Allegra ceased playing, turning her head to his. His mouth fused itself with hers in a hot kiss. Something had changed, she realized suddenly, as his hand began to caress her breasts. She froze. What was she to do? Was anything required of her but her compliance? Unable to help herself she began to tremble, and a small cry escaped her lips. She found herself slumping against his arm, unable to catch her breath for a moment.
“Damnit, I have forgotten how innocent you truly are, my dear,” he apologized to her.
Allegra swallowed hard. “Will this be part of our cohabitation?” she asked in all seriousness. She could, to her acute embarrassment, feel her nipples pushing against the silk fabric of her gown’s tight bodice. Her heart was thumping wildly. She hadn’t found his touch at all repellent, but rather exciting. And she was filled with questions. Did she get to touch him? And where?
“It is calledlove play, my dear,” he told her. “You are so charming, Allegra, I could not help myself. I think it is past time we came to know one another better, don’t you? Our wedding is just over a month away now.”
“I found it exciting,” she said suddenly.
“What?”
“When you touched me,” she went on. “I found it exciting when you caressed my breasts, Quinton.”
“Did you?”He was encouraged and a bit shocked by her candidness.
“Am I allowed to touch you?” she asked naively.
“Not yet,” he gulped, surprised.
“When? And where?”she persisted.
“Eventually, and I shall instruct you,” he answered her, and he felt his member tingling. My God, the little witch was arousing him!
“I cannot help but be curious,” Allegra told him. “Once I said I had not yet considered the carnal side of our marriage, but you are right. Our wedding day is fast approaching, Quinton. I find my curiosity increasing. We have been so proper when we are together that it makes me giggle when I think what people must imagine has been between us this summer. Not that I care, mind you. My conscience is quite clear. Yours should certainly be as clear, unless, of course, you have some bit of fluff hidden away from me. I have certainly heard no gossip regarding such a matter.”
“Nor should you have if I indeed had a mistress, which I do not,” he responded stiffly. There was that appalling outspokenness again.
“Oh, dear! I have offended you again,” Allegra said.
Quinton Hunter laughed. He couldn’t help it. Allegra could be so disingenuous, and at the damndest times. What was he going to do with her? For lack of any other answer he kissed her again. His arms wrapped themselves about her, his lips pressing firmly against her lips until the softness beneath his parted slightly. He ran his tongue along those sweet lips, causing her to gasp softly as her eyes flew open, and she stared at him astounded. “You taste of peaches,” he said.
“I…I had some at supper,” she responded. “Why did you do that? Lick my lips?”
“Because it gave me pleasure to do so, and it will give you pleasure also now that you are no longer surprised,” he explained. “There will come a time when we are in our marriage bed that I will want to taste every bit of you.Even the most secret parts,” he finished.
Heat suffused her body at his words. “Are you attempting to seduce me, Quinton?” she asked honestly.
“Do you want me to?” he countered. His silver eyes were half-closed.
“Perhaps. I am not certain yet if I am brave enough,” she answered him. His eyebrows were so black, and so thick.
“Even though we are at home,” he replied suddenly, breaking the spell that had been between them, “I do not want our servants gossiping should they find us kissing and alone in the drawing room, Allegra.”
Allegra looked up and whispered to him, “I want to be kissed and caressed more, my lord. I quite like it.”
“Then you shall be, my dear,” he promised her. “Iwant you to be happy, Allegra.” He was surprised to realize that he meant it.
“I want you to be happy,” she said. “I truly do!”
She sat in his lap the following evening in the gardens, sighing as his hands brushed over her small breasts. His kisses were intoxicating now. She wanted more, and more, and more.
He scolded her gently, “You are far too greedy.”
“But I adore kissing! And you really are an excellent kisser, Quinton. Rupert Tanner kissed me before I had to send him packing. His embrace was disgusting to me, while I cannot get enough of yours,” Allegra admitted quite freely to the duke. Then she changed the subject. “Do you find my gown too constricting? Wouldn’t you like to touch my bared breasts?”
“Yes,” he groaned. Damn, but she was exciting him!
“Then come to my bedchamber after Honor has gone to her room,” Allegra suggested to him. “I want to know what it is like to lie with a man in one’s bed. Will we be naked?”
