“I did not come here for that.” She breathed the words more than spoke them.
“I know.”
He did not sound sincere, or even much interested. Perhaps he did not believe her. Maybe he assumed she really had come there for that, then lost her nerve and sat on the steps to decide what to do.
“My house really was broken into. Truly.”
“I do not doubt it.”
“Then why—”
His lips brushed hers. “I am not sure. Perhaps because you are curious, and I am badly tempted to enlighten you.” She felt a faint smile against her cheek while his breath on her skin made happy shivers dance down her spine. “Perhaps because a woman who speaks her mind without hesitation challenges me. Maybe because your spirit hints at all kinds of passions.”
She sought refuge in society’s rules, but half-heartedly. “It would be ignoble of you to seduce me after I came here for help.”
His head angled so he spoke in her ear. None of him actually touched her anymore. Not one spot. Yet he might have been embracing her naked body from the breathlessness that possessed her.
“I am not going to seduce you.”
“You aren’t?”
He shook his head slightly. His soft hair feathered against her face because he had dipped his head so his phantom kisses warmed her neck. She fought the urge to squirm in reaction to his sensual taunts.
“I will enjoy the sweet torture of wanting you, however. Temptation is its own pleasure.” Again his breath feathered her ear and neck. “You feel what I mean. Right now, you do.”
She certainly did. He had her aroused worse than when they had embraced in the garden. So little space separated them that she need only exhale for her breasts to touch his shirt. The small gap begged for closure.
“I would expect a man like you to press your advantage,” she murmured. “Not settle for sweet torture.”
He looked down at his fingertips. They slowly drew a line at the neckline of her dress. The proximity of his hands to her breasts seemed designed to drive her mad. She waged a losing battle against her inclinations because she had been caressed by that hand before, and she had been naked, and it had been wonderful.
“As I said, I may be called wicked, but I am not unprincipled. There are many reasons why I cannot have you, tonight of all nights. A long list. You are ignorant. You came here for safety. You have drunk strong spirits. Since you are an innocent, you would expect I do the right thing afterward. I do not seducewomen who do not know their own minds and will wake up with regrets, Eva, even when I badly want them.”
That tracing line connected with her skin briefly, in a small caress. The sensation streamed through her body.
Surely he would step away now, after that fine speech. She could not bear this any longer. Her body ached with anticipation. She understood what he meant when he spoke of the pleasure of temptation. In the garden she had briefly tasted the fulfillment of that promise, and now the temptation swept away caution and reserve and what little remained of propriety.
“What if—what if there would be no regrets?” she asked. “What if I am tired of being ignorant, and more than passing curious?”
He just looked down at her upturned face.
“What if I know my own mind very well, and there will be no expectations at all?”
“Eva—”
“What if being held by you sounds very safe to me tonight, and very right, in ways nothing else would?”
His expression hardened. His lids lowered. Sensuality became a palpable energy between them. Her anticipation sang in a higher key. She did not think it possible to want a man to embrace her more than she did right now.
Only he didn’t embrace her. Looking in his eyes, lost in them, she knew, just knew, the instant when temptation lost the war.
She could not believe it. She had just offered herself and he was going toturn her down. He was supposed to be wicked, damn it.
To make it worse, he smiled like she was a sweet child and kissed heron the forehead.
Furious, she threw her arms around his neck to hold his head down and kissed him on the mouth. Her breasts pressed against his chest and her whole body cheered with relief.
Surprise. The smallest hesitation. Then his inconvenient decency blew away on the winds of raging desire. His embrace enclosed her so tightly that her body melded against his. Strong fingers held her crown so his kisses could ravish her mouth, her neck, her chest. Her own hands and arms pressed and grasped and learned and knew.Yes,she thought,Yes, yes, as his hands moved over her and the force of his want dominated her.
