The kiss

Walking outside towards the garden, Nesta couldn't even concentrate on the cause of her anger and this was because of a particular hand on her waist. Quinn had his arms around her, an action that speaks volume in their society.

"You have been quiet for a while now, my lady." Quinn said showing his concern for her silence but all he needed to do was take a look at her and he could see the reason for her silence, she was all flustered and couldn't raise her head up. Quinn took her hand in his and led her to a seat, "I didn't take you to be the shy one, my lady." He said with an evident smirk on his face.

Nesta raised her head at this, "I am not shy, my lord. I just don't think it appropriate for us to be out here alone." she said looking at his face clearly showing him that she is anything but shy.

"I can hardly call this inappropriate as everybody heard me seeking your father's permission before I brought you out, besides you are not feeling too well, they wouldn't think bad thoughts about an unwell person now, would they?" Quinn smiled at her.

"You really don't care about what anyone has to say like you once told me. And I think I should take your advice for it this time. Imagine the audacity of those ladies asking for a personal introduction, like they deserve to be in my presence after what they did." Nesta said getting upset again when she remembered the actions of these ladies earlier.

"Calm down now. They don't matter." Quinn said, placing a finger on her chin and turning her face to his.

He looked into her eyes and gently caressed her cheeks making her close her eyes at the feel of his hands on her face.

"You are really beautiful, my lady Nesta." he said, bringing his face closer to hers, sniffing her face, her neck all the while Nesta kept her eyes closed savoring the moment not believing that the Earl would take such a bold step with her.

Getting her senses back after a cold breeze brushed past her, she shivered a little, making her open her eyes to meet the gaze on her.

Nesta couldn't believe her words would fail her at this moment because it was her who had been thinking of seducing the young man ever since she met him and couldn't stop thinking about him.

She felt hypnotised by his gaze and couldn't help but smile when she thought of what her maid would say to this situation they have found themselves. She thought it weird that her mind would drift back to her maid in such a situation.

"You are smiling, might I count myself lucky to be the reason for that beautiful smile?" Quinn asked when he noticed the little movement of her lips.

"Hmm, not exactly." She said, finding herself with a disappointed Lord Bramford and now she had to laugh at the look on his face.

"You are laughing. I just thought I would be the one occupying your thoughts at the moment" Quinn said. "Quite painful."

"You don't need to feel that way my lord, in a way you are. Trust me, you have managed to occupy my thoughts on different occasions. I was just thinking of what my maid would say if she were to find us like this." She explained

"Now why would your maid have anything to say to this?" He asked her

"Lillian has always looked out for me and she has always tried to remind me not to do anything rash or unladylike whenever I talk to her about you." She admitted as she felt her cheeks burn from embarrassment.

"You've just managed to pick my interest again. I am quite curious as to what you discuss about me to your maid for her to try and warn you off from being unladylike?" He was amused at her embarrassment but couldn't help himself from teasing her more.

He loved the flustered look on her face, it's not everyday you find a confident lady like her sweetly embarrassed.

He stood and offered her his hands as they walked around the garden. He placed his hands on her waist making her shiver slightly, a shiver he was sure was not from the cold.

"You know your way around with women, my lord." Nesta said as she saw the smirk on his face.

"Call me Quinn," he told her. "And I am sure you did not discuss my way around with women with your maid." He said when he saw that she was too embarrassed to tell him what was said about him behind closed doors.

Nesta smiled knowing he wants to really know what she thinks about him. "I think about you a lot, my lord…Quinn." She said remembering he has asked her to address him by his first name, that must mean something, right? "You are not like most men I have met. You are a businessman but you've also got an interesting side to you.

The way you talk to me about a lot of things, some I did not think you would ever indulge my curiosity enough to answer, some most people of the society would consider appropriate.

How you make time even when you are busy back at Devonshire, include me in your conversations with my father even when I don't understand most of what you two discuss sometimes or your gentle touches and how they make me feel, how I remember our talk about kisses and how I want my first experience to be with you and…"

Nesta was not able to continue before she was cut short by the feeling of something warm and sweet on her lips making her close her eyes to savor the sweet taste.

She felt the cool night breeze brush past her lips as soon as Quinn removed his lips, and she opened her eyes and looked up at him to find him directly gazing down at her with a look of admiration and something that she couldn't quite decipher.

"Lord Bramford…" She started but was interrupted by Quinn.

"You did say you wanted to know how it felt, something about first experienced." He said as he smiled down at her.

Gaining her composure, Nesta raised her eyebrows and said, "Well for a gentleman like yourself, I didn't think you would take your chance like that." She said with a smirk happy that she is not the only one plagued with feelings.

Quinn smiled at her shaking his head, "You seem to be the cause of it all. The power and control you exercise over me is unexplainable." He told her and she smiled at him not fully understanding what he meant by that.

The duo stayed a for a while before they returned inside, something about being the host and not leaving your guests unattended.