Apple giggled. “No, you didn’t. Don’t be ridiculous.”
He grinned, beginning to sound more like his usual self. “Had me at your mercy all too dashed fast, young Apple, with your hare-brained schemes and your propensity for doing exactly the opposite to anything you were told.”
“Well, you shouldn’t be so high-handed.”
A hungry look entered his face, and he brought up a hand and captured her chin. “May I kiss you?”
Apple blinked at him. “You are actually asking permission?”
A quirk of a half-smile teased her. “Yes. Might be high-handed, but I ain’t a beast. If you’re unwilling…”
“But I’m not! I’m more than willing. I want you to kiss me.”
His ran a finger across her lips and a flitter ran down her veins. Still he hesitated, his eyes on hers, their colour seeming to darken. “You won’t pretend you don’t love me too, for I know it. Felt it.”
Apple was far from pretending anything of the kind, but she was growing impatient. “Must I say I love you before you will kiss me?”
His lips quivered. “Yes, that’s it.”
Her heart melted. “Then I love you.”
He drew in an unsteady breath and she felt his fingers tremble against her skin where they held her face. Apple’s breath became trapped in her chest and she could not say another word. Then his forehead was resting against her own and she had to close her eyes. She felt butterfly touches down her cheek, and at each one the flutter in her veins increased.
At last the lips reached hers and stilled for an endless moment. Apple’s veins thrummed like a hive of bees waiting to swarm. Next instant she was crushed against Alex’s chest, and the assault at her mouth left her breathless and shaken. Heat seared her and her limbs lost all strength.
When she came to herself, she was hanging about Alex’s neck, her toes barely touching the floor. He let her down, and as his embrace loosened she nearly fell.
“Alex, I’ve got to sit down!”
Without a word, he lifted her quite off her feet and swung her up into his arms. The sensation of helplessness was oddly pleasurable, and even more so when he sat on the sofa, holding her imprisoned in his lap.
“Never want to let you go again.”
He buried his face in her neck and blew hot breath there that made her shiver.
“Alex, what are you doing?” She pulled away and turned in his hold to stare at him.
He grinned. “I’m cuddling you, which is what I’ve been wanting to do for weeks.”
Consciousness overtook her and she giggled with embarrassment, only to be kissed again.
Breathless, she chided nevertheless. “What if someone came in?”
“Doubt any of them would be so tactless.”
“Yes, but the servants?”
He rubbed her back. “Want me to lock the door?”
“Yes! No!” He grinned and made to kiss her again, but she held him off. “Don’t, Alex!”
“Do you dislike it?”
Warmth rushed into her cheeks. “You know very well I like it, but we’ve so much to discuss and I can’t think when you … when you…”
He drew her against him and whispered into her hair. “When I do this?” Then he found her mouth and murmured against it, “And this?” kissing her so thoroughly that she went limp in his embrace. She sighed and gave in, throwing her arms about his neck and allowing herself the indulgence of enjoying the sensations his ministrations were arousing for some little time.
But at length, Alex sighed and put her from him. “Got to stop, or I’ll disgrace us both.”
