"What if…" Essie swallowed and took a tentative step forward. "What if I want you to?" she dared, watching his brooding face make a slight shift to surprise before settling back on his previous expression.
"You don't. You may think you do, but this is all a game, is it not? We don't want to risk making it irrevocable," Cross replied coolly, yet his expression was far from indifferent. He appeared a man fiercely controlled, a man guarded.
Why? His words were at war with his actions—his very expression. But wasn't that how it was when they waltzed? And then again at the park? It was almost as if… he were protecting himself.
From her.
Understanding dawned, causing a mischievous grin to tease her lips.
"I fail to see anything amusing about the given situation or topic of conversation." Cross narrowed his eyes, considering her with suspicion.
Biting her lip, she tried to control her joy at the realization that all along, Cross had wanted her.
And she wanted him every bit as much.
In his kiss she found the truth—about him, about herself. Yet as she gazed at him, she saw the distance between them.
Just because she had discovered the truth, didn't mean that he was aware.
But she was quite certain she could remedy that.
She would remedy that, and quickly.
"Cross?" Tilting her head she took a bold step toward him, offering him what she hoped was a flirtatious grin.
He backed up a step, misgiving thick in his gaze.
His countenance changed from skeptical to resolute, his gaze firming. "Essie." He spoke her name softly, as if caressing it.
She paused.
He took a step towards her, bringing them almost toe to toe. "When will you finally realize that you are mine?" Immediately his lips crushed against hers, his arms pulling her tightly against him, holding his firm body against her soft curves.
Essie met his passion with her own, allowing her fingers the delight of tugging his coal black hair. He groaned against her mouth, pausing only a moment before his fervent kiss continued, trailing along her lips and to her jaw. His shadow of a beard gently chaffed against her sensitive skin as he lightly nipped at the delicate flesh just below her ear. His kisses trailed down her neck to her collar, where his tongue tasted her, as if starving for her, he met her mouth once more.
She knew the hunger; she felt it within as well. Her hands roamed his back, memorizing the hard lines of his musculature; caressing his rounded, broad shoulders. His well-formed shoulders bunched and coiled beneath her fingers, as he pressed into her, walking her backwards as she clung to him, till her knees hit the settee and she was guided into a recline.
His delicious weight was a welcome pleasure as she continued to relish his ardent kisses. His teeth nipped her ear before trailing kisses down her throat and nudging the edge of her dress with his nose.
Essie was lost in the spell he had woven over them, completely given over to the passionate haze of desire that was thick like winter fog.
So thick, that she didn't hear the knock.
Or the sound of slippered feet on the wood floors.
She did, however, hear the loud gasp, which was like ice water on a roaring fire.
Shocking, but only enough to control the flames.
Because when Cross broke their kiss and saw his sister's face, Essie could only wish she'd leave once more so that they could continue.
They would continue… but not now.
"I… that is… I'm leaving," Anna stuttered and spun to leave, but turned back around. Raising her finger, she opened her mouth a few times, finally speaking. "I—I am very happy for you two." She grinned and left again, closing the door firmly.
"I take it she's feeling better?" Essie spoke, her voice foreign to her own ears as it was still thick with desire.
Cross' gaze searched hers, his expression triumphant and victorious. "I'd say yes… but she was never ill to begin with." He winked as he lifted himself from his position over her and, once standing, offered her his hand.
"She wasn't ill?" Essie asked, her heart hammering as she watched Cross, his blue eyes watching her with a possessive—dare are she hope—love?
"No… you see." He ran his hand through his mussed hair, taming it slightly.
Essie chuckled as she looked at his disheveled state.
"You're rather… ravished yourself." Cross raised his eyebrows, his gaze raking her body possessively.
"You don't have to be so smug about it," Essie teased as she straightened her dress and patted her hair, quickly realizing it was a lost cause.
That would be difficult to explain.
"I'm never smug." Cross pretended to be offended.
Essie sniffed delicately, but then she grinned.
"To answer your question, Anna was simply pretending to be sick in order for us to have some privacy."
"Privacy?" Essie felt her brow furrow.
"Yes, Indeed. And I do believe we used it effectively, don't you?" He smiled playfully.
She bit her lip, remembering all too well the satiny texture of his lips pressed against hers.
Wanting that sensation, hungering for it.