Of Night and Dark Obscurity

Caroline took a deep breath. She looked at his face in the dark and saw his eyes watching her and his lips so sensuous and cool.

“Remember. Don’t touch me.”

He felt the world spinning. Don’t touch me, don’t touch me, don’t touch me echoed in his ears. When she moved even closer, he could feel his mouth become dry with anticipation. He swallowed and then she touched her mouth to his. It was sweet and innocent until she moved her hand to touch his face and her hand then moved to behind his head and pulled at the curls at the nape of his neck.

He was lost. He couldn’t hold on much longer. He was trying to fight the urge to throw her against the cushions and truly plunder her mouth, or remain as he was. When she moaned a little, he was gone. Nothing could bring him back now.

He pulled her tightly against him and when he deepened the kiss, she moaned again causing him to press into her. He could feel her body responding and when he touched his tongue to hers, she finally pushed him away.

“You touched me.” She accused him.

His eyes were dilated and dark and he didn’t say anything. The carriage was coming to a halt before her townhouse.

“Caroline,” he began.

“What was the point of that?” She scoffed. “What did that prove?”

“You tell me.” He asked.

“You play with words. You interview and find the secrets that people hide deep within. Well there’s nothing here for you to find,” she said hotly about to emerge from the carriage except that he caught her arm.

“Maybe I needed to prove something to you, Miss Derry,” he said huskily.

“And what was that? That after all I said, you and Charles Lyttleton are exactly the same?”

“Oh, I see. You’ve kissed Charles Lyttleton too,” he said jealously.

She jerked her arm away from him and left the carriage to enter her home.

“Outrageous!” She sputtered as she entered the foyer. “Outrageous and insufferable man!” She fumed.

Her grandmother came out to greet her but her eyes were narrowed. “Where have you been Caroline?”

“Nowhere in particular. The park, the milliner shop,” Caroline lied to her.

“I wish you wouldn’t go out at night any longer Caroline. It disturbs me for you to do so. After your sister—“

“Yes Gran,” she agreed. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“You’ve received an invitation to tea from Lady Lyttleton.” Her grandmother handed the card to her. “It’s tomorrow.”

Caroline nodded. “I’ll send Wilmot with a reply tomorrow morning.”

“Good night dear.” She kissed her cheek.

“Good night.” Caroline said heading to her room and closing the door behind her.

She leaned against it for several seconds as she closed her eyes. She remembered the kiss in the carriage and she realized she was a fool. Just because he had goaded her into kissing him, she had done so and for what?

Her heart had raced and she had been dazzled by the desire that had rushed through her blood. But what did it prove? She was human? She shook her head. She must keep her distance from the Inspector. He was not to be trusted. No that was wrong. She was not to be trusted when she was near him.

???

One thing Val learned that evening as he undressed in his room was where it concerned Caroline Derry he was not to be trusted. She embodied too many things that he found attractive and her sweet face was something he loved to watch. And her eyes. Her eyes were a beautiful hazel color that sometimes changed in the light. When he closed his eyes, he could still feel her lips underneath his and he could still taste her.

Why had he asked her for a kiss? It had been reckless and he had been so certain she would decline. There was no reason for her to agree to the kiss except for the reasons he had thought. She must feel something for him too. She liked him more than she let on and at least that was something.

When he climbed into his bed that evening, he knew he wouldn’t dream about corpses or a lost love. Instead he would dream of a world where he could hold Caroline in his arms all night long, and when he tired of that he could kiss her again and make her moan. It was a delightful world.