She didn’t startle. In fact, her hand seemed to refuse to move away from him. As if it would shrivel into nothingness without the feel of him—his skin, muscle, and bone…his heat…his substance… All she wanted was to keep feeling him.
His gaze captured hers. He saw into her, she knew in an instant. These unnamable emotions rioting through her, he knew their names.
And he knew how to satisfy them.
Of its own accord, her hand began tracing up his forearm, banked strength dormant beneath her feathery fingertips. He reached out with his other hand and caressed her cheek, calloused fingertips a light scratch against smooth skin. Oh, she liked the feel of his rough skin against her. She could remain here, inside the spell this man had cast, forever. Except her body ached formore—more of his touch, more ofhim. Perhapsallof him. Whatever that entailed.
Well, she had an idea. She wasn’t a complete dolt.
This man had beguiled her, that was all. No longer was it enough to paint him.
She mustfeelhim.
She musthavehim.
“Are you certain?” he asked, his voice the deep velvet rumble that ever sent a shiver purling up her spine.
“Certain of what?” she asked, breathless. She was certain of nothing.
That wasn’t true.
She was certain she wanted him.
“Certain ofthis.”
He didn’t need to explain. Inexperienced she might’ve been, but she knew whatthiswas, and she’d never wanted anything more in all her life.
“I’m not lushy tonight,” she said, suddenly awash with nerves. Might he refuse her again? She wouldn’t survive it, as it was entirely possible her body would combust into a ball of flame. “You can kiss me.”
“Then we shouldn’t.”
Her entire world dropped out from beneath her. “What do you mean?”
How desperate could she possibly sound? She cared not. She might just beg, if it came to it.
His gaze burned, refusing to release her. “I could never be satisfied with a single kiss.”
“Last night—”
He shook his head slowly. “Last night doesn’t count.”
He needed her to say something…to prove something. Something that would allow him to relent and give over to this desire pulsing between them. She opted for the truth. “And what makes you thinkIcould be satisfied with a single kiss?”
His gaze searched hers, and something unlocked within those silvery gray depths. “It would be ungentlemanly to leave you unsatisfied.”
An arrow of pure, carnal, triumphant lust shot through her as his hand reached out and caught the back of her head and drew her forward. She inhaled a tiny sip of air just before his lips met hers. Unlike the rest of him, which was hard and unrelenting, his mouth was soft and tasted of spice and possibly oranges. The man was delicious, and she wanted more.
His tongue skimmed her lips. It was the most erotic sensation of her life and sent a streak of desire straight through her center. Tempted forward, her tongue met his, testingly at first, soft and firm and slick and—oh—intoxicating. Then her tongue was in a tangle with his as she fell deep into his kiss, which had the power to turn her into nothing more than a greedy hoyden as she pitched forward on her chair, perched on the very edge for fear of losing contact. Then it was one inch too many and she slipped off the chair and to her knees in an ungraceful tumble.
Yet, somehow, she managed not to break contact as she clutched his shoulders. He smiled against her mouth, and a laugh rumbled deep in his chest, and she wasn’t in the least offended. Let him laugh. She rather liked its contrast with the very seriousness of the moment. Because it was a fact. She very seriously desired this man.
He pulled back, his mouth breaking from hers, and a whimpering sound escaped her that would fill her with unbearable shame on the morrow, she hadn’t a doubt. But, tonight, she cared not as he stared down at her. He reached out and with a few expert flicks of his fingers, he’d pulled the pins and had her hair tumbling about her shoulders. His hands moved lower and another few flicks had her dress going slack.
With the knowledge of Eve, she met the dark flare of his gaze and knew what to do. His wasn’t the only power in this room. She unfolded her too-tall body and stood before him, allowing her dress to fall to the floor. She reached around to untie her stays—she never had them bound tightly—her breasts thrusting forward, her taut nipples showing through her silk chemise. She’d always thought her breasts too small to be attractive. But the look in his eyes indicated the opposite.Hunger.
He shifted back against the settee, his gaze raking over her. “Your chemise.”
She lifted the garment over her head and let it join dress and stays on the floor, unregarded. She only awaited his next command.
