Kit bent his head. Shewasright, of course. She knew what was best for his sister, she could see past the momentary terror in a way that was difficult for him at present. He wondered at her ability to have so much clarity considering what she hadendured herself.
“And I don’t want that fear for you either,” she said as she stepped closer. “Please.”
He shook his head at that last word. “I think I am learning that you are impossible to argue with. You will use all my weaknesses against me to win your way.”
She laughed, and the sound was like music. “Only when I’m right. And you know, what I was going to say is the last time I was in this room, you came to that bed and you kissed me.”
He glanced at the bed and thought of the same. “You looked so fragile in my shirt. And so damned delectable. I couldn’t fight what I wanted. And right now I just want to…”
He trailed off and finished the sentence by catching her cheeks gently and bringing his mouth to hers. Unlike on the terrace a few hours before, there was nothing to temper his passions and he dove into the safe haven of her mouth. Of her sigh. Of her surrender as her arms came around him and she drew him even closer.
The heat between them built, just as it had done in his office earlier that day when he had pleasured her with his mouth. His body had been screaming for release since then. A release he knew he couldn’t ask for. A release he knew wasn’t fair, and yet his cock throbbed as it rubbed against the front fold of his trousers.
Her hand reached up to settle on his chest as she parted her mouth from his. She stared up at him in wonder, in desire. And then she cleared her throat.
“Since we were talking about when I almost died—” she began.
He frowned and stepped away. “That’s a mood killer,” he muttered.
“Not if you listen to what I’m going to say,” she said. “Kit, that day has made me want to be more bold, more honest, more daring than I’ve let myself be. Life is so short—I understand that better than I ever did. And if I don’t ask for what I want…then I may never get it.”
He blinked, uncertain of where she was going with this conversation. Wanting to know.
He tilted his head. “What do you want, Sarah?”
Her cheeks darkened in color and her gaze darted away from a moment. But then he saw her steel herself, steady herself, and she met his eyes once more.
“I want to go to your bed, Kit. I want you to make love to me. And I want to give you my innocence.That’swhat I want.”
Chapter Sixteen
She had shocked Kit. Sarah could see that in the way his mouth dropped open and he stared in stunned silence at her for what seemed like forever. She had no idea if she had gone too far. If he would call her a wanton, a proper label at present, and turn her out onto the street.
What she did know was that she had to take the risk. She didn’t want regrets. Not asking for this stolen night with him would surely become one of those.
“Please say something,” she whispered at last.
He took a step closer. “Sarah, what you’re asking—”
“Is bold, I know. Unorthodox. But think of my position, Kit. I am no longer in Society. My virginity is not a commodity to be purchased by a husband. I will never have the future I once protected my innocence for.”
“You don’t know that. Someone like Lord Geoffrey—”
She held up her hands. “Despite your focus on the man, he would never be interested in me. Perhaps as a lover, but he would see me as any other man of his level would. I have nothing to recommend me, and now I am a governess. Besides, I don’t want Lord Geoffrey or any other man I spoke to tonight.” She took a deep breath and dared to move toward him. She traced her hand down his chest, starting at the collarbone, pressing down to his stomach, feeling the hardness of him beneath his proper party attire. “I want you.”
He grumbled something incoherent under his breath. “You would grant me such a gift.”
“Knowing you would honor it? That you would take care not to hurt me? Yes.” She held her breath as she awaited his response. She could see him waging a battle in his mind. Desire versus duty. Propriety versus passion.
“You don’t know how much I want you,” he whispered as he edged closer, caught her hand, drew her flush against him once more.
“Then show me, Your Grace. Please.”
His mouth moved to hers, but this time there was no desperation to his kiss. He had decided and now he had all night to take his time. To take her. She knew he would do both. And it would be a night to remember with a man she loved and couldn’t have.
But she pushed that thought aside and melted into him instead. His kiss burned slow, but burn it did. As he tasted her, teased her, sucked her tongue, her body started to throb. Thanks to his intimate games in the study earlier that day, she understood the throb more now. Understood why her body called to him and how it would answer if he touched her.
And she wanted that so badly that she almost couldn’t think of anything else.
