Page 17 of The Mistress (Foxgloves #1)

AMELIA

A melia was filled with rage for Gideon and the sister she had yet to meet, Genevieve. She tried to curb it, knowing that was not what Gideon needed, and he clearly, clearly , never had someone in his life focus on what he needed.

Their parents. Their awful, terrible parents. Amelia was torn with regard to his mother and what he’d shared. She understood it was the woman’s husband that had harmed her so much, she withdrew. But Gideon was her son . It wasn’t his fault. She had brought him into this world. Many women didn’t have a choice in that either, of course, so that also flashed in Amelia’s mind. She had no idea what that woman’s life was like, but the picture Gideon had painted for her. The way he had loved his mother and learned likely the single most important lesson of his young life, that his love was not enough, made it hard to reason away the late duchess’s indifference.

And that father. He was root of that family’s cancer. He was it. He destroyed his mother, Gideon, and Genevieve. And Gideon felt guilty? That guilt was not his to bear. It lay solely and squarely on the man Amelia wished was turning in his grave.

She could see Gideon was struggling. She was full of anger and sadness on his and his young sister’s behalf, but she also felt pride. She was honored that he had shared his story with her, something he hadn’t shared with anyone before, she knew. Something he said he kept so deeply hidden, he didn’t even acknowledge it himself.

“Thank you, Gideon,” she said into the silence, lowering their clasped hands to her lap. He watched her with such hope, it broke her heart still further. He looked almost desperate to believe the words she had spoken, that it wasn’t his fault, that this wasn’t his guilt to carry, that he was enough. Damn the people that ever made him think otherwise. Damn them all straight to hell.

She gave a tiny shake of her head, focusing on what she wanted to say to him. “Thank you for trusting me.”

He looked away, almost as if the emotions were too much for him, which was likely the case. She still held his hand between both of hers, though, unwilling to let go while he was so obviously adrift.

Clearing his throat, Gideon turned back to her, and it was once again the sure, confident duke meeting her gaze. She smiled at him, accepting all the parts of him, all his needs and hopes and ways of coping.

“Like I said, my dear,” he finally spoke, giving her that heart melting smirk. “I can’t hide from you either.”

She laughed, breaking the tension. “I am very glad to hear it. It would have made our relationship frightfully unbalanced.”

“Oh, but I do like unbalanced sometimes,” he murmured seductively, banishing the last of the clouds that had hung over them while he shared his burden with her.

Gideon leaned into her space, their bodies already touching from when she had moved closer to him in an attempt to provide support when he was vulnerable. His free hand came up to cup her jaw, his thumb brushing along the edge of her bottom lip.

That fast she lit up with desire for him again. Only it tore through her more potent now as the weight of his trust, her anger, their sadness served as yet more fuel for their passion. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, feeling his face move closer, his lips brush hers.

“And I think you like it, too,” he purred before sealing his lips to hers again. The kiss was different this time. The fire and hunger were still there, but their earlier frenzied passion was gone. Now, their kiss was infused with something deeply tender, slowing the pace and pulling at her heart. Her body still responded, and she placed one of her hands on his chest as she felt her skin grow tight, the moisture gathering again between her legs.

He shifted his hand to cradle her head and gave her what she craved, tightening his grip on the back of her neck at the same moment as he deepened the kiss. She had never imagined that would be something she liked or desired until he had squeezed her nape earlier. And just like that time, the action now triggered her to turn soft and warm in his arms. Becoming vulnerable and open. All for him. Because his dominating nature brought out her yielding one. Or maybe it was her nature that brought out his. Either way, they fit one another, their needs in perfect harmony.

He pulled his head back to look down at her, and she blinked at him still soft, still trusting. Gideon grinned, his eyes glowing triumphantly while his thumb traced along the edge of her jaw. She shivered at the touch.

“Oh, yes, my dear,” he crooned in his deep rumbling voice, which kept the fire kindling within her. “You most certainly like it, too.”