Page 25 of An Unforeseen Kiss (Captivating Kisses #4)

V al had hoped Eden would agree to a chess match.

They had yet to play one another, but he thought she would be an accomplished player.

Besides, it would mean more time spent in her company.

The more he was around the spunky governess, the more he enjoyed himself.

He knew that she, too, liked the time spent in his company.

He only hoped she would be willing to go beyond friendship, especially before Aunt Agnes bundled everyone up and took them back to the northwest of England.

Since Eden was too tired to play against him this evening, he would spend a few quiet moments with her before sending her off to bed.

He pulled a book by Thomas Gray from the shelf, another poet, since she seemed to fancy them.

He turned and saw her eyes closed, not knowing if she had fallen asleep or not.

Remaining where he was, he studied her a moment, something he never had a chance to do.

He liked what she had been doing with her hair recently.

Justina, who chattered away about whatever came into her head, had shared with Val that Miss Snow helped her and Verina dress their hair each morning and how she had encouraged the governess to try something new.

What he wished he could do with her tresses was free them from the pins which secured them.

His fingers itched to run through those honeyed locks.

Returning to the settee, Val settled in, slipping an arm about Eden.

In sleep, she nestled against him, her cheek resting against his chest, her lashes long.

He rested his chin against the top of her head, inhaling her essence.

He already knew the soap she used had no floral scent, as so many women used.

Then again, he understood her financial circumstances and knew she had to pinch her pennies, even when it came to the kind of soap she could afford.

More than anything, he longed to take care of Eden.

It seemed she worried about everything. All he wanted to do was see her at ease.

Enjoying life. Not having to think about how she would make it through tomorrow.

She stirred, her arm reaching for him, slipping about his waist as she snuggled closer to him.

He felt his cock stir and ordered it to be still.

The last thing Eden needed was to awaken to a bulge in his pants and a pained expression upon his face.

Val willed himself to think of mundane things.

Bills to pay. A fence to mend. Instead, his thoughts turned to her name and its meaning.

Place of pleasure . . .

Yes, he could see how perfect her name was for her because every place he could touch would be one of pleasure for him.

His mouth on hers. His tongue sliding down to her breasts, teasing the nipples with his teeth.

Moving lower to her sex, bringing her to orgasm.

Thrusting inside her in a dance of love.

Val shuddered, his yearning for this woman greater than anything he had ever known.

And yet he was content to merely hold her as she slept.

Not rush her. Show her he thought more of her than a woman to rut with.

That he valued her as a person. It suddenly struck him how he would never do this for any other woman of his acquaintance.

How he respected and admired Eden beyond measure.

That was when he finally listened to what his heart had been whispering all along.

He loved her . . .

Val had seen the miracle of love. Ariadne and Julian had tumbled into love, and for all his doubts of love’s existence, he had been proven wrong as he watched them.

Their love had only grown stronger with Penelope’s birth.

He had decided he would be interested in making a love match for himself, being with a woman he liked as much as he loved.

Fortunately, his financial position would allow him to freely make his choice and not have to wed a woman merely for the dowry she would bring with her. Eden had nothing other than herself.

And that would be plenty for him.

He didn’t want to hasten things between them because of her past experiences.

They were steadily building a friendship, and he hoped it would be the foundation for a lasting love in their future.

At the same time, he was afraid of losing her if he did not act soon.

The days were rushing by, and before he knew it, Eden would be returning to Cumberland with his aunt and cousins.

He found himself at a standstill. Afraid to act.

Afraid not to act. And he knew Eden would never be the first to make any kind of move.

She had stuck in her head that she was only a governess, someone who would never be suitable for any titled gentleman, much less a duke.

Wanting to be closer to her physically, Val took the chance of lifting her.

She mumbled in her sleep as he set her on his lap, but her eyes remained closed.

He cradled her to him, feeling the rise and fall as she breathed, her warmth filling him.

It wasn’t merely a tangible warmth. It was something which filled a hole in his soul, nurturing his spirit.

In a short time, this woman had become everything to him.

He could see coming home from the fields and walking straight into her arms. Sharing everything about his day with her.

Laughing together over something their children did or said.

Eden Snow was a woman he could build a life with. Not any life, but a satisfying one.

He brushed his lips softly against her hair, wishing they could caress her mouth. Telling himself it would happen in due time, he closed his own eyes. With Eden in his arms, he fell asleep, thinking this is how every night could be once they were wed.

*

Eden was having the loveliest dream and began to awaken from it. When she did, it dissipated like a fog quickly lifting, leaving her with no memory of what she had dreamed, only that it had brought sweet contentment to her.

Warmth blanketed her, and she refused to open her eyes, burrowing deeper into her pillow. No. Wait. Pillows were never this hard.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. The first thing she was aware of was Val’s scent, that mixture of citrus and male essence which was all him.

It enveloped her—as did the man himself.

She closed her eyes again, trying to get her bearings, realizing she sat in his lap and his arms were about her, keeping her safe.

The library. Yes. They had gone there. To get a book.

She had been so drowsy and supposed she had fallen asleep.

He had graciously not awakened her, instead scooping her up and keeping her safe.

She became more aware of him. The hardness of his muscled chest. The even harder lump resting against her bottom.

The thought of what that was caused heat to ripple through her.

She had never felt desire in such a pure, physical sense. What she wanted was for him to awaken. To kiss her. To breathe new life into her.

To make love to her.

Eden bit her lip, tamping down the whimper which threatened to escape.

How could she want something so badly, knowing it was impossible for her to have?

Val deserved the best of everything. He had proven to her what a good man he was.

He was thoughtful toward his tenants and family.

What he didn’t know, he put his mind to and learned quickly.

Most of all, he had given her the gift of true friendship, not ever attempting to take advantage of her.

At this point, she almost wished he would.

Just one kiss. That was all she needed from him.

But if either of them acted upon it, the kiss would change everything.

If she kissed him, he would be horrified.

She was so far beneath him, and all the trust he had put in her would dissolve in an instant.

Yet if he kissed her, she would feel he violated the spirit of the friendship which they had established.

She told herself she couldn’t have it both ways.

She couldn’t kiss Val and remain friends with him.

If she did initiate a kiss between them, things would grow uncomfortable, so uncomfortable that it would be hard for her to remain at Millvale.

Eden must think of her future, which was at stake.

No kiss was worth risking what she had built over the past five years.

If they kissed, she would lose everything in an instant because she could not be around him and not want to constantly kiss him.

They would not be able to spend time alone together anymore because the dynamics between them would have changed so abruptly.

As much as she wished to remain nestled against him, Eden had to leave.

Now. If anyone caught them together, it would be over for her.

While it was nothing for a duke to dally with a servant, her reputation could not withstand a hint of scandal.

Reluctantly, she took two fingers and gently clasped his wrist, moving his arm away from her body.

He was snoring lightly, and she hoped he was deep enough in sleep to not miss her.

Gently, she pushed away from him. How she managed to get to her feet, she had no idea, only that Val slumbered on.

His sensual lips were slightly parted, and without thinking, she bent, pressing her own lips to his for the briefest of moments.

Then she stepped back, seeing the lazy smile that crossed his lips, turning the corners upward slightly.

She dare not stay any longer. Already, it was late, and she worried a servant would catch her in the corridor.

Eden crept across the room and slipped out the door, closing it behind her.

With watchful eyes, she made her way back to her bedchamber.

The bedclothes had been turned back for her by a maid, and a candle still burned at the bedside table.

Quickly, she undressed, slipping into her night rail and blowing out the candle before she crawled beneath the covers.

Sleep did not come. Eden knew it wouldn’t.

Not when she still could smell the duke’s scent upon her skin.

Feel her cheek resting against his chest. Warmth spread through her, as well as an ache, one of loneliness and heartbreak.

That is what happened now as her heart tore in two.

Eden had gone and done the very thing which was forbidden.

She had fallen in love with the Duke of Millbrooke.

And there was no going back.

Her future stretched before her, empty and bleak.

She silently chastised herself for being such a fool.

He was the kind of man her parents would have loved.

Val would have been considerate and caring toward her mother, and he would have had much in common with her father.

But her parents were gone, as were her dreams of marriage and having children.

She, who had prided herself on her good judgment and prudence, had fallen hopelessly in love with a man who was as unattainable as the king himself.

The first thing she would do would be to put a stop to their nightly discussions.

They had grown incredibly close, sharing their opinions and opening up about their childhoods.

That hour before dinner each night had been a magical time, but it must come to an end.

The same thing with riding. If Val planned to ride out with his sisters and nieces, Eden would make an excuse and return to the house.

She knew she could not get out of the daily teatime, but she could limit these other activities.

Then she recalled the Willowshire assembly occurring two nights from now. She had agreed to help chaperone the four young ladies. Her Grace and Lady Traywick might change their minds about letting all their girls attend if Eden did not accompany them. She would do so.

But she would not dance with the duke.

Even if he asked her to do so, she would refuse. In fact, she would refuse anyone who asked her to dance. That way, he could see it was not him being punished. She would merely say she was more comfortable by sticking to her chaperoning duties. Dancing had no part of her evening.

After the assembly, she would keep to herself.

Val would press her, wondering why she wished to end their friendship.

As honest as she had been with him about everything, she could never reveal she had fallen in love with him.

After all, she did have a bit of pride. Eden would have to come up with a good way to word how she wished to extricate herself from their friendship.

She would think on it—and trust when the time came, the words would, too.

She lay sleepless for hours, tossing and turning, feeling Val’s arms about her.

It caused hot tears to fall, and she tried to banish all thoughts of him.

Finally, she gave into them, fantasies of him kissing her.

Touching her to soothe the ache between her legs.

Holding her close, as if he would never choose to let her go.

Only then did sleep come.