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“Perhaps not, but I should like to.”

The ache in her chest was unbearable. As much as she knew there was no future with him by her own admission, she couldn’t defend against the desire to choose herself just once, to choose him even if she couldn’t keep him.

She only wanted one kiss, to know what it would feel like to be kissed by a man who cared for her and wanted to know her as she was instead of what she was forced to be. A man who understood the difference.

Before she could counsel herself against the impulse, she turned to him and took a step closer until she could smell him despite the rain.

Fresh and deep like rosemary, amber and aged wood.

Close enough to see the golden flecks in his dark amber eyes.

If he moved away, she would stop, she told herself.

If he tried to stop her, she would leave and never bother him again.

She was greedy and selfish to try to take such a thing but if he was willing…

her gaze fell to his mouth. It was only a kiss.

One thing she could take with her, that she could trust him to give.

She placed her hands on his firm shoulders.

She could feel the heat of his body under her hands and against her, chasing away the chill of the rain.

She went up on her toes, shut her eyes and pressed her mouth to his lower lip.

She half expected him to stiffen, for his lips to tighten in rejection.

Instead, they softened and moved against her, pressing back.

He was kissing her. She moved one hand to his neck, hoping to pull him closer, hoping he would let her have this much at least for one more moment.

He exhaled forcefully and then his mouth moved to capture her bottom lip.

It happened so fast she didn’t know how to respond.

His broad hard hands gripped her upper back, drawing her closer.

The pressure of his chest against her aching breasts shocked a moan from her throat as his lips and tongue worked in tandem sucking at her lips, stroking at her mouth.

She didn’t know the inside of her mouth was so sensitive, or that kissing could elicit such a reaction all throughout her body.

Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath, and she felt dizzy as if she had spun in circles without a fixed point to focus on.

But there was exhilaration as well and an awareness that this man’s mouth was the only one she would ever want to kiss.

That his touch was the only one that could satisfy or comfort her.

She kissed him back, trying to imitate what he was doing.

He tasted like coffee, dark and rich. Only he would taste like coffee at a tea party.

Her tongue caught his, and she heard him groan.

His arm slid around her waist pulling her flush against him until her feet were off the ground and his other hand slid up her back to curve around her neck, holding her in place as he kissed her deeper.

She moaned and tightened her grip on his shoulder, tilting her head, opening wider for him, offering him more, desperate for him to take anything and everything.

She wanted to stay here with him in this makeshift cocoon of rain and willow branches.

Was this what Ada had found with Mr. Thompson? What her mother had with her father? Was this what she was giving up? Her eyes burned and her grip tightened.

No, don’t. Not yet, she thought. Stay here. Stay with Leo and his big hands, strong arms and soft mouth. If she kissed him hard enough, would she feel it for the rest of her life? Would she feel his mouth even when she was forced to lie with her husband?

Her husband.

A loud crack of thunder startled her back into awareness. Summoning every ounce of strength she possessed, she pushed away from him, relief and despair flooding her as she felt him release her. She stumbled backward, her chest heaving as the chill in the air seemed to settle in her bones.

She was another man’s wife, or as close to being that as she had ever been.

She was at a tea party. There were people around; people who would gossip and drag her name through the mud and her mother’s as well.

What would happen to Lilli? She looked at Leo.

What would they do to him? What if he had to pay the price for her egotism?

“Oh, God,” she whispered. What on earth had she done?

“Regina?” He took a step towards her but stopped when her hand came up to halt him.

She shook her head, unable to say the words. Unable to tell him to stay away from her while her body still ached for him and her heart was crumbling to dust in her chest.

She shouldn’t have done it. It was still raining.

She couldn’t stay here with him. If he touched her again, she didn’t know if she could pull away a second time.

Ignoring his calls, she turned and ran out into the storm, hoping that the cold water and exertion would chase away the feel of his hands on her body.

Within moments she was soaked to the skin, but she kept running and when she couldn’t run anymore, she walked.

If he came after her, she would be lost. If she stopped, she would turn back.

How had she allowed herself to get that far?

When had her hunger to be known and seen grown so far out of her control?

How had she fallen so quickly? She knew she would seem out of her senses to others, but it was the only defense she had now.

She needed to get back to safety, to where the eyes of others could propel her forward regardless of temptation.

Dimly, she heard the sound of her name and looked up to see her father running to her with an umbrella over his head.

“Regina what the devil happened to you?” He slipped an arm around her shoulder and ushered her into the house where the remaining members of the party were watching her with concern or blatant interest.

“Goodness, girl, what were you thinking?” Aunt Theo asked.

“I…” she could barely speak, “I was walking.”

“I thought you had a headache,” Elodia said.

“It doesn’t matter now; you need to get her dry or she’ll catch a cold.” Lady Sterling said, her face set in concern.

“I want to go home,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself, pleading at her father with her eyes.

“Regina,” he laid his hands on her shoulders.

“Please, baba, take me home.” He stared at her for a long moment before nodding brusquely.