.
“Did you think I’d not ask you?” Reuben asked her after they’d remained quiet for what felt like an hour to Rachel, even though she knew that not more than a few seconds had passed.
“I didn’t know what to expect.” And even now, with two glasses of champagne in her, her thoughts were muddled, as the past tried to take over her mind. In an instant, Rachel returned to the fifteen-year-old young woman she’d been, and recalled the man of twenty-five who’d held her this way, as they’d learned to dance with one another.
His eyes were the same, as was his hair, but his face had matured, and yet Rachel was sure that just as before, he was the most handsome man in the room. She’d always thought him handsome and strong. Dancing with him reminded her of those afternoons in her family sitting room. The palm that was pressed in her lower back, the hand that held hers, the smile that Reuben gave her, when she teased him thus.
He wasn’t smiling now, but she’d not teased him yet. She decided she should, then.
“I decided that if you called me ‘Little Rachel’ again, I would have to punish you by stepping on your toes.”
His eyes warmed to a forest color. “Punish me?”
She nodded. “It would be well deserved.”
His eyes warmed. “I prefer it when you call me Reuben.”
The way he’d turned the conversation around surprised her. “But you’re a lord, now.”
He looked away, missing a cue with the music. “I don’t feel like a lord.”
“How should a lord feel?” she asked, truly wishing to know.
He looked at her again. “Powerful.”
“You are powerful,” she told him.
Reuben didn’t feel powerful at all. Not when he was with her. With Rachel, he felt weak in so many ways. A part of him knew he didn’t belong, yet another part of him wasn’t strong enough to resist trying. She left him unbalanced and confused.
And very much humbled, whenever she looked at him as she did now. As though he could take on the world with his bare hands. She made him feel like a duke, no, a king. He didn’t deserve that look from her. Dancing with him should not have made her happy. In fact, she should have been angered that he’d had the audacity to pull her away from a more suitable suitor. Lord Castell was a prince! What woman wouldn’t want him?
He told himself he’d have left her alone, if he was sure Frederick wasn’t connected to the assassin, but he knew that to be a lie. Just as he knew his need to protect her had little to do with who she’d been to him in the past, and everything to do with what his heart was starting to want from her, now.
The song couldn’t have ended quicker, and before the final note could finish ringing, he led her in the direction of Lady Esther.
“I’m thirsty,” she said, when they were halfway there. “Could we go to the refreshment room? You did stop me from going there earlier.”
It was her last words that made him turn in that direction. They left the ballroom, and started down the hall. The noise from the parlor had died down, yet he could still hear the merriment.
“Did you find Karl’s friends to your liking?” She peeked into the parlor, as they passed it.
“Who exactly are Karl’s friends?” As far as Reuben could tell, the man seemed to enjoy being unidentified by person or expectations.
“A good question, that even I have yet to answer,” Rachel said, as they turned yet another corner.
The hallway was just as warm as the rest of the house, with a mixture of fragrances that came from the refreshment room, the flowers that stood in the alcoves, and heady scents of tobacco. It was all pleasant and chaotic, and with the dim lighting it confused his senses, putting him on edge.
Something felt wrong.
“Was he kind to you?” she asked.
“Did you think he wouldn’t be?” he asked.
She turned to him, her hazel gaze luminous. And the flower scent was coming from her. Her scent wrapped around his mind, cultivating dark thoughts that he shouldn’t have.
She licked her lips and left a glistening on the lower ripe one. “You ask so many questions, Reuben. Perhaps, I should punish you for that as well.” Her voice was a low purr that he could barely hear.
He leaned toward her. “And how would you go about do that?”
Rachel wasn’t sure if it was the dim lights, or the potent mixture in the air that caused her actions to become reckless, or if, in fact, it was simply the man before her, but in the next second, she was pulling Reuben into the alcove. Her trembling fingers went around his neck and her lips parted.
She wanted to stay something. Was sure she meant to.
But Reuben didn’t give her a chance.
He moved further into the alcove before he seized her mouth, and she realized that it wasn’t the air, or the lighting. It was Reuben. She was sure of it, just as she was sure he was mastering her mouth and conquering her senses. The kiss was hasty and daring, as though both realized they didn’t have forever, yet needed to draw as much from the other as they could, before they were forced to return to reality once more.
It had been so long since a man had kissed her, and the ones she’d shared with Stacy had never been like this. Reuben was enticing, his flavor made rich with wine. It was heavenly being held, and touched his way. His mouth was soft, yet hard in its pursuit of her lips and tongue. He stroked his lips over hers, and a pleasant feeling began to flutter in her blood.
Then he slowed, like a hunter with its prey well caught, his perusal of her mouth became a caress that she was quick to follow. He was older, wiser, and very skilled, and like an apt student, she learned quickly, gaining a moan from her instructor’s lips.
He pulled his mouth away slowly, gently, his fingers trailed her cheek.
She opened her eyes to find him watching her, but stilled when she noticed the anger on his face. Had she done something wrong?
He pulled out of her arms. “Forgive me.” His gaze fell to the ground, and his face colored, as though he was a chided young boy. “This was wrong of me. I shouldn’t have—”
“No.” She reached out to him.
But he backed away and glared. “You should stay away from me, Rachel.” His voice was low, yet just as commanding. “I’ll arrange for my carriage to see you and your aunt safely home, but I must go.”
Her eyes widened, and she truly began to wonder what had gone wrong, but he was gone before she could inquire.