A Groom of Her Own (Scandalous Affairs Book 1) by Christi Caldwell

Author:Christi Caldwell [Caldwell, Christi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

A short while later, they resumed the journey to the farthest-flung region of North Yorkshire.

Claire didn’t know what future awaited her as a married woman to the stranger in North Yorkshire.

She didn’t know whether she’d be happy in her changed circumstances. Or miserable.

She couldn’t say whether she’d have regrets at having given up all hope of love in the quest for the limited independence a lady was able to find in a world so very unkind to women.

Until she drew her last breath, she would recall walking hand in hand with Caleb Gray through a rugged terrain so raw and primitive it harked back to times long past.

And she would hold on to that moment forever, a gift given to her by the most unlikely person. When she was old and gray and sketching alone at an estate she’d agreed to take over and run, she would think back to that stolen moment in Malham.

Nay, it wasn’t just Gordale Scar that would linger in her memories forevermore. It was all of these hours spent with him, from the taproom at the Rotted Rooster to the night they’d shared in a lone room, sleeping on a floor and conversing so easily.

Her heart hammered.

There was also the pleasure she’d known in his arms. She’d remember that, too. Every last naughty, forbidden word of encouragement he’d breathed against her ear, the coarse brush of his unshaven cheeks upon her neck. And the bliss that had consumed her as he’d shown her all the passion her body was capable of.

Surely there was something wicked about her that she wanted more of those moments with him. Even knowing how he felt about her status as an almost-married woman and how committed he was to being a man of honor who didn’t infringe upon an engaged couple, she ached to taste of him again.

From under hooded lashes, Claire stole a glance at the seat occupant across from her.

Not that she need worry about him catching her watching him.

When they’d boarded the carriage, he’d grabbed his sketch pad and become lost in his own work. This time, while she’d sat on, unable to concentrate or think about anything. That was, she’d been unable to think about anything except him.

“You going to show me?” he asked so suddenly, so unexpectedly, she jumped.

However, with his head trained down as it was and his fingers moving quickly over his page, she might have merely imagined he’d spoken.

But then he ceased those broad strokes he’d been taking with his pencil and looked up.

Caleb lifted an eyebrow. “Well?” he prodded, snapping the leather book shut and setting it aside.

She’d not a clue as to what he was asking her.

At the protracted silence, he pointed to her bench.

Claire followed that gesture over to…

“My sketch pad?” She puzzled her brow in confusion.

He gave her a pointed look, confirming she’d heard correctly.

That had been all she’d ever wanted from Caleb Gray. She’d been asking him for as long as they’d known each other to consider her work, or evaluate it, and issue guidance.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.