Once Upon an Irritatingly Magical Kiss by Bree Wolf

Chapter Twenty-Four

Irritatingly Magical

The day had finally come. It was the night before his wedding day, and Thorne found himself seated at the Whickertons’ large dinner table, surrounded by Whickertons left and right, his somewhat sullen-looking betrothed across from him.

Ever since their kiss roughly a week ago, something had changed between them. Thorne could not quite say what it was; however, whenever they had seen each other since, she had reacted in a rather peculiar manner to his presence. Sometimes she had seemed rather hesitant and even displeased with his visit. Other times he could have sworn she had all but longed to see him. Unfortunately, no opportunity to be truly alone together had arisen since, and so Thorne kept wondering what had happened.

Had it truly been their kiss?

“Three granddaughters married in one year,” the dowager countess chuckled from one end of the long table. “Shall we make a wager?” She looked around the table, something mischievous sparking in her pale eyes as they came to linger upon her as of yet unmarried grandchildren. “The year is barely half over. Perhaps enough time is left to seek matches for all of you.”

The youngest Whickerton Harriet laughed and shook her head. “You are too sweet, Grandma, but there is no need to play matchmaker for me. I have,” she glanced down at her lap, “other plans.” Then she lifted her hands and set a toad onto the tabletop.

Thorne stared as did many others, completely caught off guard by the youngest Whickerton’s unusual behavior.

“Harriet!” the eldest Whickerton Juliet chided, her cheeks darkening as she cast a quick glance at Thorne. “I had hoped you would portray better manners in the presence of a guest.”

Harriet chuckled. “He is not a guest, is he?” She grinned at him. “He and Christina are all but married, which makes him our brother.” Her gaze darted to her two other brothers-in-law, Lord Barrington and Lord Pemberton, each seated next to his wife. “I think it about time he knows our true colors.”

While Lord and Lady Whickerton exchanged a knowing look, the dowager countess chuckled loudly. “That is too true, my dear. There should be no secrets among family, do you not agree, Mr. Sharpe?” Her eyes twinkled wickedly, and Thorne felt a slight chill crawl down his back as he thought of Samantha.

“Most certainly,” he replied, then turned his gaze to Christina, wondering about her quiet demeanor. Never had she been one at a loss for words; however, recently, it seemed she had nothing left to say.

Thorne wondered if he should have told her about Samantha. He had considered it. Only he had worried that it might be a reason for her to change her mind, and he had not wanted to give her any such reason. Still, he wondered what would happen if Christina did not welcome the little girl into their lives. Perhaps it would have been wiser to part ways instead of force them together against Christina’s will.

Perhaps he ought to have given her a choice.

Yet the truth was that he wanted her. But did she want him as well? Was that what their kiss had taught her? That she did not want him? That day, though, she had called their kiss magical, had she not? It had seemed as though she had been overwhelmed…yet strangely displeased to have found passion in his arms. Why would that bother her? Was she truly afraid of what else he might demand of her as her husband? Perhaps he ought to address the issue.

Although Christina remained somewhat quiet for the remainder of the evening, Thorne watched in delight as the rest of the family conversed easily. Laughter echoed through the room countless times. He saw glowing eyes and rosy cheeks as food was passed around and stories were shared. Everyone spoke without restraint, Harriet in particular, her toad returned to her room upstairs only after it had found its way into the bread basket, causing a shriek to escape Juliet’s lips.

It was a wonderful night, quite unlike those at home with Samantha. Of course, Thorne loved the girl dearly. Yet the house was rather quiet with only the two of them in it. How would Samantha feel living amongst a large family such as the Whickertons?

A smile came to Thorne’s face for he knew that she would adore it. Her little eyes would light up and she would shriek with delight.

When the evening finally drew to an end, Christina escorted him back out into the hall. At first, some of her siblings as well as her two new brothers-in-law intended to follow; however, a few words from the dowager countess held them back.

Thorne had to smile yet again, surprised to have found an ally in the old lady and appreciating it more than he would have thought.

The slowly setting sun shone in through the tall glass windows and cast a warm glow over the main hall. No footman lingered nearby, and Thorne wondered if that, too, had been the dowager countess’ doing, allowing Christina and himself a moment alone.

“Good night,” his betrothed whispered, turning to face him, a somewhat strained smile upon her face.

Casting another glance over his shoulder, Thorne assured himself that they were indeed alone. Then he stepped toward her, his gaze insistent as it sought hers. “Did you lie?”

Her head snapped up, and a frown came to her face. “Why? What do you mean?” Her hands seemed to tremble before she balled them into fists and forced them behind her back as though seeking to hide them from him.

Thorne frowned, trying to understand what he was missing. “The other day, when I kissed you, you seemed to like it.” An unsteady breath left her lips. “Was that not true?”

Instead of answering him, Christina bowed her head in an oddly submissive gesture he would never have expected from her. He could not say he liked it. In fact, it troubled him.

“Why are you acting so strangely?” Thorne inquired, placing a hand upon her arm.

Her eyes rose to meet his, and he was relieved not to see anything akin to fear. Rather it was something that spoke of a torn heart. But why? “Who are you to say I am acting strangely,” she shot back, a hint of anger in her voice. “You barely know me. We’ve spoken once or twice, no more than that. We are all but strangers. So how would you know—?”

Thorne pulled her toward him, cutting off her words. Her eyes widened, and she lifted her hands to his chest. Still, he did not release her, but looked down into her eyes, daring her to keep contradicting him. “Do not lie to me,” he whispered quietly, feeling the soft puff of her breath against his lips. “You’re not shy and coy and insecure. You are none of these things. You’re bold and dauntless and…impertinent.” He grinned at her.

Displeasure came to her features as she glared at him. “Are you accusing me of—?”

“I’m not accusing you of anything,” Thorne replied, very much aware of the fact that she was not trying to free herself from his grasp. “I like it.” He lowered his head even further until his forehead almost touched hers. “I like you, the real you.” He searched her eyes. “I don’t know who you’ve been these past few days. Tell me what happened. What has changed?”

Christina swallowed, that torn look once more in her eyes before they darted lower and touched upon his lips. He could see the memory of their kiss resurfacing in her mind. He could also see that she was upset with herself for remembering. “Nothing happened.” Her hands pushed against his chest. “Would you please release me? This is most inappropriate.”

Thorne chuckled and instead held her closer. “Do you still wish to marry me?” He demanded, uncertain whether or not it was wise to ask this question. What if she said no?

Her eyes widened, and she stopped struggling as she stared up at him. “Why would you ask me that?”

“I simply am.”

Her gaze hardened. “Have you found a more advantageous match? Someone else who suits your purpose more fully?” Bitterness lingered in her voice.

Thorne could not help but enjoy himself for her reaction was quite telling. If he was not at all mistaken, then she was jealous, was she not? At least, a little. “Do you still wish to marry me?” he asked yet again, holding her tightly in his embrace.

“Tell me!” she snapped instead of replying to his question. “Is there another you would prefer to marry? Another family whose connections are superior to ours? Are you hoping I will cry off?” Thorne could see that she tried to appear rational as though they were truly discussing no more than a business contract. However, emotions flared in her eyes, and he could see that it was not her mind asking these questions, but her heart.

The knowledge brought him joy. “Do you still wish to marry me?” he repeated, his right arm tightening upon her back.

Christina gasped and drew in a sharp breath. “Why won’t you answer me?”

Thorne chuckled. “Why won’t you answer me?” His left hand slipped into her hair, moving to the back of her head. “Do you still wish to marry me?”

“Release me!”

“Answer me!”

Her eyes burned with anger…as well as something else. “I told you to release me!”

Slowly, Thorne shook his head. “Answer me first.”

Christina rolled her eyes at him. “You are a most insufferable man!”

“Do you still wish to marry m—?”

“Yes!”

Her swift reply stunned them both for it was not merely a rational statement, but instead a deeply emotional answer.

Thorne did not hesitate in his own response. Drawing her ever tighter against him, he lowered his head and kissed her.

He kissed her the way he had kissed her that day out in the gardens. He kissed her the way he wanted to, the way she wanted him to because after an initial moment of stunned surprise, Christina sank into his arms as she had that day. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, there was something between them. She felt something for him, and although she might not like it, it was true, nonetheless.

Her hands snaked upward and came around his neck as she pushed herself closer, returning his kiss with a boldness that stole his breath. Yet he reveled in it and allowed his own hands to travel over her in a way that would be considered most inappropriate by anyone’s standards.

Still, Christina did not object.

Only when the dim cacophony of voices from the dining room seemed to be drawing closer did Thorne remember that they were indeed not alone. A disapproving growl rose in his throat as he forced himself to break their kiss, urging her back down onto her feet before he took a step back.

Her cheeks were flushed as she stared up at him, confusion swirling in her blue eyes. Still, he knew that she had enjoyed their embrace as much as he had.

Thorne grinned at her. “Good,” was all he said before he quickly inclined his head to her and then took his leave lest he succumb to the need to pull her into his arms all over again.

Stopping in the doorway, he turned back to look at her. “Until tomorrow, Wife.”

A slight tremor seemed to dance down her spine as she inhaled a deep breath and forced her chin back up. “You should not have kissed me.”

Thorne shrugged. “Perhaps not. Yet I cannot bring myself to regret it. It was magical, was it not?” He lifted one brow in a teasing manner.

Although Christina shook her head ever so slightly, she could not prevent a smile from showing upon her face. “Irritatingly so.”

Chuckling, Thorne tipped his hat and then left, his feet carrying him down the few steps to the pavement as though he were walking on air. He felt different.

Better.

Lighter.

Was this happiness?