Page 97 of The Swan Syndicate
“Do you think he suspects we were on a mission?”
Beckworth grabbed her hand. “You’re going to unravel that. And, no, I doubt it. I believe it to be more of a feeling. Something he can’t put his finger on.”
She sighed. “And he’ll most likely say something to AJ.”
“I’m not so sure.”
That surprised her. She turned to him, pulling a leg up on the bed. “Why not?”
“Because he knows how she gets. She’ll jump to conclusions—most of them wild speculations. He won’t want to stir that pot.”
“I suppose.” But she worried her bottom lip.
Beckworth laughed. “And I probably shouldn’t have said anything to you.”
“What about Ethan?”
“I think Ethan and Maire were more nostalgic.”
“You think they wanted to go with us?”
“Maybe not before we left, but now? Yes, I think they do.”
“We’re going to have to be more careful.”
“Let’s not worry about it for now. But I agree we need to be careful we don’t slip. I’m sure our trip will come up more than a few times over the next week or so.”
He pulled her hands away from her sweater where she was still slowly tugging at the loose piece of yarn. She was indeed unraveling it. He slid the sweater off her shoulders then unbuttoned her blouse.
“I think we’re in need of a better way to celebrate our homecoming.” When his fingers brushed over her bra, then slipped behind her back, expertly unsnapping it, her mind refocused on the man in front of her.
Soon they were both rolling across the bed, and someone kicked the duffel off.
Beckworth hugged her to him, but Stella pushed him onto his back then straddled him. She ran her hands up his chest then more slowly on the return trip down. She kissed him, one hand running through his hair and the other trailing down his stomach.
He was more than ready for her, and her first thought was to take it slow. Until he reached between her legs. She pushed his hands away but didn’t stay on top for long before he rolled her over. It was like surfing a rogue wave—wild and freeing and intoxicating.
Nothing stayed hidden between them when they made love. It was raw. Even at the tenderest of moments. Jamie had said the two of them were alike, and he’d been right. Their coming together fed a hunger they’d needed all their lives. And it was hot enough and deep enough to fulfill them the rest of their days.
Sometime later—for some reason her ability to sense the general time never worked when the two of them were in bed—her eyes opened.
It took a moment before she glanced over to find Beckworth staring at the ceiling. They were holding hands like new lovers.They did that a lot, as if they had to touch each other, just to make sure the other person was there. Maybe it was more than that. Some innate knowledge that there was a stronger connection between them than mere touch could provide, yet the feel of skin on skin deepened it.
She released a long sigh and squeezed his hand. “Don’t be mad.”
When she didn’t say any more, he squeezed back. “Just tell me.”
A minute passed before she finally spilled it. “I kind of promised Elizabeth, Mary, and Eleanor that we’d try to come back for the London season.”
She gave him a side glance to find he’d turned his stare on her. She fidgeted under his intense cornflower-blue gaze. Maybe she should have discussed it with him while they were still at Waverly. But it hadn’t been her fault the women had cornered her.
He was still staring at her when he said, “I have something to confess myself.”
She squinted at him, not expecting that response.
“I told Barrington to have Lord Templeton’s London house prepared for an April visit. Hensley said he’d find a reason for theDaphneto be in London.”
They stared at each other for the longest moment. Then they broke out in laughter.
