Alec caressed Mira's slim velvet-clad figure, and her passion caused the blood to course through his veins with the speed of mercury. He held her carefully, taking care not to crush her with the force of his need. Her eager response was an admission that she wanted him, and his loins swelled and hardened to aching readiness for her. A slight tremor shook his hand as he fought for control… his fingers slid into the hollow between her breasts, tracing along the inside of the neckline until the backs of his knuckles rested against her tender nipple. Gently his knuckles rubbed across the soft peak until it contracted and hardened, and Mira groaned into his mouth, her body shaking. Alec wanted to voice the thoughts that blazed across his mind… that she was as soft as silk, that she was beautiful, that he needed her more than he had ever needed a woman, but he could not stop kissing her long enough to say a single word. Greedily he devoured her lips, his tongue meeting hers and engaging in erotic play.
The flames rose higher, burned hotter, until Alec pulled away with a groan, and Mira blinked groggily as cool air touched her lips. Dumbfounded, she wrapped her arms around her middle as Alec turned and went to the balcony railing. Breathing hard, he braced his arms on the balustrade, his face lifted to the fresh, biting evening air. He inhaled and held the coolness of it in his lungs until his desire began to recede.
Mira's legs were wobbly. Bereft of his warm touch, she walked over to him timidly and trailed her fingers across the back of his hand. She opened her mouth tosay something but was stopped short as he turned his head and looked at her with narrowed gray eyes.
"Let's go somewhere," he said huskily.
A noiseless pause followed his words while her eyes widened. What was he asking of her? Perhaps neither of them was entirely certain.
"Where do you want to go?" Mira asked, her voice nearly inaudible.
"Do you really care?"
"No," she whispered.
A brilliant fire leapt in his gaze. "If I asked you to come away with me, to leave Sackville, would you—?"
"Yes."
They stared at each other wonderingly, and then Alec took her small face in his hands, dislodging the pearl-studded web that confined her hair. He kissed her firmly, his head moving over hers with slow sure-ness until a tender sound vibrated from her throat.
"Come on," he said, enveloping her hand in his and pulling her through the sitting room into the hallway. "We're leaving for good, now, before you change your mind." Mira followed him blindly, her heart beating wildly. Somehow she knew that it was right for her to go with him. No matter what part chance had played in causing their paths to cross, the conclusion of their meeting was undeniable: they needed each other, they were good together, they were good for each other. Her hand tightened on his, and he paused to murmur some muffled endearment to her. But just as they stepped out into the hallway, disaster struck.
William Sackville was standing there.
"Falkner," he began, his face wreathed in a pleasant smile. "I was just coming to find you : . ." His voice trailed off into silence as he noticed the smaller figure standing a half-step behind Alec, his eyes becoming round and startled. "Mira," he said, his voice immediately strained. "I thought by now you would have been in your room.""I… I was out on the balcony to watch the fireworks," she said, her hand slipping from Alec's loosened grasp. Sackville's ruddy complexion turned slightly gray as he noticed the tiny movement and realized that their hands had been joined. He turned his face to Alec, whose expression was unreadable.
"I was told that you were ill, Falkner. Something about a headache—"
"It's better now," Alec said dryly, meeting his gaze squarely.
All three of them fell silent. Mira felt her face turning a multitude of different colors as the air became thick with tension. She had to say something to break the silence or she would go mad.
"We happened to meet here… and went out to watch…" she stammered, and then words failed her. Alec, damn him, was deadly quiet in that provocative, challenging way of his, while Sackville looked so… so hurt and desperate. Sackville reached out a hand to Mira in a deceptively casual manner.
"Come here, Mira."
Mira felt Alec stiffen beside her.
Oh, please don't let this be happening, she thought wildly, caught between her desire for one man and her vows of loyalty to the other. She cared desperately about what Alec thought of her… but she had made a promise to Sackville, a promise based on her word of honor not to betray him, a promise that she had given to him because he had saved her life. She risked a glance at Alec, who did not return her look, his face turned away as he waited for her to make the next move. You must know this isn't a choice of one of you over the other! she wanted to cry out to him. Don't make it an issue, it isn't significant unless you make it so! Stiffly she took Sackville's hand, letting him draw her away from Alec to his side. Sackville curved his arm around her shoulders possessively, removing his eves from Alec's face to look down at Mira."Well, I certainly hope you had an enjoyable chat," he said mildly.