Page 87

“You’re extraordinary,” I murmur, the words raspy.

A helpless shiver ripples straight down her spine—a full-body tremor she can’t hide or control. I slide my arm completely around her stomach, pulling her flush against me.

She lets out a soft, shuddering exhale. No words, simply the sound of someone letting go.

I’ve been holding myself on a tight leash all night. Watching every rich dickhead in that ballroom stare at the slit in her dress, listening to my father treat her like an inconvenience, holding back the primal urge to throw her over my shoulder and lock us away. I’m done being careful.

“Put the book down, Ellise.”

She reaches out with trembling hands and carefully sets the priceless edition back into place with delicate precision. The second her hands are free, I spin her around in my arms so that she is facing me.

“Julian…” she breathes, her eyes wide and utterly glassy.

I look down at her—really look at her—the exact same way I looked at her from across the grand piano while playing Debussy. I search those bright, piercing eyes that have been driving me entirely out of my fucking mind for too long.

In the far corner of the library sits the tiger-mahogany Steinway. It’s older than most things in this house, and it’s the only object within these walls that Alistair didn’t buy to impress his board members.

After Mum died, this room and that piano were the only things that kept me sane. When I wasn’t riding my horse, Mystery, I’d lock myself in here for hours, playing until my fingers blistered while the rest of the house was quiet. I’ve never brought a single soul into this room. Not once.

I take Ellise’s hand, my fingers lacing tightly though hers and walk her toward the piano. I sit down on the wide leather bench.

“Sit with me,” I mutter.

Ellise gathers the black silk of her gown and settles onto the bench beside me. She fits against my side seamlessly.

I reach up, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, tracing the delicate line of her cheekbone.

I extend one hand to the keys, pressing down a single, suspended chord. Three notes that seem to belong exclusively to this room, to this night, to her. The sound echoes inside the mahogany body and then fades slowly into the quiet.

“Your mom would have been so proud of you tonight,” Ellise whispers, leaning over to press a soft, lingering kiss to the curve of my shoulder.

I wasn’t prepared for that.

I wasn’t braced for the sheer, gentle impact of it.

I’ve been in countless rooms with beautiful women, but not a single one of them has ever looked like this.

“Ellise,” I say her name softly. Just her name. I need to speak it aloud to prove to myself that she’s actually sitting on this bench, in my sanctuary, looking at me like that.

She doesn’t say a word. She just leans in.

The kiss starts gently. Her hand comes up to touch the side of my jaw, her thumb tracing my cheekbone as her lips press deliberately against mine. I let out a low growl, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her completely onto my lap. Her fingers instantly slide into my hair at the nape of my neck, gripping tight.

The soft sound she makes against my mouth completely obliterates the last remaining thread of my self-control.

I stand up in one fluid motion, lifting her with me. Her hands slide down to grip my unbuttoned shirt as I walk her backward until the small of her back meets the solid, high wooden edge of the grand piano.

“Hi,” she breathes, her chest heaving.

“Hi,” I rasp, my voice completely shot.

I brace one hand on the edge of the piano beside her hip, leaning over her until she has to tilt her head back to hold my gaze.

“You’ve been driving me out of my fucking mind all night,” I mutter, my eyes dropping to her plump lips.

“Only tonight?” a tiny, mischievous smile touches the corner of her mouth.

I let out a short, breathy laugh. “Don’t push it, Bow-Peep.”