Belle’s stomach flipped at the touch of his hand in her hair and she felt quite bamboozled for a moment, which was entirely ridiculous as it was such a small touch and she was a mother of four (five, she added mentally) who was no swooning debutante. Had it really been so long, had she been so neglected that such a simple thing set her alight? He was handsome, of that there was no doubt, but she had never been so swayed by a man’s good looks and charm that she had let him be so familiar. And Merlin help her, she truly didn’t mind. In fact she was eager for it.

She took a step forward to meet him as he rose and took her into his embrace rather more smoothly than she had thought he would. She had imagined him vaguely fumbling, though she wasn’t too sure why now the moment was upon her. He wasn’t a boy after all, simply younger than her husband had been, so why shouldn’t he be as sure of himself as any grown man?

“Mr Keene is quite immune to my charms,” she said, unable to prevent the tremor of breathiness in her voice, though she doubted there was much point in putting up a front anymore. He pulled her closer gently and Belle reached up to cup his jaw, running a thumb over the exquisite rise of his cheekbone as her other hand slipped around his waist.

She kissed him first, her lips brushing his with deliberate slowness as she tilted her head up, allowing her body to press against his where they stood. Oh Merlin, how had she forgotten this?

---

Lady made me sexy <3