He remembered how she had smiled at Hayden and how she hadn’t pulled away when he had placed his hand on hers, and he was angry again. She had blushed when the man had spoken to her, flirting shamelessly while he had watched on helplessly.
Darragh stepped even closer, and she reached out to stop him. Her palms seared his skin, and as she made to withdraw her hands, he took them in his own. She swallowed thickly, her lovely cleavage flushing.
He ground his teeth, fighting the urge to lean down and press a kiss to the smooth skin. Instead, he leaned down to her ear, enjoying how she shivered as his breath brushed her skin.
It was good to see she wasn’t unaffected by his closeness.
“Tell me what ye ken about flirtin’, Talia,” he whispered, lifting his head to watch her face. “Or better yet,showme what ye ken.”
He watched her draw her bottom lip between her teeth and lower her eyes. He suppressed a groan when her lip emerged pink and glistening.
“I daenae ken anythin’ about flirtin’,” she said with such grimness that he almost laughed. But he didn’t think she would appreciate him laughing at her vulnerability. “I wouldnae even ken where to begin.”
“Are ye keen to learn?” he asked, and she met his eyes.
Her eyebrows dipped into a frown, making her look rather attractive. Hearing how innocent she was filled him with a dark need to corrupt her. To teach her how to pleasure and how to take her pleasure.
“I daenae see why I need to,” she answered with a pout.
He leaned in again, eyeing her lips, which jutted out proudly, ripe for the taking. “Ye may need it one day.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I highly doubt it.”
He chuckled deeply, fingering a curl that had escaped her bun.
“And have ye ever been kissed before, Talia?” he asked.
She looked at him then, eyes wide as if she just realized how near he was. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips again, and Darragh felt the last of his restraint crumble.
She shook her head.
He tutted, cupping her face in his hands. “How could we hope to find ye a husband when ye daenae ken somethin’ as simple as kissin’?” he muttered, brushing his lips over hers. “Ye should learn to kiss before findin’ a husband.”
His lips brushed over hers again, intending to tease, but when he felt her hands fist in his shirt and heard the small moan she made, he knew there was no going back.
He took her lips in a searing kiss, groaning at the spark that shot through him. It was evident she had never been kissed before, but what she lacked in experience she more than made up for in passion.
She made little sounds that stirred carnal need within him. His hands moved down her body, caressing and pulling her into him. Her body was soft beneath his touch, and he couldn’t get enough of her.
She gasped, and he plunged his tongue into her mouth. She tasted sweet like berries and the overly sweetened tea she seemed to favor, and he couldn’t get enough.
She found the rhythm easily, and he all but smiled against her mouth. Her hands moved up his body to wrap around his neck. He cupped her buttocks and squeezed them, before tearing her lips from hers.
“Wrap yer legs around me,” he whispered.
He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around him. Lord, this woman was made for loving. He moved them to his desk and lowered her onto it, making it easier for him to kiss her without straining.
Her hands slid into his hair and pulled, and white-hot pleasure-pain lanced through him. He gripped her thighs to steady himself as his cock strained against his breeches, seeking release.
What the bloody hell was he doing?
He pulled back from her, hands dropping as he looked at her. Her lips were red and swollen, her green eyes were alive and wild, and her hair had somehow become mussed in their passion.
“Devils!” he swore, stepping away from her.
“What is it?” she asked, pushing off the desk and stepping closer to him. “Have I done something wrong? Tell me and I’ll?—”
“Daenae come any closer!” he barked.
