Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

“Faith…I’m so glad I was there that night.”

“I am, too.”

Her eyes shone with a brilliance that mesmerized him and overruled his vows not to press her. Later he would remember this moment and wonder why she hadn’t resisted. Now he only knew the need to hold her close and soothe away all her fears.

Faith was thrilled that he wanted to hold her, and she couldn’t suppress a shiver of delight as she went into his arms. He was so strong and solid that she felt she would be safe as long as she was with him. It happened then… Matthew kissed her. A sweet-soft exploration that was every bit as glorious as she’d remembered. This time, she didn’t want it to ever end.

The willing surrender of her lips filled Matt with a driving need to deepen the kiss, and he possessed her mouth fully, his tongue searching out and dueling excitedly with hers. When she responded to his kiss and met him fully in that flaming exchange, he crushed her to his chest, relishing the feel of her breasts pressed tightly to him.

“Faith…” Matt was breathing heavily as he broke off the kiss and moved slightly apart from her to steady himself. Though not as worldly as his brother, Matt was not without experience. He knew better than to allow himself the ecstasy of having her in his arms. The way he was feeling, things could easily get out of hand too quickly.

Faith had been totally lost in the rapture of his embrace. She was hurt when he stopped kissing her, and she wondered if she had done something to offend him. Had she responded too fully? Had she acted the wanton? A dull flush of embarrassment stained her cheeks as she worried over her actions, and she looked up quickly when Matt gently reached out and cupped her cheek with a warm hand.

“There’s no need to be ashamed, Faith. I feel it, too.” His voice was gruff as his gaze met hers.

“You do?” she whispered in surprise as she saw the flame of passion he was keeping carefully under control reflected in his eyes. A shiver of expectancy quivered through her as she tried to imagine what it would be like to be possessed by him. Faith wanted Matthew Kincade more than she’d wanted anything in her entire life.

“I do. I have from the first,” he admitted rather ruefully as he gave her a lopsided grin, “but I stayed away from you until now because I thought you hated me…”

“Hated you?” This stunned Faith. “I could never hate you, Matthew.”

“That’s good to know now. When you ran from the inn that morning after I’d kissed you, it was the only conclusion I could come to.”

She suddenly wanted him to know the full truth. “I ran away that day because I was afraid.”

“I know. I frightened you. I never should have-”

“No!” she interrupted him sharply, and he glanced at her curiously. “I wasn’t afraid of you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I was afraid of what I was feeling.” It was difficult for her to blurt out her innermost feelings, but she knew she had to explain. “You had been so kind, and then when you kissed me…” She sighed. “It was almost a dream come true.”

“So why did you run from me?” Matt was totally confused now.

“I ran because I knew there could be nothing between us. You’re a titled gentleman and I’m-”

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met,” he finished ardently.

Without another word, Matt brought her back into his embrace. His very touch was her heaven, and she melted lovingly against the hard width of his chest. They both silently marveled at how right it felt to be wrapped in each other’s arms.

The exquisite scent that was Faith, a delicate essence of roses and spice, surrounded Matt, stoking his already fiery desire, and he fought against surrendering to the mindless ecstasy that threatened. It would have been easy to give in to the power of his passion, but Matt knew he would have no peace if he actually made love to her now. If he abused this fragile closeness they’d established, he would be little better than the soldiers who’d so callously tried to abuse her. Slowly and with infinite care he set her from him, caressing the softness of her cheek with a tender touch.

“Faith, I’ve never had a woman complain about my title before,” he told her wryly.

“I wasn’t complaining,” Faith said hastily. “It’s just that we’re from such different backgrounds. I couldn’t believe that you really…”

“That I really cared for you?” At her nod, he answered huskily, “Well, believe it. You’ve haunted my thoughts since you disappeared from my room that morning. Faith…”

Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, but Matt hesitated to take her into his arms. When at last they drew apart, he stood taking her hand and pulling her up to him.

“I’d better leave now.” Matt smiled faintly down at her.

“Do you have to?” Faith wanted him to stay with her forever.

Logically he knew it was the only way, but his heart and body longed to stay with her, to hold her and love her.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Would you like to come to dinner one night? I know Mother would be happy to have you.”

“I’d love to, thank you.”

His acceptance brought a lighthearted smile to her face, and Matt realized then that he had never seen her happy before. It filled him with an unexpected warmth.

“Would tomorrow night be all right?”

“Tomorrow night would be wonderful,” he assured her as he started to leave. “Until then?”

Faith watched until he had disappeared out of sight down the street before going back inside. Once she was alone, she hugged herself excitedly. Matthew had come to her! He had kissed her and told her that he wanted to see her again! Faith couldn’t wait for her mother to return so she could tell her all that had happened. She was so filled with joy that she almost danced as she made her way back to the rigors of her sewing, the task no longer seeming so wearisome.

Margaret Kingsley took the cup of tea CC was offering and sat back with a contented sigh. “Thank you, CC.”

“You’re welcome, Margaret,” CC responded as she handed a cup to Caroline Chadwick, too. “I’m so glad you had time to stop by this morning.”

Usually CC was glad to see her friends, but today it was an effort just to remain pleasant. What little sleep she’d gotten had been less than refreshing, and she’d awakened this morning more tense than ever. She had been looking forward to a quiet morning alone with her thoughts, but all hopes of privacy had been shattered when Margaret and Caroline had shown up unannounced just to chat about the ball.

“Your ball was simply wonderful. Everything went so well,” Caroline complimented.

“So you had a good time?”

“Of course we did,” Margaret chided easily before adding in her most gossipy tone, “And so did quite a few others…Eve Woodham, for one.”

CC groaned inwardly as she realized what was about to come.

“It was just disgusting the way Eve made a fool of herself over Lord Kincade last night,” Caroline condemned. “She followed him around all evening long.”

“And they even left together-early,” Margaret offered in her usual busybody way. “I wonder how Lord Radcliffe felt about that…”

“I saw him later with several young ladies gushing all over him, and he didn’t look particularly upset by Eve’s behavior,” Caroline provided.

“We shall see.” Margaret gave them a knowing nod as she drank her tea.

“I wonder how long Lord Kincade stayed with Eve after they departed? We all know that since her husband’s death Eve has had the morals of an alley cat, so it’s not hard to imagine what did go on once they were alone,” Caroline sniffed judgmentally.