Chapter Five #2
The soft brush of her body against his back might prove his undoing if he wasn’t careful, if he didn’t keep rigid control over his base instincts. Laurence put all thought of her from his mind as he gazed over the lawn to the target. “Now what?”
“Point your thumb toward your target. Rather than curling your thumb, keep it straight as you position it on the other side of the bow, apart from your other fingers. Let it rest very slightly along the inside edge of the bow grip.”
“So many steps.”
“This is an art form as much as a sport, Captain… er, I mean Laurence.”
With a heavy swallow, he nodded. “And?”
“Grip the tail end of the arrow by positioning your index finger above it and your middle and ring fingers below, getting a firm hold without squeezing the arrow too tightly.” When she slipped her hand along his arm, helping him with the position, he ignored the blatant need surging through his veins.
“Good. Now, to shoot the arrow, pull back the bowstring while gripping the arrow in your fingers until your hand rests next to your face.” Again, her hand slid up his arm.
She caressed her glove-covered fingers along his cheek.
“Right here. Then aim the bow and release the bowstring. Let your arrow fly.”
All the new sensations coursing through his body were quite unnerving. But he released the arrow… only to be disappointed when it fell far short of the target.
“Damn.”
“It was your first go ‘round.” Rose laid a hand on his arm, and his muscles clenched. “Try again.”
“Right.” He accepted another arrow from her as she moved to the side. With her instructions ringing in his ears, he notched the arrow, found his sightline with his thumb, pulled back the string, and then released the second arrow. This time it hit the straw target, but not the heart of it.
“Nicely done!” The enthusiasm coming from her was contagious, and he grinned. “Again.” While he readied another arrow, she asked, “How did you manage to survive the war without serious injury for so long?”
“I suppose I was fortunate and can anticipate when danger is coming.” After taking another arrow from her, he assumed the posture then sent the third arrow flying. This time it glanced off the top of the target and fell harmlessly into the grass. “Bloody hell.”
“It will take practice. Watch.” Rose took the bow from him, and by the time she let her arrow fly, he was in awe of her skill. With seeming ease, the head of the arrow sailed directly into the target’s heart.
Another wave of awareness surged through him. “You are amazing.”
“I don’t know about that.” She gave him back the bow. “Do it again.”
“I once reported to a major that had the tenacity and drive you do.” But he softened the statement with a chuckle as he fitted another arrow to the bow string. After he set it flying, he practically willed it to land on the target. Which it did, just off center.
“Fantastic!” Rose clapped her hands together. Her eyes shone with excitement. “You’re getting it. Perhaps next time, if you are of a mind, we can shoot together, have a friendly competition.”
“Ha! In which you’ll win. This is only my first foray into archery.” Yet her praise was gratifying and made his chest swell with pride.
“Then that will prove your motivation, won’t it?” Again, she touched his arm. “Let us retrieve the arrows then we’ll have another round.”
“I would enjoy that very much.” Yet there was something he wished to do more. In fact, he was quite convinced he couldn’t move forward until he did it. After slinging the bow over his shoulder, he caught her hand. “Rose, I would like to kiss you. Will you allow me that without violence?”
A swift inhalation of breath was the only betrayal of her surprise, yet she peered upward into his eyes, looking for God knew what. Finally, she nodded. “I won’t bid you nay.”
What a benediction that agreement was! “Good.” Then he tugged her into his arms and settled her comfortably before claiming her lips with his.
Immediately, the warmth of her stoked the flames in his blood into an inferno. The scent of her, the way she felt in his arms, even the slide of the bow from his shoulder down to the crook of his elbow added erotic elements to the chaste kiss he didn’t want to remain so chaste.
Pulling slightly away, Rose stared up at him with a mixture of shock and wariness in those blue gray eyes. “Oh.”
“Indeed. Shall I continue?”
“I… I shouldn’t. It might lead to another scandal, and I’m not certain I can recover from a second one, yet…”
There was only so much willpower a man had available to him, and she had stolen every shred of that from him in that moment.
If she hadn’t peered up at him with such an expression of soft confusion, if there hadn’t been that nearly inaudible tremble in her voice, if she hadn’t slipped a hand to his shoulder, he would have been all right, but she had, and his control cracked.
“Ah, Rose, if you don’t want the kiss, beg off. I’ll bear no ill will.” But he did want to hear the story of why there was sadness in the depths of her eyes and what had led to this pass.
“Truth to tell, I don’t want you to stop.” She offered a half-smile and a shrug. “That’s what makes this so confusing.”
“That is an understatement.” Seconds later, he pulled her flush to his body, settled her once more into his embrace, and brought his lips crashing down on hers.
Hell’s bells, but the softness and heat of her made him want to claim all of her but they had only just met, and her faint floral scent was as intoxicating as the world’s finest spirits.
Yet here they were, kissing as if they’d been parted for years by war.
Over and over, he drank from her, and when she responded in kind, any residual restraint he had evaporated.
He walked her backward, and when the trunk of a wide oak tree stopped their progression, Laurence pressed his body into hers and grinned when she uttered an encouraging sigh.
No, he certainly didn’t wish to rush his fences, but damn, he wanted her.
Except caution was needed, for he didn’t want to spook her… or tax his own flagging strength.
Cupping her head between his palms, he deepened the kiss, told her with his tongue what he longed to do, and when they broke apart, their breathing was labored.
There was nothing for it, really, except to tell the truth.
“I wouldn’t wish to crush your magnificent dress or assume consent as we’re naught but strangers to each other.
However, I’d be a proper nodcock if I didn’t say I want to do incredibly wicked things to you right now,” he whispered against the underside of her jaw as he dragged his lips down the column of her throat.
“I appreciate how honest you are.”
He snorted. “To a fault, some would say.”
“And I’ll wager you don’t wish scandal attached to your name, since you are of sterling reputation…” Rose lifted her head, and with a hand resting on his chest, sighed again. “And I am not. This is the last thing you or I need.”
Damn, but she hadn’t said no. In a roundabout way.
“What you’ve said is true, yet I rather think a man with pockets to let has only his word to stand on, so I’ll let you go untouched.
” He couldn’t help but brush his lips along her lips once more before releasing her.
“Society—and its rules—baffles me as much as it annoys.”
“I wholeheartedly agree.” She gave in to a shiver as she met his gaze with hers. “I…” Then she shook her head. “I must go back to the manor. There is an appointment I’ve forgotten about.” Before he could utter a protest, she lifted her skirts and ran away from him in the direction of the house.
“Well, that was odd, but it could have gone worse, I suppose.” With nothing else to do, he retrieved the arrows, picked up his makeshift walking stick, and headed back with the bow. What was he to do about the growing attraction between them?
Perhaps it was best to take his cues from her. If she wished to continue, he would. If not, he would pray that he recovered his strength quickly so he could leave her in peace.
Before either of them got too far attached.