorable insistence, my mouth was helpless not to twitch upward. I sighed in mock aggravation. “Oh, very well. You’re far too charming for your own good, you know.”
He caught hold of my left hand where I poked him in the chest. “So I’ve been told. But seriously, Kiera.” His expression sobered. “Don’t let your own misgivings rile you to lash out in anger. You don’t have to heed to your family’s wishes any more than you have to regard all that ridiculous advice about childbirth those busybodies were offering you last night in the drawing room.”
“It was no worse than the folderol they used to inundate Alana with,” I demurred.
“Perhaps. But you can’t tell me their unsolicited counsel did not annoy you. I could read quite clearly in your eyes that it did. And yet you didn’t lash out at them.”
I frowned, uncomfortably aware that he was right.
He squeezed my hand where he still clutched it, pulling my gaze back to his. “I don’t know why it’s so much harder to mind the sharp edges of our tongues with those we love than with strangers, but heaven knows it’s true. My father is the prime example.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised to hear Gage admit that he knew his father loved him despite all evidence to the contrary, but I was. Maybe because he’d never done so out loud before. I blamed that on my delay in making the unhappy realization that he’d just compared my recent actions to those of his disdainful and disapproving father. But before I could disagree, he lowered his face so that he was speaking to me only inches from mine.
“You may wish to pretend your sister’s presence isn’t necessary, but I know you’re going to want and need her in the months coming. I will be here to do all I can,