“What utter rot.” She cast him an impudent frown. “You dislike being referred to as one ofthosedukes, don’t you?”
“Yes, immensely. But this is who thetonbelieves I am, a thoughtless rake with a dash of silver in his hair, one who knows how to seduce women and does not care if he leaves behind a trail of broken hearts.”
“I know this is not you,” she said, putting a hand lightly over his heart. It rested there only a moment before she drew it away and took a step back with a heavy sigh. “Why do you think I agreed to these kisses from you and no one else beforeyou? It has nothing to do with the fact you are a duke,” she said, sounding quite indignant.
“It doesn’t?” Ailis was fooling herself if she denied that this was part of his allure. They would never be having this conversation if he were the local blacksmith. “Enlighten me.”
“This is not about your wealth or title, but all about the good man you are.” She smiled up at him. “Although you sometimes need to be coaxed and prodded to do the right thing. I do not enjoy being the one to have to drag you by the ear to—”
“Ailis, you have gone off the topic.”
She sighed. “I know you are the opposite of a rake. In truth, you are the most honorable man I know. Yes, you are also handsome, and I will not deny that was also a factor. But you could be as handsome as Adonis and I still would not want to kiss you if you had the morals of a toad.”
He chuckled.
“I want these kisses from you because I know you will never intentionally hurt me or ever take advantage of me. I trust you to protect my good name because this idea is rather foolish and dangerous. But I am the one putting myself at risk here. Yet how dull my life would be if I never put a toe out of line. In the scheme of things, are these kisses really so daring?”
He gave her cheek a light caress. “They could be to you.”
“But never to you,” she said, casting him a wry smile. “I am sure you consider me rather meek and pathetic.”
“No, Ailis. Never that.” Her words surprised him, for how could she ever think of herself as anything less than lovely? Lacking in romantic experience in no way detracted from her allure. In truth, her innocence enhanced the attraction for him, because men were apes at heart and did not want to share what they considered theirs.
And was not Ailis his, even if only for the span of ten kisses?
But she would never understand how special they were for him as well, because Society shunted spinsters aside as useless and forgettable, and she believed he would do the same.
These made-up rules and conventions were utter codswallop.
“Despite the risk, I also need to be who I am,” she said, once again tipping her chin up in defiance. “I want to know how it feels to be kissed by someone wonderful, someone I can trust and respect.”
“Ah, you think me wonderful?”
“In your own cantankerous way, yes.” She smiled up at him. “I always liked you, even if you were incredibly irritating at times.”
“Careful, Temple. You’ll have me in a swoon with all your compliments.” But was this not precisely the reason he liked her? She was no one’s toady.
“You must admit that you often give me a difficult time.” Although she did not appear offended and was still smiling at him.
Ailis always had the sweetest smile. One felt its warmth and sincerity.
“Perhaps, but that is because you are so easy to tease. Childish of me, I know. But you are not like the others who come knocking at my door. I enjoy the way you challenge me. You are not afraid to stand your ground whenever we disagree. It is refreshing to be spoken to with candor. It is also refreshing to see you fight with passion because you sincerely believe in your causes. However, you are also very sentimental, and that is a concern to me.”
“But this is entirely the point of my wanting these ten kisses with you and no one else. I can respond genuinely and know I will always be safe with you. Might I suggest we strike a bargain?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Another bargain beyond these ten kisses?”
“A modification to that bargain. I will not turn weepy again…and you need not pour your full heart into them again as you did with number three.”
“Only part of my heart will do? Or none of it, so long as I can fake the ardor?” He frowned. “Ailis, I’m not sure I can have my kisses reflect nothing at all. What is the point of giving you the experience if I must hold back more than I already do?”
She regarded him thoughtfully. “Did you hold back even with that third kiss?”
“Yes, I had to. More would have happened between us otherwise. But not every kiss needs to be the same. Whether they are soft or steamy, or fiery to the point of volcanic, they are all a necessary part of the experience. They each have value.”
“Are the fiery ones the most valuable?”
“That is entirely up to you to decide. Who is to say what you will or will not like? Just do not start ranking them from best to worst. The point is for you to enjoy the experience, not make a test out of it.”
