Page 17

His lips met hers, soft yet desperate, as the world disappeared. The coldness of the room no longer mattered, nor did the altercation with Lord Nathaniel.

All that mattered was her mouth, soft and warm beneath his, her sigh melding into him as he pulled her closer, finally releasing their hands only for one to cup her cheek, his thumb stroking the delicate skin as he marveled how perfectly she fit into his arms, as though she was always meant to be there.

The kiss deepened, and Colin lost himself in the taste of her, the feel of her.

He had never experienced anything like this before, this sense of rightness, of belonging, that there was nowhere else that he was supposed to be, no one else he was supposed to be with.

He had been waiting his entire life for this moment, not knowing just how perfect it would be once it finally arrived.

He explored her mouth with his tongue, reveling in how she responded to him, feeling her soft, nearly inaudible moans. Her hands gripped his shoulders, her fingertips digging into him, providing him both pleasure and pain, the heat of her body joining with his as she pressed flush against him.

Colin could have stayed in this freezing room kissing her for the rest of the afternoon or evening or whatever part of the day it was – he had lost track of time the moment he had seen her across the room, completely consuming his every bit of focus.

But chatter from outside the door and the clanging of dishes finally brought him back to the moment — the moment and their reality.

He would ignore that for now. He had already indulged in this kiss. He might as well make the most of it now.

They finally broke apart, both breathing heavily. Colin rested his forehead against hers. He didn't want to let her go; he didn't want this moment to end.

“That was…” he started, unable to find the words to describe what had happened between them.

But he didn’t need to – for she understood.

She smiled up at him, her eyes shining. "I know," she said softly. "I feel it too."

Colin let his shields down, finally admitting the truth to himself. He was tired of pretending that he didn’t want her, that there was nothing between them, that she could never be attracted to him.

He wanted her with unmatched desire – and it was apparent she felt the same.

The problem was, there was nothing he could do about it.

Their worlds were so far apart it was nearly laughable, her family controlling the fortunes of his and so many others just like him.

Her father might have protected her from Lord Nathaniel, but he most certainly would never allow her to even consider a future with a man like him – a millworker with half an education who just happened to have a talent for football.

He had to make her understand how foolish this was. If he couldn’t follow his own common sense, perhaps she was smart enough to understand the truth of the matter.

“Lily,” he said, taking her hands once more. “As much as I… I want this, more than I could possibly explain, this cannot happen. You know that as much as I do.”

Her expression hardened, as she shielded herself. “Because you do not want it to? Or because it is easier to deny what is between us than to try to continue?”

“It’s not that,” he said, stepping backward, needing distance, for if he stayed so close, kept her hands in his, he might give in and say or do something that would only bring about more pain. “You and I are from different worlds. There is no future for us.”

“Says who?” she challenged him, lifting a brow.

“Says you? I never asked you to marry me, Colin.” She straightened her spine, and even though she was directing her words toward him, he loved how she stood up for herself and what she believed in.

“If this is something we want, we can make it happen. We should not be giving the power to make that decision to anyone else but ourselves.”

He nodded mutely, torn between how much he wanted her and how much his family needed him to survive. If he lost this job with the mill and the club, he would be giving up on all those who counted on him.

“We could make it happen, yes,” he agreed, hating himself when light sparked in her eyes.

“But we cannot, for to do so would be selfish. Too many people need me, Lily. You have to understand that I depend on my job at the mill, my place in this football club. If it was just me, I would give it all up if it meant finding the woman I was searching for. But it’s about far more than me. I’m sorry, Lily. I just… can’t.”

He stepped backward, opening the door and looking out to ensure no one would see them.

“You go first,” he said. “I will watch to ensure you return to your family.”

She only nodded before brushing by him, leaving the scent of her perfume lingering in her wake to accompany Colin.

That and regret – but not for kissing her. No, against his better judgment, he would never regret that.

He only regretted that they were not born into different circumstances.

For then, he would have done all in his power to make her his.