Page 70 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
With an immense effort Matt broke off the kiss and raised his head, trying to damp down the fire raging within him. It burned even fiercer when he heard Flora’s soft sigh.
‘Oh,’ she breathed. ‘Oh, Matt!’
She buried her face in his shoulder and his arm tightened.
‘Forgive me.’ Matt closed his eyes, fighting to keep control. ‘I should not have done that.’
‘Iwantedyou to kiss me.’ She looked up, her eyes bright with unshed tears. ‘I know I shouldn’t have come, but I had to see you, just once more. It will be the last time. When I am married…’
He said quickly, ‘Let us not think of that.’
‘No.’ With a sigh she took up the ends of the belt and fastened them around the banyan.
‘It’s the first time a lady has ever helped meintomy clothes,’ he quipped.
He was trying to lighten the mood and she followed his lead.
‘I am sure it won’t be the last!’
He saw her blush when she realised how this might be misconstrued and she hurried to the door, saying she would go down and order dinner.
Matt sank back on to the side of the bed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. What the devil should he do now? He cursed silently. He knew exactly what heshoulddo. He should send Flora home. Immediately.
‘No,’ he said aloud to the empty room. ‘We shall dine first. Then we will kiss and go our separate ways.’
But heaven only knew if he’d have the strength to send her away.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The stifling heat had abated by the time dinner was served. They sat each side of the little table by the window, where a gentle breeze occasionally drifted in. Flora had thought she would feel awkward, dining alone with Matt, but any tension between them quickly dissipated as the meal progressed. Matt insisted on pouring the wine while Flora served him from the selection of dishes and cut up his meat.
When they had finished, he sat back in the chair and closed his eyes, a faint crease in his brow.
She said quickly, ‘Is anything wrong, are you in pain?’
‘Between my blasted leg and this arm, I feel as if I had been in the ring with Gentleman Jackson.’
‘Is that a reference to the art of boxing?’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘I suppose you mean to say you feel bruised and battered.’
‘It could hardly be otherwise if I had been sparring with the great man himself.’
‘You have spent too long on your feet,’ declared Flora. ‘You should have been resting in bed today.’
‘Nonsense. I intend to head back to Bellemonte tomorrow.’
She saw the furrow deepen in his brow and put down her glass.
‘Enough pretending, Matt. You must go back to bed. Immediately.’
The fact that he did not refuse outright told her he was in some pain. Although he did make a half-hearted protest.
‘But we have not yet finished our wine.’
‘You can drink it in bed and I will sit with you.’
‘You will not leave?’
She smiled. ‘No. I will not leave. Not yet.’
