Page 3 of Adoringly, Edward
He backed her up into the railing, and another thrill shot through her at the danger the kiss offered. If a single bar broke loose, they could plummet to their deaths.
And unfortunately, she loved the danger it posed.
A sigh escaped her as he trailed his kisses over her jaw, down her neck, and across her bare shoulders. His lips were fire. And she was the yearning kindling.
His attention returned to her mouth, his fingers threading through her hair, and his kisses slowing into something more gentle like a flickering candle flame rather than a blazing torch.
“I didn’t attend the masquerade for this,” he murmured, placing another kiss over a strand of her hair between his fingers. “To find someone. I was not expecting anything at all.”
“Whydidyou come?”
“For escape.”
“Same as I.”
They held each other’s gaze, and she realized they were more similar than she knew. Locked in a cage, banging at a sealed door with no way out. But tonight, they’d both found a way out. At least for a time. And she refused to squander what little time she might have remaining.
Running her finger over her lips, she smiled coyly. “You kissed me and we only just met.”
“Like you said, tonight is a night for adventure and scandal.”
Oh, she certainly liked him far more than she should, far more than what was appropriate, especially considering her status in society.
But she didn’t care. Because she was just Vivi tonight.
“What is your name?” she asked. He opened his mouth as if to answer, but she quickly pressed a finger to his lips to stop his words. “Actually, don’t tell me. It’s more fun not knowing.”
His lips pressed together with obvious discontent. “I don’t want tonight to simply be a dream. To wake up in the morning to find out none of this was real. I don’t want to let you go.”
Warmth buried its seed in her heart, giving her hope. “Tonight won’t end. I don’t doubt you’ve come to the same conclusion as I have—we run in the same circle.”
He nodded. “I have guessed as much.”
She grinned, excitement radiating from her eyes. “Tonight won’t end. Because when we find each other in the real world, our reunion will be that much sweeter.”
Finally, the spark returned to his eyes, a smile to his handsome mouth as he grabbed her hand and led her to the trapdoor. “I believe we still have a ghost to hunt.”
They laughed as they simultaneously attempted to sneak around the third floor hand in hand with discretion. But even over the loud music emanating from downstairs, she was sure others could hear them, the besotted fools they were.
A few rooms were locked or occupied, but for the most part, the party guests were downstairs or outside.
As they traveled down a darkened corridor, gooseflesh raised on her arms at the way the wind whistled through a crack in the windows, at the way door hinges groaned as if being opened slowly.
Vivienne tightened her grip on the man’s hand as they slowed their pace before peering around the corner into an older, dustier part of the estate. Cobwebs hung from theceiling. Furniture was scarred or broken. The wood floors were scratched. A chill lingered in the air, raising more gooseflesh on her arms and legs.
And then all too suddenly, a door slammed somewhere behind them.
Vivienne screamed, and the shriek that escaped the man spurred her heart into a fast, fearful rhythm. They continued to scream as they ran hand in hand down two flights of stairs, across velvety carpets leading to the back of the estate, and out the back entrance. They didn’t stop running, even when rocks dug into her feet, even when the bite of cold air climbed up her neck and into her bones.
He threw open a random, empty carriage door. The two of them dove inside and slammed the door behind them. Only for silence to greet them.
Nothing chased them or tried to force their way into their small, protective space. All was quiet and normal and peaceful.
Finally, Vivienne realized just how silly they must have looked to passersby. She burst into laughter, sagging against the man where he was splayed out on the floor of the carriage. He soon joined in, and they were overcome with post-fear hysterics.
But then she quickly silenced his laughter by pulling him in for a heated kiss and then another until the bitter chill of autumn was dispelled by each passionate, heated breath. She didn’t know how it was possible, how she could have already fallen for someone she’d only barely met. She wanted this to last. Not just for a single night. Not even for a week. But for many more months and years to come.
“What is the consensus?” he murmured against her lips.
