The heat of his fingers on her skin caused a deep yearning to spring to life within her, but she kept her eyes downcast.
The soft brush of his thumb across her lower lip shocked her. Her eyes widened and she stared at him. He didn’t stop, his gaze focused on where he was touching her, but when she shivered, one corner of his mouth lifted. She was becoming very fond of that lopsided smile.
“There is nothing wrong with you. I suspect your husband never bothered to show you what was possible between a man and a woman.”
She wanted to believe him. To believe that her dislike of the physical act of lovemaking was more a condemnation of Mansfield than a failing on her part.
She certainly liked the way Holbrook was looking at her now and how he was touching her. It was the lightest of caresses, but his touch caused a spark of desire that shocked her.
“Show me.” The plea slipped out almost of its own volition, but she wouldn’t pull away from him now. It seemed she was physically incapable of denying this man anything.
They stood in shadows, away from the light cast by the tall north-facing windows. His back blocked the waning afternoon light, and as he stared down at her, his eyes appeared almost black. Only the smallest amount of blue was visible.
His hand remained on her chin, lightly holding her in place as she waited, breathless. He lowered his face to hers, and she realized he was giving her time to change her mind. But Lucy wouldn’t. She wanted his kiss with a desperation that surprised her. Even when Mansfield had courted her and she thought herself in love with him, she’d never felt this way.
She reached for Holbrook’s wrist to hold him in place, intent on ensuring he wouldn’t change his mind and pull away.
Heat flared in his eyes, and it seemed that her simple touch was the inducement he needed to bring his mouth to hers.
She expected him to ravage her mouth. It was always that way with her husband. He’d had two types of kisses. The first was a small peck, the lightest brush of his lips on the back of her hand or on her cheek when he was in the presence of friends and family. That was the public act he put on to show the world he was a devoted husband.
But in the private of her bedchamber, he fell on her with open-mouthed kisses that, thankfully, didn’t last long before he got on with the business of thrusting into her.
There would be none of the latter now, of course, but Lucy was surprised that she was almost lightheaded with anticipation.
Holbrook’s mouth touched hers with a lightness that frustrated her. It seemed he thought her worthy of only the polite type of kiss and he was going to pull away now.
But then his arms snaked around her and pressed her flush against his body.
The suddenness of the action caused her to gasp in surprise, which was all the encouragement Holbrook needed to kiss her in earnest.
Only he didn’t plunge his tongue into her mouth. Instead, he traced her lower lip before dipping inside.
Instead of the disgust she’d felt when Mansfield kissed her, heat began to unfurl within her. A desperation to keep him there seized her, their mouths fused together in long, languorous kisses.
“Lucy.”
Her name was uttered on a groan, and she very much liked the sound of it on his lips.
She didn’t realize she’d speared her fingers into his hair until he lifted his head to stare down at her. His breath was coming in short pants, echoing her own.
Several long moments passed, and she could almost see the battle being waged within him. She was disappointed that this brief interlude was over far too soon.
She tore her gaze from his and lowered her hands to his shoulders. But she didn’t release him. It seemed her traitorous body was unwilling to give up the fantasy that this man could give her something her husband never had. The carnal pleasure he’d promised her.
She licked her lips and kept her eyes lowered. “Thank you. That was quite nice.” She was proud of the way she’d managed to keep her tone even.
His bark of laughter surprised her, and she looked up at him.
“Does it take so little to make you happy? To fulfill your desires?”
Her cheeks were already warm from their kiss, so at least she wouldn’t suffer the indignity of letting him see the way his words embarrassed her.
Refusing to look away, she raised one shoulder in feigned disinterest. “It’s been my experience that what comes next holds very little pleasure for the woman.”
His brows drew together, and she wondered if she’d revealed too much. Never mind—she was no innocent. He knew she’d experienced what came next many times. There was nothing he could do or say that would shock her.
“Tell me, Lucy, are you one for wagers?”
