Vincent released her hands and stepped toward the tree into the shadows a little deeper. He pushed his fingers through his hair. “I suppose I should apologize for that.”
She hiccupped a laugh. “Yousuppose?”
“Fine.” He nodded and faced her. “I shall apologize now. Please forgive me for convincing you to kiss me.”
“Sorry, Vincent. I won’t accept that apology.”
“Forgive me for making you curious about kissing me. Is that better?”
“Actually, no.” She braved a step closer to him. “Tell me, Vincent. Did you feel guilty for leading me to believe you were going to accept my offer?”
Seconds ticked by without his answering. He blew out a rush of air from his mouth, breaking the silence.
“I’ll admit I said that because I wanted to kiss you. Actually, I wantedyouto kiss me.”
For some silly reason, her heartbeat skipped as flutters jumped in her belly. Why wouldn’t these sensations go away? She didn’t want to feel them forhim. “You wanted me to kiss you before you refused me?”
“Yes.”
“Because you knew you wouldn’t get a chance afterward?”
His smile grew. “Exactly.”
“An experienced rogue, such as yourself, couldn’t allow the moment to pass without having a very passionate kiss with an innocent woman, am I right?”
His smile shifted, one side lifting higher than the other. Oh how she wished she could see what emotions played in his eyes.
In one large step, he stood in front of her again—a mere breath away. He cupped the side of her face. Why she didn’t stop him, she didn’t know. Maybe it was because of the way her heart sped faster with excitement. Or it was the way she detected his fast breaths as they fanned her face.
“You thought the kiss we shared wasverypassionate?” he asked in a low voice.
She swallowed the lump of dryness that had suddenly formed in her throat. Even her mouth became parched. “Um, well…didn’t you think that it was?”
Slowly, he nodded. “But I’m relieved that you thought the same way.”
Goodness!He was leaning closer to her. He couldn’t possibly want to kiss her again, not after what happened the last time. And even if he did, she couldn’t allow it.
So then why couldn’t she tell him to stop?
Before she knew what she was doing, she licked her dry lips in preparation for the moment his mouth fused with hers. All words disappeared in her head, and the only thought crossing her mind was whether he would kiss her. And if she would enjoy it as much as their first time.
Of course you will, silly!
Yet she must push him away. If she allowed his kiss, he’d hurt her all over again. Unless…
Perhaps if she just pretended that this kiss was going to teach her how to woo men, maybe her heart wouldn’t be affected. She must think of this as part of her education.
She gulped, trying to moisten her throat. “I-I haven’t stopped thinking about it.”
A groan escaped his throat as he closed the space between them and placed his mouth over hers. Immediately, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her against him. She didn’t fight it. She didn’t want to. Instead, she slid her hands up his chest and linked them around his neck.
He kissed her differently this time. Wilder. More passionate. She almost couldn’t keep up. His mouth slanted back and forth over hers. His hot, velvety tongue slid into her mouth, causing the most sensitive tingles to shoot through her body. His hands moved over her back just as fast as if he searched for something he couldn’t quite find.
Breathless, she copied his actions. Never had she been kissed in this manner. And heaven help her, but she liked the out-of-control feeling. Vincent made her feel desirable. Wanted.
However, he didn’t want her. And realistically, she didn’t want him, either.
The thought destroyed all the passion building inside her. She felt as if she’d jumped into a river in the dead of winter…naked. She couldn’t allow these feelings to rush through her like this. There must be a way to temper these emotions when they were together.
