Ian slanted his brows, offering a decidedly roguish grin. “If going about my normal business gains me your sweet kisses, I shall have to try to be a better man and see what more happens.”
Hero raised a brow at his suggestive words, trying to gauge his intent. For every step she’d taken back this afternoon, he’d taken two forward. Touching her hands, her hair, or shoulder. She wasn’t completely naïve. She knew he wanted her kisses. That he wanted even more than that. The thought thrilled her but what if that was all he wanted?
“Are you toying with me, Lord Ayr? Now that I am not a sister, do you believe that a lonely widow in your home might be an easy conquest for you?”
The accusation might normally have offended Ian, impugning as they did his honor and integrity, but he couldn’t take offense. He could tell it was nothing more than an honest inquiry. If Hero were curious about his intentions, he was no less interested in the truth. This entire situation, this unusual yet undeniable pull, was quite beyond anything he’d ever experienced. It’d been so instantaneous he couldn’t recall a single moment of detachment.
And he didn’t believe he was alone in being rather mystified by the intense attraction between them. Though given Hero’s naiveté, her natural reticence and innocence, she had a way of stirring a man’s uncertainties. Despite her frequent blushes and her shy glances, he was often left wondering if he was mistaken in thinking the desire was mutual.
God help him if she was merely being an accommodating guest, eager to please her host.
Obligation was the very last thing he desired from her.
No. Hero suffered the compelling attraction between them as irresistibly as he did, he’d wager his life on it. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. He just wasn’t certain she knew it yet. This idea he’d had of a slow seduction was driving him to the edge of insanity. Were he to take it any slower, the frustration of his unmitigated hunger would be his end. Never had he wanted so badly. Just looking at Hero these past days was nearly enough to send him over the edge.
For a moral woman of limited sexual experience, that simmering desire no doubt roused more questions than the one she chose to voice. Stepping closer, he reached out to cup her cheek in his palm. His thumb brushed over her bottom lip as he pulled her closer, wondering how to calm her fears without admitting to her—and finally acknowledging to himself—that he wanted far more.
“Do you truly believe I toy with you, Hero? That I see you as nothing more than a body to warm my bed?”
Her cheeks flushed scarlet but she didn’t look away. Nor did she answer.
A tender smile curled the corner of Ian’s mouth as he moved even closer. She tilted her head back to look up at him, her face partially cast in shadows in the waning light of the hall. He cradled her face with both hands and gazed down at her. Unfamiliar yearning weighed in his heart. “You are a beautiful woman, Lady Ayr, but not the only one in the world. Beauty only begins an attraction such as this. I believe there is much more awaiting us.”
“Much more?” She pressed her hands to his chest and he wondered if she could feel the heavy thump of his heart. “How much more?”
How much more indeed. Ian stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. He wanted her as his own. That much he had already admitted, but that nameless feeling he’d dodged and evaded since the moment he’d met her now demanded recognition.
He didn’t want to engage in an affair, of neither the brief or elongated sort. Nor was he going to justify his inclination by rationalizing his need for an heir to the marquessate. Good God, never in his thirty years had he considered sincerely courting a woman. Now after only a few days’ acquaintance was he truly thinking to confess that he wanted her forever at his side? The thought would have nauseated him a month ago. He would’ve thought himself rattling the cage of insanity. Indeed he must be going mad because this raw, primal urge to stake his claim smacked of insanity.
Ian wasn’t a romantic. No matter what the fairy tales said, love didn’t happen overnight or even in a week’s time. Lust and desire, for certain. Growing affection, reasonable. But now? The very idea was preposterous. Yet it was impossible not to be enthralled by a woman in possession of Hero’s intelligence, caring, and quiet humor.
Who was he fooling? The truer miracle would be in denying the inevitable. He’d seen a great love between his parents before they died. He knew what it looked like.
It would be so incredibly easy if he allowed it.
And he’d be an incredible fool to admit it to her so soon. So, Ian only brushed his lips across her cheek before whispering in her ear, “So much more.”
It wasn’t much but it was enough to assuage her fears. He felt her shiver at the words as he trailed his lips lightly across her jaw until they hovered over hers. He felt her sigh, felt her hands clench against his shirt, inviting his lips to take hers.
“Daughter!” Beaumont bellowed, and Hero jumped away from Ian with a flush of embarrassment. She swallowed deeply, her tongue darting out to wet her suddenly dry lips. Ian’s eyes followed the motion and darkened with a desire even Hero could recognize.
“I believe your father has finally fallen from my favor.”
“Daughter, where are you?” her father yelled again.
Suddenly the whole situation sent a shaft of humor and joy spearing through her and Hero bit her lip to stifle the grin that sprang to her lips. Ian’s softly spoken assurance had whisked away the lingering uncertainty she’d had regarding his motives and left her with a bubble of elation that welled up inside of her until it spilled over in a burst of laughter.
“You think this is amusing?” Ian asked, though his lips were twitching now as well.
She giggled again, covering her lips with her hand to hide it as she leaned weakly against one of the nearby columns, losing her breath to her tightened corset. “Yes, I do.”
Ian leaned in and took her lips in a brief but fierce kiss. Her heart soared and pounded with excitement as he pulled away with a promise. “Be warned, fair Hero, one of these days, I’m going to seize the opportunity to kiss you properly.”
“Daughter!” Beaumont thundered.
“In here, Papa,” she called, dashing to the door before turning back and dipping a saucy curtsey to Ian. “I will look forward to it, my lord.”
Ian grinned back at her and Hero turned away, unable to stop the smile that stretched her cheeks.
