Page 24 of Eight for Losing, One for Loving

Leo quirked one eyebrow. “Quite,” he said, holding her gaze.

Vi set down the spoon, avoiding his gaze and staring at her pie thoughtfully. She looked up then, curiosity in her expression. “Would… Would the experience really…”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

“Oh.” She nodded, biting her lip, and this time it was Leo who looked away as desire surged through his veins, making his skin ache with the need for her to touch him. Please God, let me get through this, he murmured inwardly. “Mama did give me the impression that it was… well, rather lovely, but then she and Papa are so very much in love and… and I wondered if perhaps they were unusual.”

“They are, in some respects. You know as well as I many marriages are based on breeding, or finance, or any other reason than that the two parties care a fig about each other. But my parents are much the same. It’s embarrassing sometimes,” he added with a smile. “And as for my sister, good lord, Vi. Have you ever been in a room with Bella and Bainbridge? It’s appalling.”

Vi, who had, smothered a laugh and nodded. “I take your point. But we’re not in love,” she added sadly.

Leo’s heart jolted, but he told himself not to react, instead he forced himself to look at her, really look. “Aren’t we, Vi?” he asked her softly.

As he had hoped, colour flooded her cheeks once more, and she got to her feet, turning her back on him. This, he decided, was the most encouraging development he’d had on that front, for she clearly did not wish for him to read her expression. Instead, she took the bowl and spoon and stalked back to the bed, sitting on it and finishing her pie in silence.

“You didn’t answer me, love,” he said, suddenly not the least bit interested in his own dessert, good as it was. He got up, following her to the bed and sitting beside her, but Vi refused to look up at him, her attention focused on her bowl.

“Because you are talking nonsense,” she said firmly, avoiding his eyes. “And there is no point in talking to you when you are in such a mood.”

“I’m not the one in a mood, or the one sounding so defensive,” he countered, his heart lifting as his confidence rose.

“I am not defensive,” she snapped, opening her mouth to rail at him once again and then realising what she sounded like. Her eyes flashed with frustration as she returned her attention to her bowl. Giving an irritated huff, she scraped the last of the dessert from the sides of the bowl, taking a good deal of time over ensuring she scooped up every crumb and smear of cream.

“Do you want mine too?” he asked her, unable to keep the amusement from his voice.

“No, thank you. I’m not greedy,” she said, still staring at the bowl, her posture stiff.

“No, but it was giving you a reason not to look at me. If you want to avoid doing so for a few more minutes, you are welcome to it, but you’ll have to look at me eventually, Vi. Do you think you can hide your feelings forever? I know I can’t.”

She made another sound of frustration but then she looked up and his breath caught at the fear in her eyes. “Your feelings are unreliable, Leo. Your attention span is limited, and I do not believe I have charms enough to hold it for long. What then? We bicker and vex each other badly enough now.”

For a moment, resentment burned inside him at her accusations, but when he looked back upon his life, he knew she was justified. She could not see inside his heart, his mind, could not know how tired he was of all that, how ready he was for what came next. Not that he wanted a dull life, which was why he wanted Vi. Today she had proved to him what he’d always known, how brave and capable she was, and he wanted to bring that adventurous spirit out in her, to show her she could be bold and brave because he was there to keep her safe. What she was so afraid of, he did not know, but that she was frightened was something he had instinctively believed for some time. Why, though?

“I’ll turn into a shrew, and you will want to get away from me and—”

Leo realised she was still talking, still finding reasons they would not work, and he could not have that, could not have her work herself up by imagining how it would go wrong. Instead, he would give her the very best reason it would be perfect.

Leaning in, he grasped her chin, holding her still as he pressed his mouth to hers. She froze, the list of reasons silenced by his kiss. Leo’s heart thudded hard when she did not put up even a token resistance but reached for him. It was an awkward position, with her empty bowl still between them on the bed, but he did not dare break the kiss for fear she would start up again. Instead, he stroked her cheek, pleased when she opened her mouth to him, tasting the sweet, tart flavour of apples and cream. God, but she was delicious. Desire rose like an incoming tide, and he reached for the bowl, putting it aside on the bed as he pressed Vi back against the pillows, following her down. The blasted counterpane was between them, keeping the feel of her body from his but for the moment it was enough that she kissed him with such enthusiasm, her hands grasping his shoulders.

“Vi, you are going to drive me distracted,” he murmured in her ear as he finally dragged his mouth from hers long enough to press kisses along jawline, down her neck.

She sighed, not saying anything at all, which was a first, but he’d take it. He looked at her then, her lovely blonde hair a tumble of messy curls about her face, her cheeks flushed pink, and her eyes… her clear blue eyes were dark with desire. The need to show her just what it was she wanted from him was a rush of liquid fire in his blood.

“Vi,” he said, his voice low.

“Mr Huntington, your bath is ready, sir. May we come in?”

Leo jolted, cursing roundly as he realised he’d not even heard them knock.

“Damn and blast.”

Vi bit her lip, and he saw amusement glinting there. “I would like a bath first if… if we’re to…”

Leo nodded, he had not yet decided just what they were doing, but he was sweaty and dusty, and he was damned if he would let Vi any closer to him smelling as he did.

“Stay there,” he told her, forcing himself to relax enough to give her a smile. “I’ll get rid of them as quick as I can.”

She nodded as he pulled the curtains on the bed closed, tugging hard to cover the gap from the one they had accidentally torn down, and went to the door so they could bring in the bath and the following cans of hot water.