A Closed Heart by Oster, Camille (acx book reading txt) 📕

“Well, let me show you, then,” she said and quickly finished the rest of her coffee. She nodded to Giuseppe as she left, a gentleman in her tow. At least she wasn’t one to suffer damage to her reputation for being seen doing this. That was the point of her life. If she wanted to be seen with Julius, she could be—even if people made assumptions about then. This time, the assumption was technically true. They were lovers. She was walking around town with her lover. The idea made her blush slightly, because with it came the realization that it was guaranteed they would continue if they spent any degree of time together. How could they not? Had that been his expectation coming here?

It only took a few minutes to get down to the parade, but it was impressive in the way only nature could manage. Clean and fresh, and beautiful. The wind was strong. It wasn’t perhaps the best day for a stroll, but it wasn’t the worst either.

“It’s impressive,” he said.

“Why have you come?”

“I wanted to see you. I think it’s more that I needed to see you.”

That sounded both wonderful and awful at the same time. Obviously, she was glad to see him, but intellectually, this made her worried. Then again, what was the harm if he came to see her every once in a while? Would it be so terrible if she looked forward to it and pined for him a little when he was gone? Surely that wouldn’t be the end of the world?

They walked amiably, being in no particular rush. “There’s the pier,” she said, pointing at the structure protruding far into the water. “I never go out there. They charge a small fortune just to walk upon it.”

“Do you want to go?”

“No, I don’t go on principle. It offends me. In fact, I wish they’d take it down. It intrudes on the natural beauty of the bay. Sadly, they’re planning to build another one. With the increase in tourists, they feel emboldened to. I suppose people are making their living off them.”

“It would add significantly to the local economy.”

Ever the pragmatist.

“And we are being pushed out because of it,” she said bitterly. “Although I have some rooms now.” Even if she didn’t know how long she would be able to afford them. She simply didn’t want to leave the town she’d grown up in. “But the town is changing before my eyes,” she said with a forced smile.

“Progress cannot be stopped, even if we wish for it.”

“No, I suppose not. It doesn’t mean we have to like it.”

“Maybe inevitably we become aged people who lament that the world we knew is gone,” he said with a smile. “You will be a terrible old biddy.” He was teasing her.

“You’re terrible now.”

“Which means I’m only going to get worse.”

“I can well imagine.” And she could imagine him being difficult and cantankerous. A laugh escaped her. “You and your sister living together in your dotage.”

“Don’t frighten me,” he said with a shudder. “I shall endeavor to leave this world before that is ever necessary.”

They walked for a little while longer. The interlude of lightness seemed to have lifted her worry for a moment.

“It’s good to see you,” he said after a while of silence. “I find I speak to you as if you were beside me. I dream of you.”

She’d had a few dreams of him too—some of which most would blush at.

Chapter 31

HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE THAT she looked even lovelier than he remembered? Her hair free, her cheeks rosy and her skin pale. Did it gain some color in the summer, he found himself wondering.

A strong urge to kiss her came over him and he gave into it. Out in public like this, but he didn’t care. For so long, he’d wished to kiss her again and now here he was, claiming her lips and letting this feed the part in him that had been screaming for her.

It didn’t shock her and she didn’t pull away. It was a curious thing to feel welcome, wanted.

What he wanted to do was grab her and hold her firmly, but that might get them arrested if they kept this up.

Unwillingly, he stepped away from her, acknowledging she looked even more beautiful when kissed. It was hard to not simply stare at her—and wish he had the capacity to capture her on a canvas just like this. That was her ability, not his. He would simply have to commit this to memory.

Her hand in his was soft, but he wanted more of her.

“Shall we return to my rooms?” she suggested.

“Yes,” he said, feeling relief wash over him. “I would like to kiss every part of your body.”

The rosiness across her cheeks turned into a blush as she smiled. “It is good to see you,” she said. “I didn’t think I ever would again.”

There was still a hint of nervousness in her, an unease that hadn’t been there at Denham.

Anticipation made his steps heavier as they walked back to her rooms. After what felt like an eternity, he was to be imbued with the wonder of her again.

The scent of her hair teased him as she unlocked her door, and with it closed again, he couldn’t hold himself back any longer, claiming her lips again, exactly how he wanted to—taking her as close to him as possible. Drowning into a kiss that held nothing back, the feel of her soft body to his.

His instincts recognized the bed and took her there, placing her down before divesting himself of his jacket. She quickly pulled off hers, leaving the soft material of her dress. He wished it wasn’t there, but he was too eager to touch