Page 264 of A Vicious Love

My cousins drifted toward the doorway with the kind of whispering that meant this would be discussed in six rooms before breakfast. Sabine rose carefully with Henri’s help, then came over to kiss my cheek.

“You looked happy tonight,” she said softly.

I looked down at Jamison’s tattooed hand still covering mine.

“I was,” I said.

Sabine’s smile warmed, and Henri gave Jamison a nod that looked much less afraid than it had that morning. Father lingered near the door, eyes moving briefly to Jamison’s arm around me. Whatever he saw there made his mouth tighten, though he only said, “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Father,” I replied.

Jamison inclined his head. “Bellemere.”

My father left.

The salon emptied of witnesses except Reeves by the door and staff too discreet to count.I should have moved from Jamison’s lap. I knew that. The game was over.

His arm tightened.

Jamison lowered his mouth to my temple again, but this kiss was slower. I turned my cheek into him. His mouth brushed the corner of my eye, then my temple again.

“I still think twos deserve kindness,” I whispered.

Jamison’s quiet laugh moved against my back. “I’ll buy you a deck made entirely of twos.”

He kissed my temple one final time before his hand slid carefully from beneath my dress and settled back at my waist.

“Come on, baby,” he said. “Bed.”

I opened my eyes and just as he stood. He did not put me on my feet. Gasping I clutched his shoulders.

“Jamison.”

Reeves opened the salon doors without comment.

My face burned as Jamison carried me through the hall. Thankfully, most of the family had gone, though a few younger cousins peered from the far staircase and immediately ducked back, whispering furiously.

“You’re creating gossip,” I whispered.

“I’m correcting old gossip.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means no one in this house should remember you walking away alone when they could remember me carrying you.”

The answer silenced me.

He looked down.

For once, he didn’t make it into a joke.

Outside, the path to House Alder lit by small lanterns in the grass. Jamison carried me beneath them as if I weighed nothing.

Halfway down the path, I rested my cheek against his shoulder.

We made it back to the house and he didn’t place me on my feet until we made it upstairs.

He bent and kissed me. Slow at first. His hand under my jaw, the other holding me tightly against his chest.