Page 69 of Hawthorne

“Come here.”

“We had agreed that—”

“You decided that on your own,” I cut her off again through gritted teeth.

My legs quickly take me to her, stopping just a few inches away, close enough to get a strong whiff of her addicting perfume. My body instantly relaxes, and I have to fight the urge to reach out to her.

It’s already a miracle she’s not stepping backwards.

“And to be honest, I tried giving you some space,” I trail off, thinking about how these last few days have been…vexing, to say the least. “Hell, I even considered respecting your choice, but I fucking can’t.”

My hand finally settles on her hip, and she startles. But she doesn’t back away. Finally, she doesn’t shy away from my touch.

“Your Grace,” Camilla starts, emphasising the formal way to address me. “This is too reckless.”

My hold tightens, and she gulps in response. Still not backing away.Good.

“Vincent,” I growl, pulling her hips closer to mine. “I have a name. Fucking use it.”

“We need to keep—I can’t...Oh, god.” She buries her face in her hands.

Her trembling hands are covering her face, teaming with the black curtain that is her hair.Is she crying?

That hits me like a bucket of freezing water, returning some sense.

“I’m sorry.”I am.

My hands find hers, and I cup them, willing them to stop trembling, but it’s useless. When I gently try to detach them from her face, she only allows it after the third try

“Camilla,” I call, covering her wet cheeks with my hands. I was expecting her to resist and finally move away from my touch, but instead, she leans into it and sighs. My stomach flips inside, and I can’t help the exhilarating feelings that overcome me.

It rides alongside the guilt like one of those sweet-and-sour candies. The kind that tastes like hell, but you can’t get enough of.

“I am sorry I brought you into this…For opening this bottomless pit of desire and lust that I have for you and preventing you from experiencing something lighter and…simpler. And most of all, I am sorry for allowing the way my mother and Eleanor behaved today. It was unacceptable.”

Camilla stops for a second, and then finally—fucking finally—meets my eyes. “That’s…I don’t—”

Not letting her make excuses for their behaviour, I add, “They were awful. For what it’s worth, I am truly sorry.”

I lower my head, leaning my forehead against hers.

“Why should you apologise?” she whispers, and the hot minty breath fans my mouth. I automatically lick my own lips, trying—and failing—to get a taste of her. “You’re my boss. They’re your family and my superiors, it’s—”

“Don’t say it’s fine,” I growl. “Just because we’re considered to be nobility in this country does not mean we can treat people like that. And especially not you.”

Her body warmth radiates off her into me, enveloping me in the cosiest and warmest sensations. It only makes me miss and crave her even more. With a mind of its own, my body no longer recognises what my brain is trying to remember, completely wrapping my arms around her back, forcing her full chest against my diaphragm.

Fuck yes.

“Vincent, we shouldn’t...”

“I can’t fucking help it,” I confess. “Every time I see you, all I want to do is touch you, kiss you, hold you, fuck you. I can’t stay away.”

“You have to. We have to.”

Shiny brown eyes meet mine, locking me in a trance. It’s overwhelming.

This.The closeness. It’s all I need. It provokes tingling skin, a fast heart rate, and a foggy brain.

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