“What I think, Ryder, is that you know me entirely too well.”
He laughed. “Yes, I believe I do. However, I would like to get to know the woman you’ve become to see if she’s anything like the girl I once knew.”
Her smile appeared genuine this time as she nodded. “I would like that as well.”
She didn’t try to pull away from him, and her actions encouraged him further. “Would you allow me to court you—as long as it’s approved by your father?”
Her cheeks reddened. “Yes.”
“Then I shall ask him tomorrow.”
“No. I think you should ask him today.”
He was elated knowing she was as eager as he. “Then I shall talk to him today.”
Reluctantly, he withdrew. It was cozy being with her like this, but he knew he should do the gentlemanly thing and pull away first before they became closer physically. He offered his arm. “Shall we continue our stroll?”
“Not yet.”
Confusion filled him. What was she up to this time? “Why not?”
“Because if I don’t do this now, I will lose my nerve.”
Stepping toward him, she closed the space between them and flung her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly on the lips.
Shock was a mild description for what washed over him, but the emotion was quickly replaced with desire. Being gentlemanly could go to the devil. His thoughts now were filled with passion.
###
OH, MY!
Clarissa had only kissed one man in her life, and it was someone she’d met while visiting her cousin. The memory of that brief moment had quickly disappeared. Ryder’s kiss was so toe-curling thrilling, she could hardly breathe.
When she’d first placed her lips to his, they were stiff, but now—only seconds later—his mouth softened and he slid his arms around her, pulling her closer. Tingles shot through her body, moving at an incredible speed, starting at the top of her head and going all the way to her toes. Nothing had felt better in her life. It was so exciting, and yet so frightening at the same time. What scared her was knowing that if she didn’t stop this madness soon, she would never want to stop kissing him.
Yet, the moment she should pull away kept getting postponed. Especially when she ran her fingers up his neck to his soft hair and compared the feel of that to his facial hair rubbing across her face, which was nearly as soft. His lips were very tender as he slowly and meaningfully partook of what she had to offer.
Serenity surrounded them, and all she could hear was the quick beat of her heart and the occasional gasps for air. Once in a while, he groaned and tightened his arms around her, which made her respond with the same throaty sound as she pressed closer.
But then the snap of a twig disturbed the silence. The sound was quickly followed by another. Ryder jumped and swung, still with one arm wrapped around her waist, which was a good thing or she would have crumbled onto the dirt.
“Who’s there? Make yourself known,” he demanded as his hand rested above his sword.
She listened for sound of someone running nearby, but, once again, silence stretched through the area.
“Was someone watching us?” Clarissa whispered shakily, feeling unsettled not only from their kiss, but also from the fear pumping through her. She glanced around them, seeing only thick trees and fallen branches. She knew Ryder would protect her.
“I think so.” He tightened his arm around her.
She leaned into him. “Are they still here?”
“They must be, as we heard no sounds of them running away.”
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm the nerves jumping in her body. “Then let’s leave. I’d rather not have an audience while we’re kissing.”
He smiled down at her. “I’d rather we were in private as well.”
Ryder led her to her horse. She flipped on her cloak and pulled on the matching gloves before he lifted her up onto the saddle. Once he mounted, they urged their horses out of the quiet section of the woods and toward the road.
