Page 24

Twenty-Four

DRAVEN

E lspeth’s mouth crashed into mine. My first instinct was to pull away, but as soon as I got a taste of her lips, I was done for. I couldn’t have pulled away even if she was on fire and threatening to burn me alive. Her lips were soft and warm, her body fitting so perfectly into mine as I wrapped my arms around her and got lost in that kiss.

She twined her hands around my neck, and I grabbed fistfuls of her silky green dress. I’d meant to compliment her on it, on how good it looked on her slim frame. I would. I would do exactly that as soon as we stopped kissing. Which, if I had my way, wouldn’t be any time soon.

“What in the fuck?” a voice said, jolting me back to reality. I jumped away from Elspeth, wiping my mouth as she stared at me with wide, horrified eyes.

We both looked at Adelaide and Elm standing in the doorway. Adelaide’s mouth was twisted in confusion, while Elm just smirked at us with his arms crossed.

“I was not expecting this.” Elm ran his fingers through his curly hair.

“What’s going on?” Adelaide asked, gaze shifting between me and her sister .

I stepped forward, about to explain that it was nothing. A mistake that would not happen again.

Before I could, Elspeth shoved in front of me. “I told you we got along.” She raised her chin in that stubborn way I was starting to recognize.

“Really well from the looks of it,” Elm said, and Adelaide elbowed him, still looking perplexed.

Adelaide glanced between us. “I swore I saw you two arguing on the dance floor.”

“That’s what we do.” Elspeth shrugged. “We argue and then we kiss and make up.” She paused. “Look, this surprised us as much as it’s probably surprised you.”

What in the fuck was she going on about? I was as confused as Adelaide right now. None of this made sense.

“Okay.” Elm grabbed Adelaide’s arm, drawing her back out of the doorway. “I think maybe we should give them some privacy. Let them finish what they started. Closet, eh?” He shot a wink at me. “Didn’t know you had it in you, Draven.” And with that, he closed the door before Adelaide could protest.

Elspeth whirled around. “Don’t get any ideas.” She shook a finger at me.

“Me get any ideas?” I pressed my hands to my chest. “Why in the hellfire did you kiss me?”

She groaned and rubbed her face, her fingers brushing against her lips. Lips that had just been on mine. Damnit, I wanted them on mine again. Wanted to feel her green silky dress bunched up in my hands. Wanted to trail my lips across her collarbone, over her bare shoulders and down her arms.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked with a shaky voice.

I shook my head. “You answer my question first.”

“Fine.” She crossed her arms. “I don’t want people seeing us fight.” She wouldn’t meet my gaze. “We’re new to town, and we have goods to sell. We don’t want to cause any trouble or get unwanted attention. So when someone burst in the door, my first instinct was to...”

“To kiss me?” I asked.

She shot me a withering glare. “To show them we weren’t fighting. I don’t have any ulterior motives, Draven,” she said. “I just don’t want to fight with anyone, not when we’re here for an indefinite amount of time before our cart is fixed. My sisters and Mama need some stability, and I want to give that to them. I don’t want to ruin things with our arguing, make us outcasts before we have a chance to fit in.”

It was as if a new light shone upon Elspeth in that moment. I’d thought her rude, inappropriate, and obnoxious. But the desperation in her voice made me realize how much she cared for her family, the weight sitting on her shoulders. A weight I knew all too well. She was just trying her best to protect them, to care for them, in the only way she knew how. It might have been misguided at times, but she was so utterly fierce and brave. I might have finally understood her.

And that terrified me.

“Right.” I swallowed, disappointment bubbling up. For some reason, I’d wanted a different answer. I’d wanted her to tell me that she wanted to kiss me again, that she was as desperate as I was to have my lips on her.

“Well, you don’t have to worry,” I said. “I won’t fight with you anymore.”

She gave me a disbelieving look.

I rubbed my jaw. “You do know it takes two to argue.”

“Are you saying it’s my fault?” she asked.

This woman. She was exhausting. “I’m saying it takes two. As in it’s both our faults.”

Some of the rage simmering in her eyes dulled. My gaze lingered on her neck, her pale skin. Why did she have to wear that silky dress with those thin straps? The dresses she wore normally covered her shoulders and arms, but tonight, I could see every inch of her delicate skin in that dress.

“Your dress is lovely,” I offered.

She blinked. “What?”

I gestured to the floor-length dress, the bodice cut low enough that I could see the slight swell of her breasts. “It’s a nice dress.”

Her gaze shifted back and forth. “Thank you.” She paused. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I know I kissed you. It was impulsive and stupid, and it won’t happen again.”

“I don’t expect it to,” I said quickly.

“Good,” she said.

“Good. ”

“Well, I’m leaving.” She backed toward the door as if she were afraid that if she turned, I’d pounce on her. “Not leaving the ball.” She bumped into the door, cheeks turning pink. “Just leaving this room.”

“Understood,” I said.

“Good night.” She bowed her head, then opened the door and slipped out.

I touched my lips, the memory of our kiss burning on them. Something had changed between us tonight, and I had a feeling there’d be no going back.