Page 12 of Enthralled in the Governess' Gaze
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She stared into those deep blue eyes, losing herself in their swirling beauty. It was as though she were being hypnotized…pulled into the tumultuous sea of his gaze.
Victoria was back on the ship, the mysterious blue-eyed man beneath her. He had just pulled her from the railing, and they had collapsed together to the deck floor. The first time this had happened, she had been furious and desperate to get away from him.
This time, however, she was not furious. Far from it, in fact. As she stared down into his handsome face, she could not help but yearn for…something.
What that something was, she could not say.
Wait…how was this happening again? She had reached England, had she not? How was she back on the ship?
Blinking, Victoria turned her head, confusion fogging her mind. Before she could get away, the man cupped her face in both hands and drew her back to him. Their lips touched – brushed – like last time. Except, no…it was not like last time.
The kiss did not end with a mere brush. The man pulled her closer, slanting his lips against hers with hunger. Victoria froze, unable to process in her mind what was happening for several moments. This was not right. They should not be doing this. He was a stranger – and she did not like him in the least!
So why was she not pulling away?
Why was she, instead, parting her lips for him?
His tongue slid into her mouth to tangle with hers, and Victoria clutched at the front of his shirt as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Heat pulsed through her, making her limbs heavy as she melted against him. The place between her legs began to tingle, startling her.
It was so much. Too much. She was overwhelmed! Losing her senses entirely. If she was not careful, she might grow mindless in his arms.
Suddenly, his hands began to move down her body, touching her in places no man had before. He was moving lower and lower, and Victoria barely held onto her reason.
Just as his hands were about to reach her backside, she released a cry and jerked up and away from him.
***
Victoria shot up with a cry. She looked around, confused, as she tried to gain her bearings. She was not on the ship anymore…she was in her bed in Henrietta’s home. The man was not there. Of course, he was not.
It had been a dream. Nothing but a dream.
Releasing a sigh, she fell back against her pillows and stared at the ceiling as she fought to catch her breath.
Why in the world had she dreamed such a thing? What was wrong with her?
There are simply so many changes happening in my life that I am unsettled. That is all. It is nothing to concern myself with.
Swallowing, she pulled the blankets up to her chin and squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to go back to sleep and expel that man from her thoughts entirely.
Chapter 8
He had to admit…it felt good to be home.
Edward had expected to feel more trepidation and awkwardness returning to London, but he had been too overwhelmed by his sister’s happy reception of him. When he had first stepped through the doors of their family’s townhouse, she had been there waiting for him and had flung herself into his arms.
“Oh, Edward!” she had declared with a bright smile and tears of happiness in her eyes. “I have missed you so much! I could hardly wait for you to arrive.”
He had laughed and hugged her in turn, picking her up off the floor and spinning her around.
“I am so happy to see you as well!” he had replied. Putting her on her feet again, he stepped back and looked her up and down. “Marriage suits you, sister. You are lovelier than I remember.”
Laughing, she had slapped him playfully against the chest. “Oh, you flatter me, brother. Though it is entirely true.”
At that moment, he spotted a small girl hiding in the drawing room doorway across from him. She was nearly identical to her mother, with shiny chestnut hair and wide green eyes. Edward had smiled and waved at her.
“Good day to you, Lily,” he had told her.
