Bittersweet Obsession by Tess Oliver

Author:Tess Oliver [Oliver, Tess]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Angel had known the risk he’d taken with his own sanity by allowing himself the pleasure of tasting Jane’s lips and touching her intimately. But he had not realized the full consequences from his loss of willpower until now. Thoughts and visions of Jane filled his every waking hour . . . and sleeping hour. Her fragrance had lingered on him long after they’d left the conservatory and he was shocked at the drugging effect it had had on him.

For two days he watched his violet-gazed, tender-curved elixir flit around the house seemingly unaware of his hungry stares and seemingly unaffected by the intimacy they had shared. Her nonchalance irritated, hurt, and unhinged him all at once. She’d returned to her reading and music sessions with Zander, and it seemed to soothe the beast greatly. Angel had found only torment in watching her sit demurely at the piano with her thin white fingers flying over the keys and the sweet curves of her breasts rise and fall with the rhythm of the music. It was too much for Angel to bear. He’d spent most of the bitterly cold afternoon outside searching out tasks that were heavy on labor and light on thought. At least for that part of the day the physical exhaustion had given him some relief.

Ellie and Lettie walked out of the house dressed for a trip to the village for dry goods. John had hitched the horses to the wagon and would drive them along the precarious, frozen path to town.

Angel helped both women onto the wagon seat. Ellie clutched a list of goods in her gloved hands. “We’ll be back in several hours. Dr. Van Ostrand gave Zander a sleep tonic to stop him from walking circles—” Ellie stopped when she sensed Lettie go rigid next to her. “Well, anyhow, he is sleeping. There is some cold turkey and cheese on the sideboard in the dining room. I knew you’d be hungry after laboring out here for so long. Your father needs me to stop at the apothecary’s shop as well.” Her face flattened beneath hood of her cloak. “I worry about him. He had not regained his strength from this last bout of illness. He spent less than an hour in his lab and then took to his bed again.”

“The less time he spends in his lab the better,” Angel said. “Perhaps if he left off of the laudanum for a spell, he would feel more himself,”

“But he needs it for the pain,” Ellie insisted.

“I’m sure he does,” Angel said darkly and patted the side of the wagon. “Off with you, and stay alert, John.”

“Aye, Sir, I will.”

The house was quiet as Angel walked inside to wash. He’d worked up a grand sweat and the labor had cooled his thoughts temporarily but the moment he passed Jane’s door, the insatiable need returned.

Angel stripped down to his breeches and leaned over the basin of water. The water inside was clear and cold, just what he needed.

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