“A fact that seems to have provided you with endless amusement over the years. And now I shall spoil your fun and be kissed.” If he wanted the worst kisses ever received in his entire life, then who was she to dissuade him from this bad bargain?
She stifled a grin at the look of surprise on his face. “Reneging, Your Grace?”
“No.” He tucked a finger under her chin. “Just hoping you know what you are getting into.”
“You bargained for my kisses. One hundred pounds per kiss. I hopeyouknow what you have just gotten yourself into.” She glanced out the window, now worried, as the snow began to fall too rapidly for her liking. “Write that first bank draft, kiss me quickly, and allow me to be on my way.”
He looked horrified.
He was obviously realizing how inappropriate a bargain it was, and perhaps feeling some remorse for offering it.
Too bad. She wanted those donations for the needy.
It wasn’t as though she was giving him her body, merely her lips, which she intended to keep firmly pinched as his own pressed down on hers.
“Blessed saints,” he muttered, returning to his desk and withdrawing a ledger from an upper drawer. He wrote out a draft and signed it with authority. “Here, just take it.”
She checked to see that it was properly written out, then smiled and tucked it into her reticule. “All right,” she said, her voice unexpectedly wobbling. “You may now have your kiss for this one hundred pounds.”
She had not expected to feel quite so distressed. It wasn’t from fear of him or the kiss. It was mostly the fear that she mightlikeit.
She closed her eyes, appalled to realize her heart was hammering with anticipation. Why? And why from him? He was a grumpy ogre. Yes, he was also impossibly handsome, especially with that tinge of silver in his hair. But still…
She felt his warm breath against her cheek.
“Ailis, I’m sorry,” he said with an agonized groan, and gave her a short, whisper-soft kiss on the lips. “Go, love. That wasn’t fair of me. Consider the wager off.”
Her eyes flew open and met the dark heat of his. “But you said one hundred pounds per kiss. I will not release you from the bargain.”
“So you think I owe you nine more?” He raked a hand through his hair. “Go home, Ailis. I am many things, but not a debaucher of innocents.”
“I was hardly in danger of being debauched by you. Was that the kiss? I hardly felt it. In fact, it was rather tepid, in my opinion.”
His mouth gaped open. “Tepid?”
She nodded. “Eminently forgettable.”
His jaw tightened. “Forgettable?”
“Eminently.” She shook her head and sighed. “Rather weak, if you ask me.”
He emitted a low growl. “Weak?”
“Yes, Your Grace. In fact, it was most disappointing.”
“Disappointing?” Growling again, he drew her into his arms.
Goodness, he was nicely muscled. Her eyes widened as those hard bands encircled her in his embrace.
She had never been held romantically before.
“Close your eyes, Ailis,” he said in a husky murmur that held a trace of irritation and determination.
Oh, this man was not used to women criticizing his kisses. He looked so deliciously out of sorts.
But should she not be the one irritated? What sort of first kiss was that? Barely a touch. Completely disappointing.
His voice was commanding and his eyes were blazing as he said, “Ailis, close them.”
