Page 56 of Research with Rivals
I found I didn’t care, and for once, my veil cat didn’t, either, as I raised onto my tiptoes. The distance between us closed, but he was too tall for me to reach his lips without his help. I stood there like an idiot again, fearing I’d miscalculated. He had to meet me here if he wanted this particular development between us. Seconds before I gave up and dropped back to my heels in mortification, his lips met mine.
A spark caught in my chest at the first press. It lit like tinder when he pulled me closer and nipped my lip in exploration. I didn’t require encouragement as he coaxed my mouth open so his tongue could sweep inside.
The groan that built from my chest urged him on. As with our work together, he rose to my challenge. Our tongues tangled. It wasn’t a battle of wills but a partnership to achieve the best results in this experiment. Whatever test we were conducting, I wanted to repeat it over and over.
He seemed to agree. His lips dropped to my neck, and explored the column of it as he trailed open-mouthed kisses against my skin. My head fell back, granting him all the access he needed. His arms moved from my waist to the backs of my thighs as he hoisted me up. I wrapped my legs around him like it was the most natural move in the world. On slow, steady steps, Ambrose walked us in an unknown direction. I didn’t care so long as his lips were on me, especially on that space right behind my…
And then we were falling backward.
Ambrose caught us with a strong arm against the plush surface. His bicep flexed against my side. He’d tipped us ontothe bed, his weight braced above me. For a moment, we stared at each other. Our hearts beat rapidly in time.
We were on the bed. The bed in our shared room for the night.
His gaze was hooded with desire. In this moment, I knew Ambrose Yarrow wanted me. If the way he tracked my every movement wasn’t enough, the solid length pressed between us through his trousers was another giveaway.
I smiled as his large hand swept a loose strand of dark hair from my face. The touch sent that flare of fire between us again. Iwantedmore.
The thought was like a bucket of ice water poured over me.
Wanting things never ended well for me.
Something must have shifted in my face with my thoughts, because Ambrose’s weight left as quickly as it had fallen against me. He cleared his throat and adjusted himself as he looked toward the washroom.
“My apologies, Evelyn.” He could barely make eye contact. “Truly. I’m sorry. I think the … magic … got a little carried away.”
A pit opened in my stomach as I made sense of his words.He thinks the blood magic between us controls our emotions. This isn’t real to him.Somehow, that made it worse.
“Ambrose.”
He waved me off. “No?—”
I took a deep breath and tried again. I couldn’t have him think this was some magical entanglement on my side. That wasn’t fair. “Ambrose, I kissed you all on my own.” I spoke clearly and directly, willing him to understand. “I think you’re right, we shouldn’t continue, but I won’t have you thinking I was overcome by magic.”
Momentarily, he looked startled. I wasn’t sure if it was my directness or if I’d completely misread the situation. That didn’t feel right. I might have started it, but he had kissed me, too.
Maybe he only thought he wanted you because of his misinterpretation of the magic.
The magic was not controlling our feelings. That wasn’t what this was. Mutual attraction was neither of our intents.
But if he didn’t know that, it wasn’t any better than if the magic were controlling our emotions.
My cheeks heated, and I was suddenly exhausted, lost in the circles of what Ambrose might or might not have believed about what drew us together. It was better than the alternative, thinking about how much I had wanted things to continue.
I wiped my hand down my face. “I’m sorry, too.” And before he could respond to that, I continued, “We should get some sleep. I’ll take the floor.”
His eyes narrowed at me. “If anyone is taking the floor, I will.”
Stupid. Insufferable. My hands balled into fists at my sides. “Let’s just share.” I took matters into my own hands and propped a pillow in the center of the small bed, like a line in the sand between us. Then I curled on my side, leaving him plenty of space on the other half. I turned away from him, unable to witness his indecision.
It took longer than it should have to hear the groan of the mattress as it sagged under his weight. He, too, rolled onto his side to keep as much space between us as possible.
“Goodnight, Evelyn,” he whispered.
I blinked into the darkness. My body still felt aflame from his touch, his kiss. It was a problem I would contemplate the rest of the night. I wiggled to try to find a comfortable position because there was no way I’d get a wink of sleep.
23
Evelyn
