This time her lips parted softly beneath his. He lifted his hands to cup her cheeks, and then the back of her neck. Her tongue retreated at first but grew bolder to eventually dance and tangle with his as the kiss lengthened.
Oh, but he loved the essence of a woman, this woman. Her deliciously moist mouth tasted sweet, earthy, her teeth glided smoothly against his tongue.
A tremble flowed through her, whether from the cold or the kiss, he couldn’t be sure.
“Hold me,” she whispered.
He drew her closer, dropping his arms around her shoulders and then her waist.
How long the kiss went on, he wasn’t sure. It could have been a minute, or ten, or more even. He lost himself as he took inventory of her responses. A hitch, a moan, a gasp.
The way she spoke his name, half whisper, half groan.
Eventually he became aware of a quieting. The thunder had drifted away, and rain no longer pounded everything around them.
And their private tempest settled as well.
Niles placed one last kiss on now familiar lips and drew in a heavy breath. They were two consenting adults. But he would not take her on the ground, on the dirt.
If, and that was a very big if, he were to take her at all, it would be on a comfortable bed dressed in clean linens.
He tucked her head beneath his chin and waited while she steadied her own breathing.
“Your name fits you rather well.”
“Hmmm,” she mumbled into his shirt front.
“You tempt me, Eve. Now tell me, was that unethical enough for you?”
Eve struggledto comprehend his words.
So long. She’d waited so long for something so simple as a kiss. There had been days when she’d surmised, she’d live the remainder of her life untouched.
He’d reignited sensations she’d feared might be dead — Niles had — her man of business.
He’d asked her something. Was that unethical enough for you?
She managed to nod, her face pressed against his chest now.
“Thank you,” she whispered into his waistcoat.
“The storm’s passed. I’m afraid we must set out again. The mud will be worse than before, but we need to make the inn before darkness falls.” His voice sounded rather matter of fact. Obviously, the kiss had affected him far less than her.
His arms dropped away, and she stiffened. What was she doing? What had come over her? Most assuredly any kiss would have sent her thoughts into such a jumble. “Yes. Yes, of course.” She wished she could have risen to her feet gracefully.
But no. Not only was her dress jumbled around her legs, but pins and needles plagued her left foot.
Holding his side, Niles rose easily.
“Are you injured?” Had she done something to him, or had he injured himself earlier?
“It’s nothing.” He offered a hand to assist her up.
She rearranged her skirt and wiggled her toes before taking it. Once standing, she studied his eyes. “You would not be holding your side if it were nothing. You foolish man! Why didn’t you say something?”
A small injury could become serious all too quickly. Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done until they arrived at the inn. Or any shelter, for that matter.
Without answering her question, he offered an arm and led them back toward the road.
