such lengths?”
Gulping, she shook her head, emotion robbing her of speech. In an effort to comfort her, he found himself rubbing her back in slow circular motions, and the feel of her body through the soft fabric of her dress sent a tingling warmth shooting through him.
“I’m sorry for distressing you,” he said. “I thought you might be ready to talk, but I see—”
“No, you’re not distressing me.” His nostrils filled with her scent—almond oil and citrus and femininity. She sniffed and dashed the heel of her hand against her damp eyes. “It’s just…I go to pieces whenever I think of what that brute did to me, and—and I’m reminded every time I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror…” Her fingers scraped over the track marks on her cheeks. “I’m a freak, an abomination—”
“Don’t say such things. Do you hear me? I won’t have you debasing yourself like that.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Would you rather I’d left you to die out there? Would you?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps it would have been better.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying that.”
“But look at me. I’m a creature of the shadows. People shy away from me at the first glimpse of my face.”
“Do I shy away from you?” He held her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. “Well, Nellie, do I?”
She chewed on her lower lip, frowning. “No, but…but you’re a doctor. You’re used to seeing deformities.”
He sighed, his attention caught by the generous swell of her lip beneath her white teeth. The tingling warmth spread through his entire body, coalescing in his loins. “I am a doctor, yes, but I am also a man, and when I look at you I see a strong, vibrant young woman who has much to live for.”
Nellie gave a dry laugh. “Thank you, Doctor. I know you’re only trying to lift my spirits, but thank you anyway.”
“You think I’m dissembling?” Impatience and desire stirred his blood. How could she be so blind? Before he knew what he was doing, he slid his hands up and cupped her face. Her lips parted in surprise. Emotion overpowering self-denial, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. He’d intended to give her just a friendly buss, but the soft generosity of her mouth ambushed him. Heat flared through him. The kiss deepened, he revelled in her sweetness. He ran his fingers through her thick curls to cradle her head all the better to taste her lips. She quivered against the length of his body, but she did not pull away, and her tacit consent emboldened him to wrap one arm around her waist and pull her even closer.
Lifting his head a fraction, he saw she’d shut her eyes tight as if she wanted to divorce herself from reality. But her lips were soft and rosy and inviting, and he couldn’t resist them. He kissed her mouth slowly, startled by the sensations she aroused in him. She was like no other woman he’d ever caressed. She was unique, precious, and he wanted to suck the marrow from every moment of the embrace.
Trailing his lips over her cheeks, he dropped kisses over her cicatrix, eager to memorise every bump and dip, but she instantly jerked her head away.
“Don’t, I beg of you. Please, stop.”
Her hoarse rebuke was like a douse of cold water. Julian released her. She pressed her hands against her cheeks, and the sight of her anguished expression made his heart contract.
“Nellie, I…” For the life of him he couldn’t think what to say. He ploughed his fingers through his hair, tearing at the knots, as if to punish himself.
“How can you…” Her fingers crept over the choppy skin of her cheek. “Doesn’t this…disgust you?”
“No!” He stared at her. “I don’t make a habit of kissing women who disgust me. Rather, the opposite.” He paused before reaching out and gently peeling her fingers away from her face. “I admire you, Nellie, and I admire your looks.”
“How can you?” She shook her head. “I’m a travesty compared to what
Gulping, she shook her head, emotion robbing her of speech. In an effort to comfort her, he found himself rubbing her back in slow circular motions, and the feel of her body through the soft fabric of her dress sent a tingling warmth shooting through him.
“I’m sorry for distressing you,” he said. “I thought you might be ready to talk, but I see—”
“No, you’re not distressing me.” His nostrils filled with her scent—almond oil and citrus and femininity. She sniffed and dashed the heel of her hand against her damp eyes. “It’s just…I go to pieces whenever I think of what that brute did to me, and—and I’m reminded every time I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror…” Her fingers scraped over the track marks on her cheeks. “I’m a freak, an abomination—”
“Don’t say such things. Do you hear me? I won’t have you debasing yourself like that.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Would you rather I’d left you to die out there? Would you?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps it would have been better.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying that.”
“But look at me. I’m a creature of the shadows. People shy away from me at the first glimpse of my face.”
“Do I shy away from you?” He held her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. “Well, Nellie, do I?”
She chewed on her lower lip, frowning. “No, but…but you’re a doctor. You’re used to seeing deformities.”
He sighed, his attention caught by the generous swell of her lip beneath her white teeth. The tingling warmth spread through his entire body, coalescing in his loins. “I am a doctor, yes, but I am also a man, and when I look at you I see a strong, vibrant young woman who has much to live for.”
Nellie gave a dry laugh. “Thank you, Doctor. I know you’re only trying to lift my spirits, but thank you anyway.”
“You think I’m dissembling?” Impatience and desire stirred his blood. How could she be so blind? Before he knew what he was doing, he slid his hands up and cupped her face. Her lips parted in surprise. Emotion overpowering self-denial, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. He’d intended to give her just a friendly buss, but the soft generosity of her mouth ambushed him. Heat flared through him. The kiss deepened, he revelled in her sweetness. He ran his fingers through her thick curls to cradle her head all the better to taste her lips. She quivered against the length of his body, but she did not pull away, and her tacit consent emboldened him to wrap one arm around her waist and pull her even closer.
Lifting his head a fraction, he saw she’d shut her eyes tight as if she wanted to divorce herself from reality. But her lips were soft and rosy and inviting, and he couldn’t resist them. He kissed her mouth slowly, startled by the sensations she aroused in him. She was like no other woman he’d ever caressed. She was unique, precious, and he wanted to suck the marrow from every moment of the embrace.
Trailing his lips over her cheeks, he dropped kisses over her cicatrix, eager to memorise every bump and dip, but she instantly jerked her head away.
“Don’t, I beg of you. Please, stop.”
Her hoarse rebuke was like a douse of cold water. Julian released her. She pressed her hands against her cheeks, and the sight of her anguished expression made his heart contract.
“Nellie, I…” For the life of him he couldn’t think what to say. He ploughed his fingers through his hair, tearing at the knots, as if to punish himself.
“How can you…” Her fingers crept over the choppy skin of her cheek. “Doesn’t this…disgust you?”
“No!” He stared at her. “I don’t make a habit of kissing women who disgust me. Rather, the opposite.” He paused before reaching out and gently peeling her fingers away from her face. “I admire you, Nellie, and I admire your looks.”
“How can you?” She shook her head. “I’m a travesty compared to what
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