Page 55 of A Landscape of Love

“Fidelia,” he said softly. “You wanted me once. Do you think…?”

“Yes!” she said in a rush, reaching up and pulling his head down to hers, pressing her lips against his so forcefully he made a startled sound of surprise.

Hart pulled back, regarding her with interest, a gleam of amusement in his eyes. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Fidelia bit her lip, trying to force the mortifying question she needed to ask from her lips. His gaze dropped to her mouth, his eyes darkening in a way that gave her courage enough to speak it. “And y-you, Hart. Do you—?”

He pulled her close, his mouth firming over hers before she could finish. The part of her that had always felt unworthy and out of place insisted he kissed her because he did not wish to tell her a lie and was merely evading an answer. Hadn’t he told her before that he didn’t want her? Why would he say such a thing when it was not true, when he had always been so kind to her, and he must know the words would hurt? Yet he had also told her she was the one woman who had tempted him to consider a life of marriage and children, and the way he was holding her now made her want to believe it.

Fidelia closed her eyes, lost in a kiss that made her bones feel insubstantial. Everything inside her seemed molten, liquid fire sliding through her veins. She could not get close enough, though she pressed herself wantonly against him, feeling the proud jut of his arousal against her. The hard evidence of his desire for her was a balm to her pride, for surely he could not be indifferent to her if his body reacted so.

She gasped as his mouth left hers, trailing ardent kisses along her jaw and down her neck as his hands moved restlessly over her. His palm cupped the soft swell of her breast, and a quiet moan escaped her lips. Hart gazed down at her, his thumb moving back and forth over the fabric that covered her nipple. He stared at her, his expression unreadable but when he spoke his voice was deeper than usual, husky with desire.

“Like that, do you?”

Fidelia stared back at him, too embarrassed to speak but she nodded.

“I want to put my mouth on you here,” he said, the words so shocking to her Fidelia thought she might burst into flame. “Would you like that too?”

Swallowing, Fidelia gave another taut nod, determined not to act like a ninny when he knew she was no blushing virgin. Yet her experiences of physical love had been disappointing, rushed and furtive, not to mention uncomfortable and downright painful. But she had been a naïve fool with no more notion of men and their desires than what she had read in romance novels. Not so now, and she knew what she felt for Hart was entirely different from the insubstantial desires she had known before.

He smiled at her response, a wicked curve of his lips that made her heart leap. “I’m glad, for I’ve every intention of kissing every inch of you.”

Fidelia gasped, blinking up at him. “Ev—” she began in astonishment.

Hart pressed a finger to her lips. “Every. Inch,” he repeated firmly. “Don’t go thinking I’m sacrificing myself at your altar, love. If you think I don’t want you, you really are a fool.”

She smiled then, such a broad, delighted smile that Hart laughed softly.

“You silly goose, you did think so, I suppose?”

“I was afraid you were just being kind. Honourable,” she added sheepishly.

He snorted and took her hand, pressing it against the rigid shape behind the fastenings on his trousers. “I’m sorry to disillusion you, my lady, but I’m just not that nice.”

Fidelia’s breath hitched, her full attention riveted upon the feel of him, the blatant masculinity and proof of his desire for her. An intense feeling swept over her then, the realisation that she had power too. She could stir this strong, capable man to passion. A fierce, possessive heat blazed to light inside her and she steeled her nerve, undoing the buttons at his fly and sliding her hand beneath the fabric. As her grip closed around his naked flesh, he sucked in a startled breath that only made her confidence grow. Intrigued, Fidelia moved her hand, stroking him, beguiled by the satiny feel of him beneath her fingers and daring to glance up and see the results of her experimentation.

The look in his eyes made her heart skitter about behind her ribs like a spring lamb. Good lord, he looked like he might devour her in one bite. How wonderful.

He pulled her back into his arms, kissing her so hard and deep she let out a squeak of surprise as he crushed the breath from her. Rather delighted and deciding the reaction was exactly what she had hoped for, she firmed her grasp on him, eliciting a deep growl that made her pulse leap. Hart broke the kiss, lowering his forehead to hers and resting it there, his eyes closed as she stroked him.

“Like that, do you?” she asked breathlessly, repeating his words to her. Fidelia wondered how she dared tease him at such a moment but felt emboldened by the way his breathing had become somewhat ragged. One eye cracked open and his lips quirked with amusement.

“Little devil,” he murmured, ducking his head and nipping at her ear. “I suppose you think you’re funny?”

“Perhaps I am funny,” she countered, running her thumb over the silky head of his arousal and finding it slick beneath her touch.

Hart groaned and shook his head. “You’d best stop that, love,” he ground out, sounding deliciously breathless as his hands tightened on her. “We’re in my parents’ house, you might remember.”

“Oh!” Suddenly mortified by her wickedness, Fidelia let go of him and would have stepped away, but he held her fast.

“Don’t look so appalled,” he said, a thread of laughter in his voice. “I’m glad to know you want me, that you want to touch me, for I want you too. I want you something fierce, love. Don’t ever feel embarrassed for wanting me, or for showing it, for it pleases me to see your desire. I like it when you’re bold. Do you understand?”

Fidelia gave a jerky nod, wondering if she had ever been so embarrassed in her entire life, yet his words made her want to be braver, bolder for him, if it pleased him for her to show her desire. “I d-do want you, Hart.”

“Not such a bad basis for a marriage, then,” he said with a quirk of his lips she did not entirely like, for there was something wry and self-deprecating in the expression which bothered her. “But I’d better go now before I do something outrageous and shock you into changing your mind. Best get a ring on your finger first,” he added, that slightly mocking note still clear.

Before Fidelia could question him and ask him what exactly he meant by that, he kissed her once, so hard and passionately any sensible thought melted like candle wax and then, he was gone.