“Louisa, stop looking at me like that,” he said in a low tone.
“I cannot seem to stop lately,” she whispered.
He muttered something under his breath as Louisa brought her lips to his. It was nothing more than a quick kiss until he wrapped his arms around her. Turning her body towards his, she opened her mouth for him. He responded quickly, deepening the kiss. She trembled as his tongue brushed against hers, sending waves of desire through her. Skimming her hand over his cheek, she felt his strong jawline and then let her fingers touch his hair. He’d cut it before coming to town, and she missed the slightly longer length.
The world slipped away until they were alone, not in a garden where anyone might stumble upon them. She shivered as his large hands cupped her cheeks, caressing them as he continued the passionate assault on Louisa’s senses. Never could she have imagined kissing her dearest friend would make her melt. But now she felt she could crumble to the ground if she let go of him.
He broke away and rested his forehead on hers, breathing hard. “We really must stop,” he whispered.
Louisa closed her eyes as she attempted to get her breathing under control. “Of course. I must apologize.”
“For what?”
“Kissing you.”
“Louisa, I kissed you too. I owe you an apology.” He
moved away from her. “I shouldn’t have kissed you. It will never happen again.”
Oh, that was where he was wrong. They would kiss again. She had to get her emotions under control before returning to the ball. Now that she knew he was not immune to her, she would never back down. But for now, Emma had insisted that Louisa had to try to make him jealous tonight.
“I must go back to the ballroom. I promised Collingwood another dance.”
“Then, by all means, go. You wouldn’t wish to keep Collingwood waiting,” he grumbled, moving away from her.
“Do not be angry with me,” she shot back. “Collingwood was your choice.”
Before he could say another word, she jumped up and raced back to the house with a determined smile.
Chapter 12
HARRY TOSSED THE COVERLET off and scrambled out of bed. There was no point in lazing about when he hadn’t slept at all. Every time he closed his eyes, the image of Louisa’s lips on his compelled his eyes to open to remove the picture from his mind.
After seven years, he’d finally kissed her. She may have kissed him first, but her innocent kiss scarcely counted. He had taken control and returned her soft kiss with seven years of pent up frustration. Her sweet tongue had brushed against his, wreaking havoc with his restraint.
For years he’d assumed if he ever kissed her it wouldn’t be enough...he would want more. He couldn’t have been more wrong. More wasn’t what he wanted, but what he needed. Needed to feel her body against his. Needed to taste every inch of her body and desperately needed to be deep inside her.
Whatever had possessed him to return her kiss? He was a bloody fool to succumb to the tears in her eyes. Only some semblance of sanity had forced him to break away from her tempting kisses.
A hint of anger still lingered in him with the thought that it had taken her seven years to accept a kiss from him. Seven years they could have been together. Now too much stood between them for any lasting happiness.
He’d hurt Sabita by forcing her to leave her family, among other things he could not think about. He refused to hurt Louisa. They could never be together when doing so would dredge up old gossip for all involved.
After putting on his trousers, he paced the room. The restless energy inside him wouldn’t subside. How he wished he’d never returned to London. Never saw Louisa again.
For the past two years, he’d all but put her out of his mind, except for the fleeting thoughts of her smile that would drift into his consciousness. Or the wonder of what she was doing at the exact moment he thought of her. But no more.
A ride would ease his frustration today. He had to stop obsessing over Louisa. Surely a fast ride through Hyde Park at this early hour would help. After ordering Hercules saddled, he dressed and left the house without eating.
Turning into the park, he sighed with relief. At seven in the morning, the park was nearly empty. Most people were probably still sleeping off the excesses of the night at Lady Leicester’s ball. But he wasn’t here to think about last night. He was here to put the previous evening out of his mind. Urging Hercules to a gallop, he raced down the path until he noticed a rider coming toward him.
All he’d wanted was a little peace this morning. Now he would be forced by good manners to stop and talk to this man.
But as the rider came closer, Harry’s scowl turned into a smile as he reined in. Simon slowed his horse and tilted his head with a grin.
“You’re up early after a late night of amusements at Lady Leicester’s ball,” Simon commented.
“And I thought you were going to meet a lonely widow.”