Dalliance

Chapter Thirteen

With Dawson leaning upon her arm, she assisted him for his daily exercise around the land as they were watched closely by guards. Walking the length of the property, there were a handful of opportune spots they could share an intimate conversation or a sweet kiss without being seen-but neither wanted to risk it. They then discussed his impressive healing speed and her activities while he was recovering. Making it towards the front gates, Dawson leaned against the wall before looking to the road beside them.

"It is tempting, is it not?"

"Pardon?"

He motioned to the dirt path before she nodded.

"We have spoken of this before..."

"True. But before, there had been unspoken feelings...." To her surprise, he pulled her dress towards him as she crashed against his body.

"Does it not hurt?"

"I can brave it." He leaned down, kissing her as his fingers tangled in her long hair and eventually settled on the back of her neck. Carefully, he pulled her neck slightly to the side before placing several steamy kisses upon her neck and chest as she pulled him to her lips.
His fingers moved up her bodice and to her chest were he gently carried his fingers across her skin, causing her to have chills all over her body. Sensing this, he kissed her neck to tease before going to unbutton her corset top.

"We could be seen."

"I do not care." He said, determined, before continuing as his lips then moved down her chest, between her breasts before the wound of hooves were heard on the other side of the building. Very quickly, she fixed her corset before walking him back to the stables.

"I can see you are feeling better..." She said with a blush as he placed his cane against the bed before she walked towards him.

"Not quite what I could be..."

"Can I help?"

He raised his brow before pulling her towards him. Moving his fingers along her legs, under her dress, he gently caressed her skin as she closed her eyes.

"This does not seem as though it will help you..." She spoke quietly as her breathing grew more and more quick.

"Seeing you happy...allows me happiness that is not able to be explained."

Setting her head back, his fingers moved further and further up her leg before reaching her thighs. A gasp fell over her lips before he ceased.

"Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head. "I am not used to feeling such a thing upon that portion of me..."

"I would suggest to adjust, my love."

Closing her eyes once more, he moved further up as she chuckled before biting her lip. Quickly, she pulled back as she realized the risky nature of their current actions.

"Do you not favor my fingers on-"

"I am petrified of being discovered...I am sorry, Dawson..."

He held out his hand as she accepted it, and he pulled her in his direction once more. "I do not care if we ever give into our lust, knowing your heart is mine, is all I need, as I hope you know that mine is yours." Placing his hand over her heart she looked to him with a smirk as she placed her hand over is.

"You have always had it."

They shared a sweet kiss before she retired for the night in her chambers.

Sitting at her vanity, she removed the braids from her hair and placed the several dozen pins in a small clay container as the door came open. Nicholas stood with a tired expression and threw off his shirt before kneeling by Holly. She threw her arms back upon seeing his head in her lap as she was tempted to break it with a simple move. Instead, she watched in shock and listened to his tired voice.

"You are not like any other woman I have ever encountered...you challenge me in a way I never thought possible of anyone...But you pull from me...when my attempts are only to admire you and show how adored you are...I would go mad if I were to discover you were to love another man."

"I do not love another man." She lied quickly before continuing. "But I do not love you. I cannot when you lie so frequently, almost as much as you breathe."

To her surprise, he grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her before her vision went blurred for a moment.

"You are infuriating! I was offered proposals from willing women, but I choose the one that does not desire me. What can I do that would allow you to favor me above all men?"

"I do not feel I could in any action you show. I began to see your sweetness, but it had been quickly altered with your treatment of Amelia."

"She betrayed us both-"

"No crime deserves such a treatment."

He released her as she moved towards the bed. Quickly, he pushed her back towards the window. "A relationship is a bond of trust and intimacy, Holly. Of knowing someone could end you, but you cling to them for the chance to live. You thought kind of me once, you agreed to marry me-as you saw something nobody else had..." He paused. "Love is not always of passion-but of necessity-and you do need me-more than you will ever know."

Moving back, she could feel her back arch over the window, just one step back from certain death. She realized how he was right-she had nothing to go back to...but her heart lied with Dawson.