She didn’t realize the captain was still holding her arm until he turned her toward him. His other hand slipped behind her neck and drew her forward, right up against him. Then he bent his head and pressed his lips to hers.
No training she’d ever had prepared her to be overwhelmed by her first kiss.
Chapter Thirteen
ALANA COULD HAVE DRAWN away at any point. The captain didn’t rush her into his arms, he’d been slow about it. He was a man who savored. A man who sensually coaxed. And from the second his hand slipped behind her neck, her senses were arrested in anticipation.
Despite her quick responses, she didn’t think she could have moved just then. Or she simply didn’t want to. Lady Annette might blushingly have explained this aspect of life to her, but Alana couldn’t have imagined anything remotely close to this. . . .
With the soft touch of his lips on hers, Alana’s senses were overwhelmed. She felt her heart racing, and the pleasant fluttering in her stomach she’d earlier felt was now a powerful, exciting swirl. Both his hands were suddenly warm against her cheeks, caressing her, which meant she was leaning against him of her own accord! This was madness!
She tried to lean back to take her mouth away from his. For a brief moment she felt something close to frustration when he let her. Opening her eyes, she saw his smile. That was all she saw because she couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth, which had just stirred up so many startling, pleasurable feelings in her.
In wonder, she touched her own lips. “Why did you do that?” she asked in a breathless whisper.
She looked up at his blue eyes before he answered. That was a mistake. He was too appealing like this, with the seductive warmth in his gaze and a charming grin on his face. Did he find something humorous in her question?
He raised a brow slightly before he said, “You aren’t here looking for a protector? I’m going to be very disappointed if you say no.”
He didn’t sound disappointed. He sounded confident of himself and amused, as if he were teasing her. Of course, she was here looking for a protector. Her father was going to be her protector. Was she missing something in what he’d just said? Did he mean something else? How could she think with him this close to her?!
She began, “Yes, but—”
He was kissing her again, and this time much more passionately. Now she was thrilled to a new level, every wonderful sensation he’d provoked earlier was back and so magnified, she had to grip his shoulders to keep from falling. He slipped his arm around her back, holding her tightly to him. His mouth slanted across hers, his tongue pushing past her innocence, thrusting deeply, deliciously into her mouth. His other hand was sliding up the side of her leg.
Her gasp was lost in his mouth. Oh, God, what was she doing?!
“Stop!” She pushed away from him, gasping for breath, grasping to keep her balance now that she was no longer holding on to him. She was shocked by what she’d just allowed him to do, what she’d allowed herself to do!
He was watching her with something akin to suspicion in his eyes. “I don’t mind a little teasing, as long as we both understand where it ends.”
She had no clue what he seemed to be accusing her of, but she’d regained enough of her wits to say stiffly, “I’m not sure what kind of mistake you’ve made, but it is a mistake.”
He leaned his back against the door, slamming it hard. “You can’t be serious.”
He glanced down at her again for an answer. She didn’t need to say anything more. Her accusing look seemed to convince him that she was serious. But instead of apologizing, he swore under his breath and moved toward her. She was instantly unnerved. He was much too big and tall to stand that close to her with such an angry visage.
“What sort of ploy is this?” he demanded. “You melt on me like sweet butter, then cry foul?”
She sucked in her breath. That didn’t even deserve a response. She pushed around him to get to the door instead. He grabbed her by the waist, stopping her, and even drew her back against his chest.
Her whole body tingled as he embraced her so intimately. “You want to talk terms first?” he asked impatiently. “Fine, I will give you whatever you want. There, we have talked terms. Now melt on me again.”
The husky tone he’d ended with made her close her eyes tightly. She was not going to be drawn back into his web again. She wiggled out of his hold, hoping to break through to the captain of the guard she’d first met, the polite if mildly flirtatious man she’d been willing to trust. He let go of her as she turned to face him instead of reaching for the door again.
“I asked to speak to you in private because no one else can hear what I was going to confide in you.” She sighed. “How could you think I meant anything other than talk?”
A number of emotions crossed his countenance—frustration, self-disgust, finally regret. He turned away, saying, “Your whisper suggested something else.”
“What?”
“Many foreign women of quality, mostly widows, come to this court to find a protector,” the captain explained, facing her again. “We are not unique in that. We are just one of many courts they visit across Europe, until they find a gentleman of power or wealth to their liking. A few even aspire to be a king’s mistress and so they request an audience to make themselves available, yet are too embarrassed to mention it to the guards—”
“I understand!” she quickly cut in. “You thought I was one of those women trying to see the king. You couldn’t be more mistaken. I’m his daughter.”
“Whose?”
“The king’s.”
