The Future With The Marquess (The Time Pearls Book 2) by Brooke Losee

Author:Brooke Losee [Losee, Brooke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Golden Camel Press
Published: 2023-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

California, 2023

Katherine

T he persistent chant of the crowd became drowned by the loud thumping of Katherine’s pulse in her ears. She stared at Nicholas’s lips, and the desire to feel them on her own consumed her. It was as if every part of her wanted to feel the warmth of his skin against hers. Needed to feel it.

She brushed her thumbs over his face. His eyes fluttered, and his throat bobbed with a hard swallow. Did her touch affect him the same way his did her? Did he feel the same sense of urgency and desire?

She could not know for certain without asking him, and doing so in front of a crowd did not seem fair. He would never confess to such a thing with this many listening ears. Perhaps she could deduce his feelings without words.

Holding her breath, she leaned closer, her eyes set on his face, waiting for any reaction that might change her course. Nicholas’s hand lifted to her waist, and warmth seeped through her clothes despite the gentle pressure he applied. He did not push her away but rather drew her closer with a subtleness she questioned was reality.

Her mind wanted to analyze every movement, every line in his expression, but her body had ideas of its own and, without her expressed permission, eliminated the gap between them. Her lips landed on his, and Nicholas went completely rigid, the fingers at her waist digging into her side. The crowd demanded he return her kiss, but he did not heed them, leaving her to pull away with burning cheeks.

Nicholas had not wanted her to kiss him so intimately.

Regret pooled within her. What had she been thinking? How improper he must think her to force an unwanted kiss on him.

Katherine backed away, and Nicholas’s hand fell loosely to his side. She averted her gaze, unable to stand his wide-eyed expression of horror any longer. What a fool she’d acted.

Against her better judgment, she peeked over at him. He had plastered on a forced smile and was staring out over the dispersing crowd. Once most of the people had returned to their tables, he took her hand gently, avoiding eye contact, and guided it to his elbow. “Allow me to assist you down.”

Katherine nodded, but he likely hadn’t seen her acceptance given how he refused to look at her. Ever the gentleman, he escorted her off the stage, and she released his arm the moment they reached the bottom. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes.

“Are you well?” she asked, sidling closer to him so only he would hear.

Nicholas looked down at her. “I feel as though I have eaten ten courses, but otherwise, a picture of good health.”

He smiled, and she relaxed somewhat. “That is good.”

Nicholas studied her expression for a moment and then gently took her hand. Why must hers fit so perfectly in his? She gave no resistance as he led her through the crowd to a corner where they could avoid being overheard so easily.

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