She licked her lips a second time. Their crimson hue glistened, practically beckoning me to taste her. “You can let go of me now, Dr. Jekyll.”
My gaze traveled over her soft features, taking in her eyes, her lips, the curve of her cheeks, the slant of her jaw. “I can’t.”
Her brow furrowed. “I… wha—”
I reached up to gently cup her jaw. My thumb stroked her lower lip. “I can’t. Catherine… I think… I want to kiss you. If you will allow me.”
For the most fleeting of moments, I thought I saw disappointment in the emerald depths of her eyes. Then she blinked and it was gone. “I think I’d like that very much.”
I leaned down and gently pressed my lips to hers, not wanting to frighten her further. Her mouth opened on a sigh. I used just the tip of my tongue to tease hers. I held her tenderly in my arms, careful to arch my hips backward so I didn’t alarm her with the hard press of my cock. I resisted the urge to run my fingers through her hair. She had just put it up in a bun and I didn’t want to mess it up with my rough handling.
She flattened the palm of her hand over my heart as she broke the kiss. She gave me a soft smile before averting her eyes. “That was… very nice.”
I stepped back as I straightened my spine. “I hope I didn’t offend you, Miss Poole. I got caught up in the moment.”
She shook her head. “You didn’t offend me, Henry. It was very sweet.”
I nodded as I picked up the clipboard where she had been entering the inventory numbers. “I will need to double-check my reports to see where the additional benzoylecgonine went but yes, please order more.”
Catherine reached for the clipboard. “Very well. I shall get to it right away.”
I didn’t relinquish it. “Perhaps we should pick this up tomorrow? It’s been a long day.”
She nodded as she smoothed her hands over her skirt. She was wearing another black dress. This one had small gold emblems on the shoulders and a nipped-in waist that was very flattering on her. Maybe I should have told her so before our kiss?
“Goodnight, Dr. Jekyll.”
She turned on her heel and left the laboratory, grabbing her black cloak from the hook near the door as she went.
My stomach fell. I had disappointed her with that kiss. I knew it. I had never been much of a success with women, and it seemed Catherine would be no exception. In the future I would just have to control my desire for her and keep things strictly professional.
I watched as she clasped her cloak around her neck and turned to give me a half-hearted smile. “Goodnight, Dr. Jekyll.”
“Henry,” I said softly to her retreating back.
CHAPTER6
DR. HENRY JEKYLL PERSONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL
ENTRY 4590-1A
The pleasure was all mine, Jekyll.
See you again soon.
Sincerely,
Mr. Edward Hyde
I stared at the scrawled note, so similar to my own handwriting and yet different. The writing was more slanted, aggressive even.
Mr. Hyde.
My alter ego. My other self.
I looked down at the vial of Bl88dX6 in my hand.
This time would be different.