“Yes, I... I’ve been reading one of the collections of essays by Sir Humphry Davy about the invention of the carbon arc light.”
“Arc light? I don’t believe I’ve heard of it.” He came closer, and she nodded at the chair beside hers facing the fire. He settled into it, and she rushed to her bedside table to retrieve the book. He pulled her chair right next to his before she sat down. When she did, her bare feet touched his black boots.
“All right, tell me about this light.”
“Well, you see, a carbon arc light consists of carbon electrodes in the air...”
Derrick listenedin fascination to Arianna as she introduced him to a new scientific discovery.
“Sir Humphry Davy discovered it in 1802, but they have made many new discoveries about it since then.” She yawned, and he couldn’t resist smiling. Even now, she looked like an angel, her hair unbound and glowing in the firelight.
She smiled back and ran her fingers through her hair. “Forgive me, I am quite tired.”
“You should rest. I am sure your mother has much planned for tomorrow.”
“I’m certain that she does, but oh... the lessons.”
“The lessons can begin again if you wish.”
“Tonight?” she pressed with an adorable innocence.
“I don’t believe there is anything I can teach you at this moment, tired as you are.” He was a little disappointed by that, but he had also enjoyed their time together just as it had been. He again felt that war between lust and contentment, but tonight contentment was winning.
“Perhaps a lesson in good-night kisses?” she asked. “I’m not too tired for that.”
Bloody hell, she would be the death of him with talk like that. “I suppose we could fit that in.” He crooked a finger at her, and she left her chair to stand in front of him. He pulled her down gently onto his lap, and she instinctively cuddled closer, her arms curling around his neck.
“There are two kinds of good-night kisses,” he began in a mock professorial tone.
“I’m listening.”
He felt the perfect weight of her body shift restlessly on his lap. More than ever, he was aware of her lack of clothing, how the thin nightgown she wore did little to conceal her if this next lesson got a little more involved than he’d planned. He shook that thought away and focused.
“Right, the first is chaste, a simple brush of lips upon the brow, like this.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead. She let out a soft exhale, her body relaxing into his. He imagined if he kissed her like this every night, they might both sleep as peacefully as babes.
“And the other?” She brushed her nose against his as they kissed softly, but it was a bare tease of mouth against mouth, just enough to leave him hungry for more, so much more.
“The other? Well, that’s a different business entirely, one that might make you blacken my eye with your lovely fist.” He removed one of her arms from his neck and brought her hand to his lips. He kissed each of her knuckles, and she trembled a little. He didn’t want to scare her, and he’d forgotten for a brief moment that she was innocent.
“I trust you,” she said. “I’ve always trusted you.” Her brown eyes were so full of that trust it nearly broke him.
“And that is why I must savethatlesson for another time.”
Something sharpened in her gaze, and she curled her fingers in his waistcoat.
“You’re afraid to show me,” she murmured.
“What? Of course I’m not,” he protested.
She placed a finger over his lips. “Derrick, I need to know what to do. I need this lesson. You’re the only one I trust. Now teach me, please?”
And just like that, she broke him of his self-control and good intentions.
“Fine, you win.”
“Excellent.” She chuckled and kissed his chin, then his cheeks. “Now, show me.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “Do not make me regret this. Kissing is a serious business, you know.”
