Page 25 of Seven Swans a Swimming

Now heat was flooding through her entire body, and there was a strange buzzing in Arabella’s ears which made it rather difficult to concentrate.

Feedback for Nathaniel, of his kiss? How on earth could she describe it when she was still trying to understand it herself?

This confusing gentleman, with his quietness and his aloofness, his penchant for dressing like a farmer and his interest in science…how was he at the same time so strange and yet so deliciously right?

“Well?” repeated Nathaniel, his gaze not leaving her, a strange intensity in his look that Arabella did not understand. “A gentleman’s honor and pride are on the line here, Arabella, if you are still comfortable with me calling you that. Do you have nothing to say?”

Her chest was tight now, and Arabella found her hands clasped in her lap, the fingernails of one hand digging into the other’s palm.

Because she knew what she wanted to say. What she mustn’t say. What a lady of her breeding and social standing should not even be thinking, let alone saying.

Nathaniel sighed. “And I thought you were…something more. I was wrong.”

Pushing his chair back, the man rose from his seat and stepped across the room to the door. He was leaving. He was leaving, Arabella thought in a panicked rush of heat, and he had not given her a proper chance to speak.

Without really knowing what she was doing, Arabella stood up so hastily her chair fell to the floor with a loud clatter. Her hands were still clasped together but her chest was heaving.

Nathaniel paused by the door and turned slowly to look at her.

Arabella stared at him. He was so handsome and so shy. And curious. And passionate. He was everything she wanted, and she was certain the more she learned of him, the more she would like. The more she would love.

She just had to give him this, show him just how committed she was to this arranged marriage.

“I liked the kiss,” Arabella breathed.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “Liked?”

“I liked it very much.” Arabella swallowed, knowing she had to speak this, although she could barely breathe as she looked into Nathaniel’s sky-blue eyes. “You…you made me feel wonderful. Warm. Warm all over.”

Nathaniel’s hand left the door handle and returned to his side as he took a step toward her. “And?”

Arabella hesitated, but this time the words came easier. Now the dam had been broken, her words could take flight. “And…and I liked how you held me. Your hands on my waist. And y-your tongue. Oh, Nathaniel, you could kiss me like that every day, and I would never tire of it. I would never tire of…of you.”

He was closer now, though Arabella had not noticed him move. Her whole body was tingling, the mere memory of that kiss and her verbally recounting her emotions, her feelings, was enough to make her shiver.

Nathaniel lifted up her chin with his finger. “And?”

Arabella’s breath caught in her throat. He was so handsome, so intoxicating. She would do anything he wanted, anything at all.

It was madness, and ridiculous, yet she knew it to be true. She was very close, dangerously close, to falling in love with him.

And he could see that, couldn’t he? Nathaniel was no fool, he had proven that at the lakeside, by the swans. Surely, he could see the desperation with her.

“And I want you to do it again,” Arabella breathed, her hands reaching out unconsciously, placing themselves on his chest. He was warm. She could feel his heart beating, faster surely than normal.

What did that mean? The wild thoughts scattered through Arabella’s mind told her that he loved her, he hated her, he was aroused, he was disgusted—all these things and more.

Yet he said nothing.

After waiting for a few more heart stopping moments, Arabella wet her lips. “Well? What…what did you think of the kiss?”

Nathaniel said nothing but looked down at her. If Arabella was bold enough, she could lean forward and kiss him in turn. Show him what she wanted, what she needed. The longing in her was building so badly, Arabella thought she would burst with the anticipation.

And then he broke the silence. “I want to show you something.”

Chapter Seven

“Iwant toshow you something.”

---