Page 79 of Stuck

All his scowls and apparent annoyance whenever we encountered each other back at the start suddenly made sense. “I was convinced you thought I was a terrible choice for Bingley.”

“I did, because I knew you were perfect for me.” He began to stroke the back of my hand with his thumbs. “I’ve spent far too much time thinking about what could have been between us, if I’d met you first.” He dropped my gaze as he admitted, “I think that’s why I lost my mind when I saw you with Wickham. If you were going to be with anyone who wasn’t Bingley, I wanted it to be me.”

“You were jealous.” I didn’t ask, I simply understood at last.

“Insanely, inexcusably so.” His thumbs were caressing my wrists now. “But I think, as well, that I needed a reason to stop wanting you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I didn’t understand it. I felt… out of control. It was easier to let myself believe the worst of you than keep fighting it. But the things I said were unpardonable. I can’t express how sorry I am.”

“No? I think you’ve done a remarkable job of showing how sorry you are with all your olive branches this week.”

His thumbs stilled, and he said with a cautious tone, “I hope it didn’t appear as though I was trying to buy your forgiveness. That was never my intention.”

I didn’t feel bought; I felt seen. In the few months I’d known Darcy, he’d noticed things about me that I reckoned half my own family wouldn’t be able to identify. He was attentive in a way that proved my importance to him and that made his affection even more valuable.

“I loved everything you did—the snow globe is hands down the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me—but you already had my forgiveness before that.”

“I did?”

Oh, how I adored the hope in his voice!

“Yes. I was angry at first, but that didn’t last long.” I turned my hands so that I was holding his in mine. “You’re not the only one who’s been tortured. I’ve spent this whole time terrified that as soon as you found out I’d been lying to you, you’d never want to speak to me again. If I’m honest, that’s probably why I didn’t tell you the truth myself—I didn’t want what we had to end.”

The look he gave me branded itself into my flesh.

“This is not ending, Elizabeth. Not while I have any say in it.”

Without dropping my gaze, he reached above us to turn off the overhead light. At the same time, he tugged with the hand that was still holding my wrist, pulling me into him. As the car interior was filled with shadows, I felt his hand come to the back of my head, and then his mouth was on mine.

It wasn’t a patient kiss. It was something born of weeks of longing and hopelessness and an insatiable want that had been acknowledged on both sides. It was a good kiss. I’d known it would be—the universe wouldn’t be cruel enough to mould a man to look like Darcy and make him a bad kisser—but I hadn’t been prepared to be reduced to a mindless puddle of need.

He was overwhelming my senses—strong and warm, his hold just desperate enough to make me feel wanted, just shy of enough to satisfy me, and he smelled divine. He moaned, soft and low, as he let go of my wrist and slid his arm around my waist, holding me as tightly as our positions in the car seat allowed. It was frustratingly awkward, and the longer the kiss continued, the more tempted I was to give in and straddle his lap.

“How are you this perfect?” he rumbled against my lips.

His words sent a shot of heat through me, and I let out a tiny but still embarrassing moan before I could help myself. He definitely didn’t care—that much was obvious. If anything, it spurred him on, and for a dizzying moment, things got so intense, I almost forgot we were in the back of a Merc with nothing but a thin privacy screen dividing us from Trent in the front seat.

Darcy remembered first. Gently but firmly, he pushed my shoulders back then cupped my face in his large hand. I felt victorious when I noticed how breathless he was.

“Stopping that might be the most objectionable thing I’ve ever done, but we’re here.”

I looked past him to the window and bit my lip in embarrassment. The car was stationary, and Trent was nowhere to be seen.

Darcy didn’t give me the chance to be self-conscious. “I’d still like you to come inside—I was hoping to cook you dinner—but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. There are no expectations. I can have Trent drive you home if you prefer.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that. But dinner sounds lovely.”

The relief on his face was almost as sexy as his kiss. He wanted me here. That was everything—and all I needed.

36

DARCY

Elation didn’t begin to cover it. Relief, anticipation, resolve, and some serious heat pumping through my veins were just a few of the things I was feeling as I led Elizabeth into my London home. She expressed her surprise at there being a lift in such an old building before feigning awe at it being in working order, which made me laugh. I didn’t often laugh aloud—my emotions were generally more subdued—but I was so happy at that moment that I wasn’t surprised it overflowed in mirth. I could feel myself grinning as I slid my arms around her waist and pulled her back against my chest for the short ride to the top floor, my chin resting on her shoulder as I spoke into her ear.

“I had it installed when I split the building into separate dwellings.”

“You own the whole building?”

“For better or worse, yes.”