“You see, my very passionate Miss Benson, when I touched my fingers to your lips to keep you quiet, and I felt your hot breath against my skin, I was caught up in my thoughts and I wondered what it would feel like to kiss you.” He stopped very close to her and drew the tips of his fingers across her mouth. “And I must say, I was not disappointed.”
She was weak. He must know that. Why else would he keep trying to seduce her? However, she hated feeling guilty because of what they’d done, so she couldn’t allow him to do it again.
With a trembling hand, she grasped his wrist, removing his hand from her mouth. “I hope you don’t think that I’m...” She licked her dry lips and cleared her throat. “That I’mthatkind of woman, because I assure you, I’m not. I’m a true lady. Your kiss took me by surprise, and well, I...”
“My sweet Lyndsey, please do not worry your pretty head about it.” He cupped the side of her face. “I still respect you, and I know you’re a true lady.” He shrugged. “And if you want me to apologize for taking such liberties, then I shall. However, I would be lying if I apologized, because I’m very happy to have been able to kiss your luscious lips and experience your delectable passion.”
“Yes, well...” She pushed his hand aside and moved past him. “We should not let that happen ever again. We were most fortunate that nobody caught us, and I don’t want to take that chance again, because I’m sure that luck would not be on our side.”
He stared at her for the longest few seconds she’d ever experienced. For a moment, he appeared to be saddened by her words. Her heart softened, and he quickly picked up on it before she could recant her thoughts. No, it was best that they wereneveralone. She would not allow this to happen again, especially since she felt like the fallen women her father had preached about in his sermons.
Finally, Adrian nodded. “Let’s fix your hair before you return to the party.”
She stood still and allowed him to stand close to her as his fingers plucked at her hair. When he dropped his hands, he stroked her cheeks briefly.
“Lyndsey, my sweet, you might want to wait ten minutes or so before you return.”
“Why?” she asked.
The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-grin. “Because your lips are still swollen from our passionate kisses. Anyone who has been well-kissed will know exactly what you’ve been doing.”
She gasped and her fingers flew to her mouth as she touched her lips. They didn’t feel swollen to her. But she could still feel his mouth on hers, and the butterflies inside her stomach reminded her that this was something she’d never forget as long as she lived.
FIVE
Adrian should havebeen very pleased with himself since he could now tell Collin that Miss Benson wasn’t the kind of woman to court because she’d fallen easily for a man’s seduction. And yet, he knew deep down inside that she wasn’tthatkind of a woman. Remarkably enough, the dejected pain in Adrian’s heart told him that he’d somehow allowed her kisses to affect him. The final blow last night was when she’d said that the kiss should never have happened, and would never happen again.
It didn’t take long for him to realize why she’d said that. Because to her, Adrian was a penniless, country-bumpkin cousin of the earl, and not a wealthy man. There was no possible way she could have feelings for him. Not when Collin was still unattached.
He leaned forward on his horse and pushed the animal faster as he rode through the countryside. Why had he thought Lyndsey was different? Because she wasn’t. She was most certainly a farthing-filcher just as he’d suspected. She would never love Collin, especially since it appeared that she couldn’t stand to touch him while they danced.
Slowing the horse, Adrian’s mind sped in a different direction. What had repulsed her about touching his brother during the dance? And yet, when he and Lyndsey were inside the pantry, she had touched his arms, his chest, his neck, and even pushed her fingers through his hair. She’d touched his hands a few times, but she’d never once appeared to be repulsed by his touch. And her kisses gave no indication that she didn’t want his attention...
He pulled the horse to a stop and stared at the land in front of him. He’d courted several women over the years, and of course by now, he knew the difference between women who couldn’t stand him, and women who desired him. Innocent Miss Lyndsey Benson was a woman who desired him, but apparently, she hadn’t yet realized it herself. He may just have to help that happen.
A grin stretched across his face for the first time since this morning. Laughter bubbled up in his throat, and he couldn’t hold back from releasing the sound out loud.
