A Gentleman's Vow (Saints and Sinners 2)

She merely stared at Gideon, overwhelmed with disappointment that he had to go. “Oh, to hell with that,” Jessica muttered under her breath. She’d let Gideon leave and follow him later.

Chapter 17

Gideon sighed as the door beside him eased open and Jessica, clad now in a darker gown, appeared beside him on the terrace outside the long gallery. She startled when he made a soft sound to announce his presence but grabbed his outstretched hand quickly. Gideon closed and locked the Stapleton door securely, tucked the key into his pocket, and led Jessica into the empty, dark garden, keeping to the shadows. They said not a word to each other until they were on Quigley Hill land.

“I thought I was clear about not doing this,” he complained.

“But I needed to see you,” she promised. “I want to know what’s going on.”

“There is nothing to worry about. I told you I wouldn’t give up,” Gideon promised as he took her in his arms, smiling down at her fondly. “No matter what your father does or says, I’m in love with you. I will wait forever for him to accept that. What did you want to say to me that couldn’t wait until tomorrow or the next day?”

“What are we going to do?”

“There is nothing to do. Lord James has already gone. He called for his horse as soon as he left us, and he’s no doubt headed directly for Lady Hannah’s door to beg her forgiveness for abandonment.” He pressed his head against Jessica’s and inhaled the scent of her hair. “I wonder when your father will realize you’ve gone.”

“He won’t,” Jessica promised, running her hands up and down his chest. “I made sure everyone saw me go to my own room and into bed.”

He stilled her hands before he became too distracted. “He is your father, and he knows you as well as I do. If I can anticipate your every move, so will he.”

“Let’s hope he doesn’t.” She looped her arms about Gideon’s shoulders. “Did you ask Father’s permission to court me?”

“It seemed the right thing to do. A certain young lady was not content with finger kisses.”

“The ones from your lips are better.”

“Wait till I’ve kissed you all over, then you’ll really be impressed.” He laughed softly but heard her breath catch at his suggestion. “Kisses can be anywhere, Jessica. Lips, neck…elbows.”

“Elbows?”

He grinned slowly. “I didn’t want to shock you by naming the real place I was thinking about kissing you.”

“Where is that?”

“I’ll leave you to imagine. We’ve been alone too long as it is.”

“I’m not going home yet,” she said stubbornly. “Take me with you so we can continue talking.”

Although he should not, he eased closer. “You know what will happen if I take you home with me. We will probably not talk at all.”

“What is wr

ong with that? I want my suitor to tell me more about passion tonight.”

“That would be the study of a lifetime, not one single night in my bed.”

She toyed with the buttons on his waistcoat. “You’ll give me that lifetime soon enough.”

“I will,” he promised, looking forward to those blissful days ahead.

“Then we start tonight, and tomorrow, and the next day and the next.”

He shook his head at her. “There really is no stopping you now, is there?”

“When I gave you my heart, you got the rest of me, too.”

Jessica’s hands spread on his chest, and then she gripped the lapels of his coat. “I need you, more than I’ve ever needed anyone in my life.”

His pulse raced at that admission. He might need her just as much, too. “Just how much were you told about intimacy?”