“Oh?” He tilted his head, bringing his mouth closer to hers. “Why is that, Miss Clifford?”
“I…I am afraid if I stay, something will happen, my lord. Something that should not happen.”
Edward was enjoying this far too much. “What kind of something?”
“You are teasing me, my lord,” she murmured, her breaths growing heavy. “You know exactly what I am talking about.”
He smirked. “Oh, do I? Are you calling my decorum into question, Miss Clifford?”
The cheeky little thing rolled her eyes. “I am not so worried about your decorum, my lord, as I am your intentions.”
“My intentions for what?”
She stared at him a long moment before finally answering, “Me.”
His fingers tangled in her hair, loosening the knot at the back of her head.
“You believe I have some sort of intentions for you?”
“If you do not,” she gasped, her cheeks growing more flushed. “Then you should let me go and allow me to leave this room, my lord.”
He pulled her closer to him. “And if I do have intentions for you?”
She was practically panting at that point. “It seems that you do, my lord, but I am not certain they are entirely honourable.”
“And you?” he asked, gently tugging on her hair to pull her head back. “Do you have intentions for me?”
“How can I have intentions for you?” she breathed. “I am so below you, I would never dare….”
He tsked and shook his head. “Do not try to convince me you are some lowly peasant, and I am some magnificent royal. That is a ridiculous notion. You are an intelligent, fascinating woman who I have no doubt would bring the Ton to its knees if given a chance.”
Something flashed across her gaze at that. Something he could not quite read before it disappeared again. It might have been a hint of pain or some sign of regret. Regret of what, though? He did not understand and told himself his mind could simply be playing tricks on him.
Miss Clifford raised her hand to his chest, but she did not push him away.
“You think very highly of me, my lord,” she murmured. “Perhaps too highly. I am afraid I may prove a disappointment to your expectations.”
“Nonsense,” he assured her. “I doubt you would ever disappoint my expectations.”
She opened her mouth to say something more – no doubt to argue the point further – but Edward was done talking. He knew they could go around and around in circles all night if they so chose to, and perhaps one day they would.
That was not what he wanted that night, though. There was only one thing on his mind as he gazed down into her beautiful eyes.
Before she could get a word out, he lowered and captured her lips in a searing kiss.
***
Victoria
She could hardly believe it was happening again, but she was standing there, wrapped in Lord Harford’s arms, his lips pressed hungrily to hers. Victoria could not help but respond as her body felt as though it were catching on fire for him. She slipped her arms around his waist and splayed her fingers along his back, holding him as tightly as she could.
Their tongues danced as he walked her backwards to a nearby table, and before she knew what he was doing, he gripped her hips, picked her up, and set her on its surface. All without breaking their kiss. She moved her arms to wrap around his neck and dug her fingers into his hair as he pushed himself between her legs.
A small voice at the back of her head told her she needed to stop this. They were pushing things too far. This was already more than last time.
She ignored the voice, unable to care or stop herself. She did not know what it was that was driving her forward, but there was some internal instinct demanding that she draw more and more from Lord Harford. She wanted his lips and hands on her, exploring her in ways no one had before. The thoughts running through her mind were shocking and improper, and yet they stoked that fire deep in her belly that only he seemed able to ignite.
When he gripped her hair and tilted her head, she moaned, unable to stop herself.
