Chapter 19
Soren
“We’ll do whatever we can to help Fidelia.” Pru’s limp hand met his as he assisted her into the carriage. “Don’t worry, Pru. She won’t be there with him for much longer.”
His helpless eyes belonged to her, but she wouldn’t even fling him a look. It was like she was looking straight through him, and then she was looking straight through the curtain as if she could see the passing landscape behind it.
“Pru. Talk to me.” His fingers found hers. “What happened back at the house?”
Finally, her eyes inched toward his. “That’s just it, Soren. Nothing happened.”
“Something must have happened. You’re practically catatonic.”
“I’m fine.”
He wanted to throw his hands in the air. Wanted to reach over and tear open the curtains to at least give her something to look at. Wanted to drag her onto his lap and kiss some sense—some life—into her.
Seeing her act so despondent was tearing his heart right down the middle.
“At least take this time to ask me another question. You have two left.”
“I have no more questions for you. I know all I need to know.” Her words pierced right through his soul.
No more questions? No more curiosity. No more exploring pleasure. No more learning together. As if he could go back to other women after being with her. Surrounded by women seeking pleasure and bringing him none. This sounded like his own personal version of hell.
She was the one for him. He knew it now. Had known it for a while. But something had switched in her. It was as if Fidelia’s constitution had been contagious.
“You’re not your sister. Why are you acting like her? Pru, you must tell me.” He’d be on his knees if he thought it would help matters.
When her head slowly swiveled back to him and punctured him with a stare, he could see that things were about to go from bad to worse.
“I may not be Fidelia, but you are like Bart.”
The words were a slap to his face and he recoiled. “I’m nothing like Bart.”
“He’s a rake. You’re a rake.” And then in the flattest tone imaginable, she added, “Thank you for teaching me what I needed to know.”
“Don’t say that, Pru.”
Without warning, the jostling carriage had her swaying in her seat, tumbling into his chest. Her hands flew to his abdomen. Her head bounced against his chest. Protectively, his hands wrapped around her body.
“Don’t say that, Pru,” he repeated in a murmur, this time closer to her ear. Nuzzling into her hair. “Don’t say that. Don’t say this is the end.”
She didn’t pull away. “I don’t have any more questions for you.”
“I don’t believe you, but fine. I have questions for you then.”
“That’s not how this works. I can’t teach you anything about pleasure. Besides, we had a deal. We both failed. Let’s release each other from this asinine agreement.”
“I’ll do nothing of the sort. And to be clear, you’ve taught me more about pleasure than I’ve taught you. Being a man full of pride, I need to fulfill my obligations.”
She pushed at his chest. “I’m just an obligation—”
“No.” He tightened his grip. “You’re anything but an obligation. You’re a delight. My delight. My little librarian. Your curiosity inspires me. Your loyalty awes me. And your kindness, even to your enemies, humbles me. Your beauty undoes me. You are everything to me, Pru.”
“How can you say that? How could you possibly even know that? You love to chase women.”
“Pru, I know with absolute certainty that you’re the one for me all the more so because I have been with other women. I have seen what women are like, and I love you.”
“Y-you what?”
“I love you, Pru.”
“H-how?”
“I can’t even explain to you how except that it’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Soren? What are you saying?” But she already knew.
Could feel it in her bones. He was nothing like Bart.
What had she been thinking? Yes, he was a rake.
But he wasn’t unconscionable. He wasn’t reckless.
He wasn’t without morals. And hadn’t he proved his loyalty to her?
That he didn’t live his life quid pro quo.
That he could give and not take. That he had a good heart, despite the erroneously shallow labels people affixed to him.
“I can’t imagine my life without you. When I told your sister I wanted permission from Bart to court you, I was serious.”
“You were?”
“Yes. Although, now that I’ve seen his character I know that I don’t need his permission.”
“You don’t.”
“No,” he caressed her cheek softly, “I just need yours.”
“You have it.”
“Good. Then I have a question for you.”
“What is it?”
“May I kiss you?”
She adjusted her gaze downward before meeting what he was sure could only be described as his own desperately pleading eyes.
“You have kissed me. Many places. I shouldn’t think you need to ask.”
“I do. And I need your lips, Pru.”
“You may have them.”
No words could have been sweeter. He leaned forward and dipped his head to meet her mouth. Her lips were slightly parted, and he breathed her in before letting her close the gap between them.
And that’s when he realized his grave mistake. He really should not have initiated their first kiss in a carriage because the passion unleashed within him could hardly be contained.
His tongue slid in over hers, parrying, bowing, dancing. Not sure which sport they were undertaking, but enjoying every movement.
When she pulled back to take a deep breath, she locked eyes with him. “I lied earlier, Soren. I do have another question for you.”
He smirked at the same time his heart rolled over and wagged its tail. “What’s that, my little librarian?”
“I was wondering…what does it feel like?”
“What does what feel like?”
“The whole thing.” His cock twitched at her reply.
“I could hardly describe it to you, but I could show you.”
“That’s the answer I was looking for.”