mischief that promised an adventure. Viola couldn't tear herself away. All the excuses and all her defenses melted, ensnared by his gaze.
"You were the woman who could rival me in any way. Although as a lady your reputation isn't quite as tarnished as mine." He winked, the humor melting away the hurt.
Viola let out a sharp laugh. "Sweetheart, you're talking to a woman who used to work the Green Fairy Den."
His eyes widened, less than surprising, since any man setting foot into Shantytown knew the bordellos and lushieries. She set her teeth, waiting for disgust, or worse, the sick fascination, like she was some mechanized dildo. Immediately she regretted her brash disclosure.
Instead, he let out a sigh of relief.
Her brows narrowed together and her heart beat a little faster. "Did you not hear me?"
He cupped his hands around her cheeks. "I knew someone real hid under all the manners, airs, and propriety. I caught glimpses of it, but then you'd snap back to façade. Darling, I don't want some shell of a lady or a twit obsessed with superficiality. I've seen too much of life to want that. You, Viola Embrees, you are gloriously real."
His words filtered through her like adrenaline and his palms touching her skin sent shocks of warmth. She didn't dare hope and didn't dare dream someone would accept her after that card hit the table. But he wasn't leaving. The wonde r — the zeal filling his eyes as he stared at her made her want to hope again. Tension stretched between them with their faces mere inches apart. His mouth parted and the scent of pine and autumn leaves surrounded him like a musk.
For years, men had stolen her kisses. They'd taken more and more of her over time until she had to hide behind titles, behind a persona. After being an object for so long, her trust shattered. She took in a deep, steadying breath. Edward was maddening, confusing, and an irritating flirt. He brought everything to the surface, all the parts of her she'd tried to bury years ago. Yet she wanted him. For the first time she felt the stirrings of a shared desire in her chest.
Twining her hands around his neck, she soaked in the heat from his gaze and the way he studied her and saw past her barriers. His lips, inches from hers, were so close his breath was soft and hot on her skin. She looked into his eyes, giving him a genuine smile. The poor boy wouldn't know what hit him.
She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. The response sparked at once, immediate, and explosive. Edward wrapped his arms around her waist and drank her in until her head spun.
Her lips tingled and the thrill mounting inside her chest pushed for more and more. Like that first kiss they'd shared, the scent of pine intoxicated her and the sensation of his rough lips against hers sent shivers through her like a current. She pulled away to toy with him, making him dart in for her. At first they kissed like the tide crashed, as if fearing they'd never resurface. Viola slowed down the tempo, planting feather-light kisses on his lips that made him growl.
In turn, he diverted attention, nipping at her earlobe and sucking at the soft skin of her neck. With every shock of adrenaline rushing her, she squeezed her thighs tighter.
His coarse lips on hers, the thrill of his longer hair tickling her shoulders, and twining with her own, all of it plunged her deeper into the moment. His crisp scent overwhelmed her, sharpening her desire. She glanced at the door and then the steps.
"Want to take this upstairs?" she asked, her voice thick and throaty.
Without a response, he swept her off her feet, surprising strength in those lithe muscles, and took off for the steps. A laugh slipped past her lips as they raced up the stairs. Midway up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. He stopped where he stood, full focus on returning the kiss. She slid out of his arms and grabbed his hand, guiding him the rest of the way up the stairs.
The second they reached the
"You were the woman who could rival me in any way. Although as a lady your reputation isn't quite as tarnished as mine." He winked, the humor melting away the hurt.
Viola let out a sharp laugh. "Sweetheart, you're talking to a woman who used to work the Green Fairy Den."
His eyes widened, less than surprising, since any man setting foot into Shantytown knew the bordellos and lushieries. She set her teeth, waiting for disgust, or worse, the sick fascination, like she was some mechanized dildo. Immediately she regretted her brash disclosure.
Instead, he let out a sigh of relief.
Her brows narrowed together and her heart beat a little faster. "Did you not hear me?"
He cupped his hands around her cheeks. "I knew someone real hid under all the manners, airs, and propriety. I caught glimpses of it, but then you'd snap back to façade. Darling, I don't want some shell of a lady or a twit obsessed with superficiality. I've seen too much of life to want that. You, Viola Embrees, you are gloriously real."
His words filtered through her like adrenaline and his palms touching her skin sent shocks of warmth. She didn't dare hope and didn't dare dream someone would accept her after that card hit the table. But he wasn't leaving. The wonde r — the zeal filling his eyes as he stared at her made her want to hope again. Tension stretched between them with their faces mere inches apart. His mouth parted and the scent of pine and autumn leaves surrounded him like a musk.
For years, men had stolen her kisses. They'd taken more and more of her over time until she had to hide behind titles, behind a persona. After being an object for so long, her trust shattered. She took in a deep, steadying breath. Edward was maddening, confusing, and an irritating flirt. He brought everything to the surface, all the parts of her she'd tried to bury years ago. Yet she wanted him. For the first time she felt the stirrings of a shared desire in her chest.
Twining her hands around his neck, she soaked in the heat from his gaze and the way he studied her and saw past her barriers. His lips, inches from hers, were so close his breath was soft and hot on her skin. She looked into his eyes, giving him a genuine smile. The poor boy wouldn't know what hit him.
She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. The response sparked at once, immediate, and explosive. Edward wrapped his arms around her waist and drank her in until her head spun.
Her lips tingled and the thrill mounting inside her chest pushed for more and more. Like that first kiss they'd shared, the scent of pine intoxicated her and the sensation of his rough lips against hers sent shivers through her like a current. She pulled away to toy with him, making him dart in for her. At first they kissed like the tide crashed, as if fearing they'd never resurface. Viola slowed down the tempo, planting feather-light kisses on his lips that made him growl.
In turn, he diverted attention, nipping at her earlobe and sucking at the soft skin of her neck. With every shock of adrenaline rushing her, she squeezed her thighs tighter.
His coarse lips on hers, the thrill of his longer hair tickling her shoulders, and twining with her own, all of it plunged her deeper into the moment. His crisp scent overwhelmed her, sharpening her desire. She glanced at the door and then the steps.
"Want to take this upstairs?" she asked, her voice thick and throaty.
Without a response, he swept her off her feet, surprising strength in those lithe muscles, and took off for the steps. A laugh slipped past her lips as they raced up the stairs. Midway up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. He stopped where he stood, full focus on returning the kiss. She slid out of his arms and grabbed his hand, guiding him the rest of the way up the stairs.
The second they reached the
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