“Did you have fun?” I asked. He nodded once and looked at the scene ahead. “It’s quite something, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“This.” I signaled at the dancers before us. “It’s history in the making, really.”
“I suppose.”
“I should have never agreed to go on that date with him.” I watched as he waltzed with another woman. “Everyone has had something negative to say about me even speaking to him, including my mother. And yet, I can’t seem to help myself.” I continued speaking, mostly because Pierre’s silence was comforting and I had to tell someone what I was feeling before I blew up. “Having a connection with a man I could never have feels like an awful burden to carry, but it’ll pass. I mean, it always does.” I shrugged and smiled up at him. “I’m going to get changed so we can go grab that pint.”
I walked away, leaving behind the dancing and the music. The only person I’d have to report back to was Joss. She’d have questions and I’d answer them as soon as I changed into comfortable clothes. Once inside the cottage, I took off my shoes, the mask on my face, ran my fingers through my hair to tear down the partial updo I had, and started going through my clothes to see what I had left to wear. The knock on my door startled me. I dropped the shirt in my hands and walked over, unlocking and opening it.
“Pierre.” I frowned. “I thought we were going to meet—” I stopped talking when I sensed the seriousness as he took off the mask covering half his face. I blinked. “Elias? What the . . . what are you doing?”
He’d obviously changed outfits with Pierre at some point. Did that mean Pierre was the one out there dancing now? Pretending?
Chapter 17
“What are you—”
“I don’t think we should deny ourselves this.”
“But . . . earlier . . . ”
“I changed costumes with Pierre after our encounter.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t want to dance with any of those women.” He stepped forward. “Because the only woman I can’t stop thinking about refuses to see me again and I don’t know what to do with that kind of rejection.” He brought a hand up to cup my face. “Because I want to kiss you and taste you and do whatever else you’ll let me do to you.”
“It’s not a good idea.” I swallowed. “This won’t end well for either of us. For me, especially.”
“Are you going to let that stop you?”
“No, but we need boundaries. Rules.”
“I’m no good with rules. Or boundaries.”
“One night. Tonight and that’s it.”
“No.”
“Yes.” I searched his gaze, his eyes looking impossibly dark. “I can’t handle this being more than just a one-night stand. I won’t survive it.”
“I don’t agree with that.”
“You don’t have to. It’s a take-it-or-leave-it offer. I won’t allow myself to fall in love with a man who’s destined to marry another woman.”
“Fine. One night.”
“Okay.”
He pressed his lips against mine as he stepped into the room and kicked the door closed behind him with his foot. My breath fled my lungs, but just for a moment before I pulled away. His eyes were wild on mine, hazy, unsure. It was the uncertainty that did me in.
“I have to tell you something.”
“Now?”
“We slept together before.”
“I know.” His laugh was a bare wisp of air leaving his lips, but his eyes held a smile.
“You know?” I frowned. “I thought you didn’t remember.”
“Of course I remember.” He leaned into me again, his lips on my jaw as he dragged them to my ear. My heart skipped as he whispered, “I could never forget you, Adeline.”
“You don’t have to say nice things. This is going to happen either way.”
He pulled away. “Do I seem like a man who says things for the sake of saying them?”
“No.” I watched him closely. I knew he didn’t. That didn’t mean he was immune to saying nice things under the circumstances.
“You’re the only person I’ve ever taken to bed who had no idea who I was. You slept with me because you wanted to, not because of my name, not because of my status.” He brought a hand up to cover my cheek, his thumb brushing my lower lip. “You wanted me as much as I wanted you, and despite reason, I want you even more now.”
I wasn’t sure it was his intention, but it was most likely the most romantic thing I’d ever been told. I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his, this time knowing I wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t. I was too deep into this and even though it was one night and I knew deep down it would kill me when it was over, I needed to feel his lips, his hands, all of him move against me.