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NOEL AND OLIVIA
Olivia peered over the cover of the medical journal she was reading, distracted by the man sitting at his table poring over a tome much larger than the one she had. He adjusted the gold line spectacles on the bridge of his nose, eyebrows scrunched in concentration.
She smiled and returned her eyes to the CHAPTER she was reading on medicinal herbs. He would quiz her later on what she’d read and he was quite serious when it came to her studies.
Her eyes left her book again and this time when she looked at him, she found his gaze was already on her. She squeaked and went back to her studies.
She hoped that he’d finally show some reaction to her but it seemed he still saw her as a student. She looked down at the lilac gown she’d chosen to wear to their evening study today. Elora and Lucy had assured her that there was no way he’d be able to keep his eyes off her today but she couldn’t bring herself to tell them she wanted more than his eyes on her.
“It looks like you’re having trouble with the subject I assigned to you today.” His smooth voice came.
She lifted her eyes to his to see him smiling warmly at her.
“No. It’s fine.” She answered.
He stood coming over to sit beside her on the long couch, close enough that she could smell the hint of various herbs on him. Her hands brushed his as he took the journal from her and her heartbeat increased drastically.
She swallowed as his chocolate locks fell over his forehead when he leaned forward to peruse the she was stuck on.
“Medicinal herbs.” He laughed. “I can see why you got bored.”
“I wasn’t bored.” She whispered. “I was just distracted.”
He looked at her with a confused look on his face and she wanted to groan. He was so cute with that pout on his full pink lips.
One wouldn’t believe he was as old as he was. He looked like he was about the same age as her sister.
He was studying her again like she was one of the specimens he used sometimes, all of a sudden leaning forward and sniffing. His eyes closed and he smiled, chuckling deep in his throat.
Her eyes went downward as his Adam’s apple bobbed and she struggled to breathe as a lump formed in her throat.
“You surely don’t make it easy for a man to retain his sanity around you.” He said, still closing his eyes.
His voice was low and dark and did terrible things to her stomach.
When he opened his eyes, their forest green depths had turned dark. She struggled to swallow as he continued to watch her. Her heart pounded as she wondered if he’d finally kissed her. She swiped her tongue over her lips and his eyes followed the movement.
Oh, goddess.
“I’m sorry.” He apologized suddenly.
“Why…”
The words were stolen as he leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss.
Finally, her heart seemed to say.
She threw her hands around his neck and kissed him back.
He groaned and buried his fingers in her hair, pulling the pins she had used to put them in an updo as if the pins offended him.
He leaned forward and she leaned backward on the couch, sighing when he settled between her thighs and cupped her face, angling her jaw so he could kiss her more deeply. She opened her mouth to give his tongue entrance.
She wanted to feel ashamed at the sounds she was making but she couldn’t care any less if he thought her overly excited. She had spent many a night wanting him and now that she finally had him here, she’d let him see the full extent of her desire for him.
When he started to pull back, she groaned in protest earning a deep chuckle from him.
“If I don’t stop now, Liv, I might do something we’d both regret in the morning.” He laughed. “And trust me, it’s not because I don’t want to.”
She pouted as he pulled back readjusting his shirt and cravat.
When had she..?
She blushed and sat up trying but failing to pin her hair so she just pulled it to the side and made a single plait.
When she was done, she turned to see him watching her.
“Is something wrong?” She asked.
He shook his head and smiled, placing a chaste kiss on her lips.
“You’re just so beautiful.” He smiled, running his thumb across her bottom lip. “I’m starting to rethink my decision to let you go.”
Her eyes went wide and a hot blush crawled up her neck to her cheeks.
Noel looked at the beautiful girl blushing on his couch.
He had kissed women before but none had had his heart racing as hard as this girl had from just a kiss. He didn’t want to imagine what would happen if he were to go even further. He ached badly with desire for her but he knew if he took her tonight, he’d curse his impulsiveness.
He wanted her but if he was going to do this, he’d do it right.
“Come.” He told her stretching a hand out to her. “I’ll walk you back to your chambers and you can tell me what you’ve learned today.”
Her hand in his sent sparks up his body and he smiled to himself.
Yes. He thought. This girl was his even if she didn’t know it yet.