Chapter 8

8

A nn was in desperate need of a respite.

Fresh air, that was what she required. Having to go from that humiliating moment with Lord Kalvin to a crowded dining room where she was meant to participate…

She just needed a moment, that was all. Perhaps then she'd be able to come up with a better explanation next time she saw the Marquess.

“Ann.”

She gave a little squeak and spun around. Startled, she blinked at the man towering over her. “Goodness.” She backed up a step and bumped into the wall.

Lord Kalvin held his hands up. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“N-no, it’s…” She was about to say ‘it’s all right,’ but he’d said that phrase enough for both of them.

Also, one look at his eyes and she found she couldn’t speak. They were dark, his expression fierce, and his gaze fixed on her with such intensity, it stole her breath.

He reached out and grasped her hand. She made no move to tug hers from his grip. She was too stunned to do anything but let him pull her along behind him as he led her further into the hallway, out of view and hearing of the dining room.

“W-what are we—” She stopped again when he turned to face her.

“I have thought about what you said.”

She blinked up at him. Oh dear. He sounded so very serious, it made her heart race. Or perhaps that was the intensity of his stare. She felt so very exposed when he looked at her like this. Like she was the only person on earth.

Like she was of the utmost interest.

Of course you’re of interest to him. He thinks you’re a lunatic in love with one of his closest friends.

She drew in a deep breath. This was it—her chance to properly explain her dimwitted notes in that dratted diary. “If you please, Lord Kalvin,” she said, speaking slowly the words she’d crafted while pretending to listen to the conversation over dinner. “I should like to explain again?—”

“That’s not necessary, Ann.”

She blinked a few times, as much at his gruff tone as the informal way he addressed her. Between the two, there was a sudden and new intimacy to the moment that made her acutely aware of the fact that they were alone in this hallway.

She was alone. With Lord Kalvin.

Her heart raced, but she wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t sure what this feeling was.

“I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Ann, but I must admit, I’ve rather…come undone.” His brows were low, his voice too.

For a moment she thought perhaps she’d misheard. His expression was still that cool, aloof, terrifying mask, but…

The dark storm in his eyes was another matter. She could hardly breathe at the unexpected show of emotions there. His gaze was dark and fiery and filled with something she didn’t know how to name. Something she thought only existed in books…

“This gentleman you spoke of,” he started slowly.

But Ann barely heard him because words like passion and desire filled her mind as she looked into his stormy eyes. And while she knew it was ridiculous to even think it, she couldn’t quite laugh it off.

“You’re wrong to think he doesn’t see you as a woman. He does.” His jaw worked. “ I do, Ann. I see you for who you are, and who you are is…”

He paused, and she stared up at him in shock.

Her mind was blank, but her heart was responding as if it fully understood.

His throat moved as he swallowed, and when he spoke again, it was little more than a rumble. “And who you are is perfect.”

Her lips parted, but she didn’t know what to say or do. Honestly she wasn’t sure if this was real or a dream, that’s how shocking it was. And then she couldn’t think at all, because he was lowering his head and pressing his lips to hers, and…

He kissed her.

The press of his lips was firm but quick, and he pulled back all too soon.

A sigh slipped out from between her lips, filling the air between them as her heart clenched with something hot and so sweet it was almost painful.

He answered her sigh with a growl before claiming her lips again in a kiss that was more sure, more demanding. That first touch of lips had been sweet and civil, but this…

This kiss spoke of stormy nights and wild abandon just barely kept in check. His mouth moved over hers like she was his to explore. And she had no desire to stop him.

If anything, she felt like his kiss had pulled her into a strong current. She wasn’t sure which way was up, only that she was drowning in sweet, warm, delicious new sensations.

It wasn’t until he pulled back again, his breath harsh against her lips, that she realized she was leaning into him. That he was holding her upright, his hands at her waist. And she…

She’d just been kissed.

By Lord Kalvin.

“I…that…what…?” Words weren’t her friends at the best of times, and right now they eluded her completely.

His lips twitched up at the corners, and something like triumph or, at the very least, satisfaction, gave his normally cold eyes a warm glow. “My thoughts exactly.”

She shook her head, trying to back up, but finding that her knees were weak and her chest was still tight with emotions. It made breathing impossible, and thoughts flew and scattered like insects.

His eyes narrowed on her. “Are you all right?”

She let out a sharp exhale. “P-please stop using that word. I am not all right. I’m c-confused, and…and…”

And she couldn’t begin to name all the other things she was. Floating? Would that make sense to him? Because she was fairly certain she was still floating from that kiss.

And maybe dreaming.

Her heart was frantic, and her belly was full of butterflies, and for the life of her she couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” There was an edge of amusement to his words that both irritated her and made her want to laugh along with him.

“Well, you did,” she said.

“I see that.” His gaze roamed over her like he was taking stock of every freckle. “But since you’d written about this…about us…I thought perhaps you wouldn’t look so…” He grimaced slightly. “Horrified.”

She blinked. Did she look horrified? She felt stunned, yes, but the kiss had been anything but horrifying.

It had been…pleasant.

No, pleasant was an absurd understatement. It had been deliriously, frighteningly…perfect.

She shook her head. “I…no. Just shocked, and also…” She stopped talking as the rest of his words hit her over the head. “What do you mean I…I wrote about this?”

He frowned.

She frowned.

They stared at one another for a long moment, but she made the connection first. “You thought…I didn’t…that is…” Only then did she realize his hands were on her arms.

He was still holding her upright. Which was nice, really, but right now she needed distance. She shifted so her back was to the dining room and she was no longer backed against the wall. “I didn’t write about you, Lord Kalvin. I wrote about Lord Albright.”

His eyes widened. Then they narrowed. For a moment she saw too many emotions to name, but then, all at once…

All she saw was ice. “I beg your pardon, but I distinctly saw my name written. Many times.”

She understood instantly and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I…that…”

His gaze bore into hers and…drat. There was no way she could speak. With a helpless wave of her hand, she said, “Could you please shut your eyes?”

His brows hitched but he did as requested. He shut his eyes and his lips twisted in a smile that was not kind, nor gentle, nor warm.

She swallowed hard.

“Better?”

No. “Y-yes.” Summoning all of her courage, she explained how a tutor long ago had told her to write down names and phrases that tripped her up. How she’d then write the words and recite them aloud. “And y-you always gave me trouble…”

“Because I scare you.” He finished for her, and the sigh she let out was not one of relief.

More like resignation. “Yes.”

“I see.” He opened his eyes, and she wished she could take it all back. She wished she could turn back time until that moment just before he’d kissed her so she could relive it all again.

So she could see that overwhelming heat and need and…affection in his eyes.

She wet her lips, trying and failing to come up with something to say that might help.

“And the other matter?” He arched a brow and she had to command herself not to flinch under his glare.

She knew what he meant. The other matter.

The kissing matter…

She cleared her throat. But he beat her to it. “You wish for Lord Albright to court you.”

No. Yes. Her mouth opened and closed but she had no idea what to say. Was that what she wanted?

“I see.” His gaze was well and truly shuttered as he straightened to his full height.

No, he most assuredly did not see. She clenched her hands into fists until her nails dug into her palms. “I-I did wish for Lord Albright to…”

“To kiss you. Yes. I understand. You have feelings for the man?—”

“I thought perhaps, we’d make a match and?—”

A throat being cleared had them both turning to face the newcomer in the hallway.

Ann’s stomach plummeted. She’d thought she’d known humiliation. She was sure she’d come close to dying from it not long ago…

But that was before she turned to find Lord Albright standing right behind her.