Lucy gave an amused snort. “No. This isdesire. You’re an excellent kisser, and I enjoy being kissed. I’m taking advantage of your expertise.”
“You haven’t seen my face. Iamscarred beneath this mask.”
“I don’t doubt it,” she said evenly. “But scars don’t bother me.”
“Your friend Lord Ware will be back—”
Lucy hid a smile. “I thought you locked him in an office?”
“He’s a resourceful man. He’ll manage to get out sooner or later—”
“Then you’d better get on with kissing me, don’t you think? Unless you don’twantto, in which case—”
“I want to kiss you.” he growled. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since the very first moment I saw you.”
The absolute conviction in his voice left no room for doubt, and Lucy’s stomach gave another delighted somersault.
“Then do it.”
* * *
Will’s head was spinning.
Bloody Hell, he should have expected something like this. No interaction with Lucy Montgomeryeverwent the way he expected it to.
What on earth was she playing at? Inviting a stranger to kiss her.
A part of him was a little outraged at her taking such a risk, but another part was proud of her for chasing her own desires. She’d always been a woman who forged her own path. He could hardly blame her for seizing the opportunity now, and he could only be grateful thathewas the lucky recipient.
Still, he’d never intended for things to go this far. He’d thought to give her a brief kiss—as she’d given him in the box last night—then tell her his name. He would push off his mask, reveal himself as Will Arden, and declare his love for her in no uncertain terms.
She would be annoyed by his deception, of course, but she’d forgive him once he convinced her was in earnest and begged for her hand in marriage.
Thisparticular situation, however—with her inviting the Phantom to seduce her— was not one he’d anticipated.
And yet it opened up a whole host of intriguing possibilities.
As the Phantom he could do what Will Arden could not. He could kiss her, touch her in ways he’d only dreamed about. He could take his time, worship her, show her a glimpse of how wonderful lovemaking between them could be.
And God, he wanted to. He was practically vibrating with need.
His resolve was crumbling with every breath he took, but he made one last attempt to do the honorable thing.
“You’re so perfect. So beautiful.” He shook his head. “You don’t want a scarred monster like me.”
Her clear gaze didn’t waver. “Yes, I do.”
“But there are hundreds of other men you could kiss,” he argued. “What about Arden? He just saved you from an angry mob. Isn’t that the kind of heroic behavior women are supposed to appreciate? Why don’t you throw yourself into his arms?”
Her lips quirked. “He did save me, that’s true, but he doesn’t want to kiss me.”
Will clenched his fists against the need to grab her shoulders and show her just how wrong that was.
“Are you sure about that? I saw the way he was looking at you earlier, before he left. He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
She gave a soft feminine snort. “That’s because my dress was practically see-through. Arden’s a man who appreciates the female form. He was just enjoying the free show. The fact is, I could strip naked in front of him and he wouldn’t be interested.”
Will sucked in an outraged breath at this falsehood. “No man in his right mind would refuse to make love with you.”
