Chapter Eight
Wayne’s pulse beat so fast he feared something was wrong with his body. Was it his nearness that made her speak her mind as he rubbed a lock of her hair between his finger and thumb? Or was it the poison? It would drive him insane until he knew the answer to this perplexing question.
He didn’t want to think the poison was still controlling his actions.
He enjoyed being close to her like this, as he recalled feeling last night.
She had the silkiest hair that he could stroke for hours without getting tired, which was something else he recalled from twenty-four hours ago.
Nothing about this woman would bore him.
Even her fiery temper kept him entertained.
Hesitantly, he released her lock of hair to fall against her shoulder. As hard as he tried to withdraw his hand, he couldn’t. It was as if it had a mind of its own, especially when he touched her bare shoulder.
“I will admit,” he finally said, “that my memory has been giving me brief glimpses. The only thing I know is that I was quite pleased with our time together. I…hadn’t wanted you to leave the coach.”
Her cheeks darkened, and her silver-blue eyes sparkled. “Do you think it is the poison making you feel that way?”
“I’m not certain.” He softly caressed her skin, which was growing warmer by the second. “How are you feeling at this moment? Are you experiencing anything that reminds you of last night?”
Her slender throat lurched in what must have been a hard swallow. His throat grew dry, and he was tempted to copy her actions. Instead, he waited in anticipation for her answer as he locked stares with her.
Slowly, she nodded. “I recall feeling out of breath as my heartbeat raced with excitement. And”—she licked her lips—“I’m feeling that way now.”
Usually, Wayne was the one charming the ladies, but whether Regina realized it or not, she was charming him.
He had never been so tongue-tied or absent-minded before.
Although he suspected it was the poison’s effect on him, now he wondered if it was this intoxicating woman who had made him react so foolishly.
He wanted to relive last night, but this time he would remember every earth-shaking touch and head-spinning kiss.
His chest tightened so much he had a difficult time breathing. The conversation had spun completely out of control, and he didn’t have the will to stop it. In fact, it wasn’t really about the poison any longer. She was what filled his thoughts, and he enjoyed the feeling.
He hesitated to tell her about the earl behind his suspicions, only because he needed solid proof. But for now, he could certainly make something good came out of the heated moment between them.
He moved his touch up to her neck, briefly remembering that he had kissed her here…and here…and here.
She trembled beneath his touch. “Wayne, I don’t think we should do this.” Her chest rose and fell quickly, proving that she was feeling the same out-of-control emotions he was.
“Then stop me,” he whispered, bending to place his lips on her neck, sweeping them back and forth. “Because heaven help me, I want to relive the moments I had with you last night, and this is the only way.”
She grabbed his shoulders but didn’t push him away. “This is wrong, and you know it.”
“Do I?” He moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her closer. “Then why does it feel so right?”
If she told him to stop, it would be difficult, but he would do it. He wasn’t an animal, and generally, he acted like a gentleman around women. Why was she so different?
“Wayne, please,” she said in a heavy breath as she pressed her palms against his chest.
He lifted his head, waiting for her to turn him away, but her wide, lovely eyes and her sultry mouth told him she was struggling as well.
“Please, what?” He grinned teasingly. “What do you want, my sweet lady?”
Her throat jumped again. “Do you really believe the poison is making us feel this way?”
“What do you think?” He lifted a hand to her mouth and traced the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip. “Do you think you would ever feel this way about me if you hadn’t been poisoned?”
“But…you are Jane’s fiancé.”
As much as he wanted to confess that he didn’t love the earl’s daughter, that he was only doing this because of his job as a Bow Street Runner, he didn’t dare. Not yet. He looked into her eyes again, experiencing the frustration she must be feeling. “We are engaged, yes.”
“Then I should not feel this way at all, and neither should you.”
He dropped his gaze to her lovely mouth again, wanting to taste her again to bring his memories back. “No, I shouldn’t feel this way, but I do.”
She expelled a deep breath. “Then we were certainly given poison, and it appears that the chemicals are still within us.”
“It does appear that way.” He paused as he slowly leaned toward her. “I suppose there is only one thing that can be done about our conundrum.” He didn’t want to give her time to ask. “We should go with our urges. That’s the only way to finally get this out of our—”
The moment she placed her mouth over his, his words stopped.
It shocked him that she wasn’t fighting it, yet he pushed the surprise aside and gathered her closer as he returned her kiss.
Fireworks exploded inside his head, making him dizzy again.
But it was so different from how he had felt last night.
Instead, an emotion grew inside his chest, making him feel like the happiest man alive.
Using the wall to help hold her, he moved his hands all over her back and then up to her neck. Tenderly, he stroked her soft skin, knowing he had never touched anything that resembled a rose petal.
Lifting his hands higher, he found the pins holding her hair together and pulled them out until her thick locks fell around her shoulders.
He loved the way the satin smoothness of her hair caressed his hands.
Had she been this way last night? And more importantly, had he experienced this fulfillment by just touching her?
She slid her hands up his chest and around his neck.
The action brought them even closer, which he didn’t mind at all.
For a moment, he wondered if their position was more comfortable now than it had been in the coach, but then he pushed the thought aside and was determined to make better memories—those that would stay with him all day and all night.
He would blame his feelings on the poison.
However, he felt that they had nothing to do with whatever it was that Harold had given him last night.
Wayne couldn’t get enough of her, and his mind was very clear right now.
For some reason, he had allowed this temperamental woman to crawl into his heart.
He tilted his head and deepened the kiss.
Regina released a throaty groan and nearly melted in his arms, but she didn’t pull away.
She must be as fascinated with him as he was with her.
He didn’t want to assume she acted this way because she thought they were poisoned.
He wanted her to desire him and him alone.
Suddenly, the noise of the back door closing jerked Wayne from the dream Regina had placed him under. His heart sank. Somebody was here!
*
Regina’s mind spun with panic. Her heavy breaths were so fast that she knew the floor would be her bed any moment now.
Fear kept her legs from moving, yet she wanted to scream.
Unless she found someplace to hide, she would be caught with Wayne.
The scandal she had thought would pass her by was finally a threat, and her future frightened her half to death.
Wayne grasped her hand and pulled her toward the jewelry counter. He scooted behind the counter, bringing her with him. He tugged on her arm and motioned toward the floor. Nodding, she crouched behind the counter. Her limbs shook terribly, but she must be silent.
It didn’t take long before Wayne had moved around to the lobby. Determination was written on his face, but then, so was passion. His lips were even swollen.
Bringing a shaky hand to her mouth, she touched her lips. They were swollen as well. Immediately, her face heated. Nobody could see her like this.
Another set of footsteps came from the back corridor. She held her breath, hoping Wayne could get rid of the intruder. But what if the person inside was a thief wanting to take the jewels? If he had a weapon, the thief would certainly discover her behind the counter.
A loud gasp ripped from Wayne’s throat. The trembling in her body increased.
“Father? What are you doing here?” Wayne’s voice was lifted in surprise.
Father? Silently, she groaned. This wasn’t good at all. Fate had once been on her side, but the finicky teller of people’s futures had fled as quickly as it had come.
“Wayne?” The older man’s tone was as deep as his son’s. “What are you doing here this time at night?”
A chuckle that sounded forced came from Wayne.
“Father, I’m sure you are surprised. However, I’m meeting…eh, a certain lovely lady tonight, and we wanted to stay away from the wagging tongues of the town.”
The older man laughed. “Yes, I can imagine. However, next time, please let me know in advance. One of my colleagues noticed a light inside and rode to the house to tell me. You won’t believe how fast I got here, thinking the worst.”
“Forgive me, Father. I should have told you. It won’t happen again.”
“It had better not happen again, especially if you don’t want to ruin the lovely lady’s reputation. I have told you several times before that you must not be selfish when it comes to passion. There is more than one life at stake.”
“I remember. Forgive me for not thinking of my sweet lady. She is certainly a special woman who deserves better.”
Regina’s heart melted. Was she his sweet lady? And she was a special woman? He must have been poisoned worse than she had been. Why would he say these words about her while engaged to Jane?
Poor Jane. She would be devastated if she ever discovered what Regina had been doing with Wayne.
Perhaps this was what needed to happen for the wedding to be called off.
Now that she had kissed him so passionately, there was no way Regina would stand by and watch him marry her best friend.
Her heart wouldn’t take it. Or…was that the poison talking?
“When do I get to meet your sweet lady, Wayne?”
She hitched a breath, praying nobody heard.
“Things between us are complicated right now for reasons I cannot disclose. However, once I’m able to tell everyone, you and Mother will be the first to meet her.”
“Ah, my boy.” The elder Mr. Worthington walked further inside the lobby. “It does my heart good to see you smiling. I can tell you put her in high regard. It should come as no surprise that I’m happy to see you have finally given a woman your heart.”
His heart? Regina’s breathing quickened. But Wayne was engaged to Jane. Why hadn’t his father noticed the different look on his son’s face when he proposed to Jane? Unless…
She released a small groan. Could it be true that Wayne had only gone after Jane because of her father’s money? Yet Regina didn’t have money, so why was the elder Mr. Worthington noticing his son had finally given his heart to a woman?
The pitter-patter of her heartbeat changed. Could Wayne possibly enjoy her company more than Jane’s? Regina didn’t know how many times Wayne had passionately kissed Jane, but was it even imaginable that he enjoyed Regina more?
“Well, son.” Footsteps shuffled toward the corridor. “I’ll leave you alone now. I’m sure your mother is worried sick about what I found here. I promise not to tell her you were meeting a woman.”
Wayne laughed. “I would appreciate that. I don’t need her thinking any less of me.”
“No, you do not. Walk with me to the back door.”
“Yes, Father.”
Both men’s steps echoed through the store as they walked to the back. Regina’s heartbeat calmed slowly, and yet her mind raced. The endearment laced in Wayne’s voice when he mentioned her would stay in her mind forever. Could he have come to care for her so soon?
Although confusion continued to stay inside her, she almost hoped Wayne was the decent, kind, and loving man he appeared to be.