Page 29 of Romancing the Heiress
Leah gently put her gloved hand against his chest and nearly swooned from the contact. To be this close to him… “I wish you would,” she whispered, her eyes meeting his.
“Well, then.” He lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers.
Leah was instantly transported back in time when she’d felt that first jolt of awareness followed by the realization that she loved this boy. No, this man. He was solid and warm against her, large and muscular. Someone who could—and would—protect her.
As his mouth moved over hers, she experienced a surge of joy, of rightness that made her entire body expand. She’d hated her home and had been so happy to leave it, and she finally realized that when she thought of Marrywell, of her home, she thought of Phin. This,him, was home.
She slid her hand up to grasp his shoulder and pressed against him. He curled his arm around her waist, holding her close as his other hand caressed her back, his fingertips moving along her spine.
Leah slid her free hand around to his lower back, but immediately wished she’d slipped it under his coat. To be able to touch him like this was more than she’d ever thought might happen, but exactly what she’d dreamed. He was so familiar, yet different, each sensation searing into her with indelible bliss.
Indeed, she wondered if it was actually happening or if she were somehow trapped in one of her dreams. Ah well, if that were the case, she was happily entwined in this pleasure and would remain within it as long as she could.
Phin’s tongue moved along her lips, and she opened her mouth to touch hers to it. She wasn’t entirely new to kissing. Aside from the young man she’d kissed at her last matchmaking festival, she’d stolen a few kisses in her earlier years in London from a handsome groom who worked in the mews. With dark red hair and shining green eyes, he’d reminded Leah somewhat of Phin. He’d at least been a reasonable surrogate as she’d nursed her wounded heart after leaving Marrywell.
But now she was with the actual man. Kissing him. And it far exceeded any experience she’d had or any attempt she’d made to wipe away his memory. As if she ever could.
Sliding his tongue along hers, Phin deepened this impossible kiss. Leah wondered if she would float away on a cloud of passion. She moved her hand to his neck, finding that spot of flesh just above his collar and cravat. Heavenly.
The sound of whistling intruded into Leah’s haze of delight like a sudden cold, drenching rainstorm. It wasn’t just any whistling. She recognized that tone and that tune.
She pulled away abruptly, horrified. And a little afraid. “That’s my brother,” she whispered.
Phin nodded. “It will be all right. I’m here with you, and I won’t leave you.”
“Can we hide?” she asked softly.
Head turning, Phin’s mouth tightened.
“Radford!” Barnabas Webster called, making Leah’s insides curl in on themselves. She instantly felt smaller and wished she could actually be that way too. Perhaps then he wouldn’t see her. “Is someone with you?”
Phin gave her an apologetic look before stepping away from her. “Afternoon, Webster. Yes, you may recognize her, in fact.” He barely moved his lips as he whispered, “I’ll keep him occupied, and you go on your way.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Her attempt to take a deep, calming breath utterly failed, and she ended up coughing. Forcing herself to move, she took a step away from Phin.
“Leah!”
Though she didn’t want to see Barnabas, her gaze shot toward him. He looked the same, but also different. His face was a little rounder, his shoulders broader. He also appeared to have gained a paunch. His wife, Dorothea, must be a good cook. Or, probably more accurately, Barn still liked ale more than he ought.
“Barnabas.” That was all she could bring herself to say.
“You on your way home for a visit?” her brother asked.
An absurd laugh threatened to bubble up her throat. “No. In fact, I need to go. It was good to see you, Phin.”
“Very good,” he said quietly, then escorted her from the folly, keeping himself between her and Barnabas.
“You can’t go already,” Barnabas said.
“I’m afraid I must.”
“I’ll be sure to give your best to Mother and Father,” he called as she turned away.
Leah hesitated, the urge to turn and tell him not to do that ever burning her mouth. But she didn’t. Instead, she took the path she always had: escape.
As she heard Phin engaging her brother in conversation while she hastened away, she fell even more in love with him. He’d always done what he could to keep her safe.
