Page 28 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)

S he tasted like water mint and the Highlands and a dozen other things that James had forgotten, yet a dozen things he had never known.

What was this feeling? Every time her touched her, kissed her, dreamed about her, his mind was wiped clean of everything he had ever learned, yet if he asked himself in that moment what was the meaning to all of it, he would only be able to breathe her name as the answer to all life’s mysteries.

For at that moment, he knew in his bones that his only reason for being on this earth was to be near her.

To hold her, feel her. Kiss her until the end of days.

His one hand went into the mass of her hair, just like he had imagined before, and the other went to her ribcage, feeling the warmth of her, yet still hesitant.

To his surprise and immense satisfaction, Grace’s hand found his and pulled it to her breast. She moaned into his kiss when she did so and James was close to spending then and there.

Her hands went to the silk buttons at the front of her dress.

It was a split gown, as James soon found out, one where the top was able to be removed apart from the skirt.

The camisole beneath was somewhat bunched up, over a restrictive corset that disappeared beneath her skirt.

He spotted a silver chain around her neck that he hadn’t seen before.

She had been wearing it beneath her dress.

“What’s this?” he asked, reaching for it.

“Oh, it’s a pen from my aunt and a locket from, well, yours.”

He shot her a look.

“My aunt? She gave you a locket?” Grace nodded. “What’s in it?”

“Herbs.” She shrugged. “She said it was for protection.”

James lifted it and breathed it in. Water mint. That’s why she reminded him of home. He gently dropped it, bemused by it.

“They really know how to insert themselves into situations, don’t they?”

Grace removed the necklace and tossed it onto the chaise in the parlor, a few feet away before reaching for his collar and she pulled him close, kissing him hard, and he was breathless. Then, like a page ripping from a book, she tore away from him and turned.

“Untie me.”

Not needing any further instructions, his hands went to the fine strings of her corset as he undid the double bow.

Once pulled apart, she breathed deeply and a wild desire to banish all fabrics from her body consumed him.

She twisted at the waist, untying her skirt and stepping out of it, along with her petticoat before she turned and melted into him once more.

This was madness. They were half in the foyer, half in the parlor and yet James couldn’t stop himself. Grace was insistent, desperate to be with him and while a miniscule warning tried to sound in his mind, he couldn’t bring himself to deny her anything.

His only purpose in life was to please her.

But for the briefest of moments his eyes opened and he saw a painting in the foyer of Grace and her sisters and that tiny warning grew.

He tried to pull back, but kissed her again, closing his eyes.

This is what she wanted, but did she know what she wanted? Did she know what this would mean?

He pulled back.

“Grace, wait…”

“No.”

“Grace, yes. Wait,” he said, bringing his hands to her shoulders. She finally paused. “I want this too, I do, but the repercussions of us doing this—”

“I don’t care what the repercussions are.”

James shook his head.

“Then you don’t understand it.”

Grace pulled away from him, folding her arms across her chest as she did, stopping only a few steps away from him. Confused, James waited for her to speak. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long.

“I am not… Equipped like other people,” she said after a moment of silence. “I never…” She shook her head, seemingly unsure of her own words. “That is to say, I didn’t think that I could feel these things.”

“These things?”

She twisted around to face him, looking like a frustrated angel.

“This. Desire. Want.” She swallowed, her gaze dropping.

“I had accepted that I wasn’t the sort to experience the sort of things my sisters did.

The thought of being with someone never inspired anything in me.

When I kissed Lord Bartley, it was as if I was kissing a stone and I thought, well, perhaps there was something I lacked. ”

“Grace, there is nothing lacking in you.”

“I don’t mean to garner kind words. I mean to say that, before you, the idea of laying with someone, in that sense, was less appealing than cold porridge.”

James blinked. Then, he stepped toward her, reaching for her elbow to turn her back to face him. Thankfully, she did.

“What are you saying?”

“Just that, I didn’t think that any of this was possible.” Her gaze lifted to meet his and his heart missed a beat. “And if I seem eager, I am. Because I’m afraid that it’s fleeting.”

So that was it. She was afraid that this feeling between them was a flash in the pan, an anomaly to her reality. While to him, it felt more permanent than anything he had ever experienced.

James’s fingers trailed down her forearm, gripping her hands in a light squeeze.

“I understand. But speaking as someone who has some experience here, I must tell you that this, whatever this is between us, is not how it usually feels.”

“It isn’t?” He shook his head. “What’s different?”

James let out a breathy laugh, uncomfortable with exposing so much of himself. Yet, here Grace was, honest to a fault and still standing. If she could be honest with him, then he could do it too.

“With Catriona, there was an attraction, yes. But it was containable.”

“Containable? I don’t understand.”

He shook his head again.

“I mean that we liked each other, were always pleasant and never confrontational. We never argued, or even disagreed. And while we found each other attractive, it wasn’t like this.”

“It wasn’t?”

“No. This is something I’ve never experienced before. But if I was a betting man, I’d place a fortune on the notion that this isn’t a common occurrence.”

It was Grace’s turn to shake her head.

“It must be.”

“Why?”

“Because these feelings make me want to do things I’ve sworn never to do.” Yes . James felt the same way, but worried that he might frighten her, he only nodded. “And I cannot, James. I promised myself never to marry anyone.”

Although he wasn’t considering proposing, her staunch stance on the topic of marriage irritated him. The finality of her tone made him want to argue, but to do so would only push her away and he didn’t even want to marry her.

Did he?

“Grace, while this is probably the most unconventional, stupidest thing I’ve ever even considered doing in my life… I promise, I wouldn’t do or say anything that might pressure you.” She shook her head. “Nor would I cast you aside if that was your fear.”

“I’m not worried about that. I just… I would like to explore whatever this is, from a scientific point of view, without the constraints of social pressure to do something that I, or you, might regret.

Like marriage.” She swallowed. “Which is why I’m probably so eager to continue.

So that you don’t stop to think and realize what an outrageous experiment this is. ”

An experiment? Is that how she honestly saw this? James nearly laughed at the absurdity of the word while also disliking it. This was not some sort of research to be conducted for the benefit of a thesis. But she seemed so uneasy at the idea of being married that he couldn’t resist asking about it.

“What is it about marriage that frightens you?” She immediately tried to pull away, but he held her. “No, Grace, please. Tell me.”

For a moment, he didn’t believe that she would speak, but after a moment, she exhaled.

“I know what my life would be if I married. All my studying, all my work would be lost. And it would be no fault to anyone. I’m sure my husband would try to be supportive at first and I would believe it, but there’s a reason there aren’t married professional women.

Eventually something would turn. My work would become too bothersome, or there would be arguments and one day my husband would forbid my work and he would have the power to do so.

” She shook her head. “I would try and convince myself that it was for the best, and for a while we might live in harmony, but eventually I would resent him and I don’t want to resent you, James.

But I also don’t want to live a life only half fulfilled. ”

She was asking for something James had never considered before. A relationship that was separate from their professional one, one based entirely on their primal instincts, without consequences.

“So, you’d like to sleep together, but for it not to lead anywhere? Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Grace, I don’t even know what to call that.”

“It doesn’t need a name,” she said softly, her hand reaching for his jaw, dislodging all his practical reasoning to stop this. “Perhaps it can be a mutual experiment?”

There was that word again and once more, James found a dislike for it. Yet, if this was the only way to have her, then he couldn’t very well say no. Instead, he gave her a single nod.

“Very well. Let whatever this is be on your terms.”

Grace’s chest expanded, her eyes awash in joy as she smiled at him, melting every bit of resolve he had.

“Truly?” she breathed, leaning toward him.

James couldn’t help but kiss her, deeply. Then, he pulled back.

“Yes. Whatever you wish.”

Grace’s hand reached behind his head and pulled him close, kissing him with equal enthusiasm.

While the gentleman in him wanted to argue some very obvious points, such as what were to happen if their tryst was discovered, the baser version of him only wanted to make her happy.

Her beaming smile was reward enough for agreeing to her terms.

“James,” she spoke into his mouth, her fingers coming up to move against the edge of his chin.

His name on her lips was an intoxication in and of itself.

“Yes?”

“Undress me.”