Dorothy licked her lips, which had gone dry somehow during the kiss, and Lucas groaned.
“Please don’t do that, Dorothy; otherwise, I’m going to be kissing you again.”
“Forgive me, I …”
“You don’t need to apologise, but I can only take so much before I lose it.”
Dorothy tried not to shiver at that. Why did words like that have so much promise? She looked him over, committing his body to memory. It felt like every part of her was desperate for him. That had never happened before. Of all the people she expected to have such a reaction, it had to be him.
She didn’t trust him. With his past, which Lucas refused to talk about, Dorothy couldn’t trust that this was completely honest from his heart, but his commitment to her and courting her as he promised was doing something to her. It was making her want to throw caution to the wind.
She couldn’t help herself.
“We can’t keep sneaking about like this,” Lucas said as he turned away, running his hands through his hair. “I wish I could kiss you in front of everyone and not care what they thought, but that would just cause an uproar, I’m sure.”
“You’d better not kiss me as you did just now in front of everyone.”
“I don’t plan to. But it has been a month, so give me some credit for that, at least.” He gave her a sly glance. “Just be thankful I didn’t do that in front of Burville. I’m sure there would be a big fight.”
Dorothy frowned.
“Don’t talk about Gabriel right now.”
“Why not? You’re courting him as well.”
Dorothy put her hands on her hips.
“I’m not. I’ve been over this before with you. I’m not going to explain my friendship with Gabriel to you, Lucas.”
Lucas seemed to turn to stone. For a moment, Dorothy wondered why. Then she realised that she had called him Lucas. She hadn’t done that before; it had always been Dashwood. But it just sounded right, coming smoothly off the tongue.
“Say that again.”
“What?”
“Say my name again.” Lucas approached her again. “I want to hear it again.”
There was something possessive in his eyes. The desire was pretty clear, even to Dorothy. She swallowed, her legs going weak at the sight.
“Lucas.”
Grabbing her head, Lucas kissed her hard. Dorothy had to grab onto his wrists, mostly to stop him from squeezing her head. When they came up for air again, they were both panting.
“I need to see you alone,” Lucas panted.
“Isn’t that what you’re doing now?”
“Not like this.” Lucas was breathing heavily. “I mean tonight. Just us two. Alone.”
It took a moment for Dorothy to realise what he was saying. She stared at him.
“You … you want to see me tonight? After the guests have gone?”
“Or tomorrow night. I don’t see this ending early. I know our estates are a little far away from each other, but I think we could manage it.” Lucas leaned his forehead against hers. “Tell me it’s a terrible idea if you want, but I don’t want to be good anymore. I want you desperately. This last month has been agony for me.”
Dorothy let the words sink in. She had not expected that. Well, she had, but nothing so bold. She should have been telling him no, and they couldn’t do it. After all, Dorothy didn’t want to become another person notched onto his bedpost.
But instead of saying no, she found herself nodding.