He half expected her to cover her mouth at such a word, but she glared at him, brazen and bold and utterly beautiful. How was it that he was just as aroused as he was angry?
He swallowed down his reactions. “You were going to kiss him,” he accused.
She had the audacity to roll her eyes. “I was not. I had considered it . . . but I wasn’t going to.”
“You can’t convince me otherwise.” He gave his head a slight shake.
“Why ever not?” She had the most offended expression on her face, as if shocked her word carried so little weight.
He was about to reply, and then glanced to the open door. So far no one had come out into the garden to see their argument, but his luck would only last so long.
Luck never stayed.
He frowned, then closed the open door, knowing that he was playing a dangerous game but he wanted—no, he needed—to make a point.
When he turned back to her, she was watching him with a very dubious and irritated expression.
He stomped back to her, angry with her for not being honest. Was it so difficult to admit her weak moment?
“You wouldn’t have denied him, you would have ruined yourself, and in that, sealed your future! Why would you risk such a thing?” he asked, his tone accusing.
“I wasn’t going to!” she shouted. He half expected her to stomp her foot.
He scoffed, absently placing his hands on his hips.
She let out a low growl of frustration and closed the distance between them, her finger poking him in the chest.
Again.
“I was tempted, but I wasnot going to kiss him.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You licked your lips,” he stated accusingly.
She reared her head back, her expression fierce. “Thatis your evidence against my word?” She gave a humorless laugh and pulled her finger back. “People lick their lips all the timewhen they are about to speak.”
“Or, when they are about to kiss,” he added triumphantly.
“I’ve never kissed anyone before so I wouldn’t know!” she retorted hotly. “So if that is your only evidence against me—”
“You parted your lips next,” he interrupted.
She gave him the most irritated expression. “You just parted your lips as well,to speak!”she replied hotly.
He had to admit, his argument wasn’t gaining traction, not when she didn’t understand the mechanics. Individually, licking one’s lips and parting them was normal, but . . . in a kiss it was . . . telling. How did he explain that? Wasn’t this something a mother or a governess explained?
He was out of his element.
But he was also unwilling to give up. No. The gauntlet had been thrown and he wasn’t about to back down.
“You simply don’t understand,” he said.
“Clearly! Since I’m licking my lips and opening my mouth during this conversation and notoncehave you accused me of trying to kissyou!” she argued.
And damn it all, she had a point.
But what she didn’t know was that it was damned hardnotto want to kiss her.
As if pushing the temptation further, she licked her lips.
