“P-practice what, exactly?” Her voice shook.
“Practice staring into each other’s eyes as if we are so in love that we forget about the rest of the world. I think we need to also practice the art of kissing.”
She gulped down a hard swallow. “Artof kissing?”
“Yes indeed. Didn’t you know kissing is considered an art form?”
“No.”
“It is.” He scooted closer. “Shall I teach you, my sweet lady?”
Beneath his palm, her skin grew hot, and he felt the throbbing of her heartbeat. Her breaths came faster, causing her lovely bosom to rise and fall quickly. Just seeing, and feeling, her emotions jumping inside her made him restless.
One of the things he enjoyed about seducing a woman was the first kiss. He cherished the little whimpering sounds they made as he kissed them, as well as feeling their bodies tremble from his gentle touch.
Vincent leaned his face closer to hers until her hot breath blew across his face. “Will you allow me to demonstrate the art of kissing, my precious?”
When her tongue sneaked out of her mouth and slid across her lips, his heartbeat jumped. She was going to let him, and he almost couldn’t stand the wait.
“I-I suppose…if it’s going to help us make it more believable.”
“I assure you, it will.” He slid his fingers along her jaw and tilted her face, positioning it for his takeover. Slowly, he guided his touch down her neck. She closed her eyes, and her lips parted.
As he placed his mouth over hers, he took things slowly. She sat very stiff, but the longer he moved his lips across hers, the more her body relaxed. Thunder pounded in his ears from the excitement of it all, but he didn’t want to frighten her.
He withdrew, only enough to look into her eyes. They were closed, but slowly flickered open. Her mesmerizing coffee-colored gaze searched his. He couldn’t see passion laced in her eyes yet, and he promised himself he would make her feel the excitement. Her curious stare told him she wanted more.
So, he would give it to her.
He wrapped his arms loosely around her as he captured her mouth again. Gradually, her body softened enough to press against him. Finally, she was willing and would allow him to continue. Being very gentle, he nipped at her bottom lip, and when her mouth opened wider, he slid his tongue inside. A tight sigh squeaked from her throat as she melted against him.
He tightened her in his embrace, holding her so very close to his body. Using his tongue, he tried to teach her how to kiss, and it seemed she was eager to learn. She hesitantly copied his movements, but within seconds, her actions became bolder. Excitement grew inside him, and now it was him who wanted more.
A throaty moan escaped her. His pulse beat faster, and he couldn’t hold back the passion any longer. The kiss turned heated, and he yearned to touch her in a more personal way. Hoping not to upset her, he slowly slid his hand over her shoulder to rest on her bare neck. The silky smoothness of her skin felt wonderful beneath his fingers. The beat of her heart matched the same quick rhythm as his.
Vincent inched his palm down from her neck to her heaving bosom, but just as he neared the very thing he was after, she hitched a breath and pushed him away.
Dejected, Vincent kept calm instead of yanking her back into his arms as he wanted. What could have possibly made her interrupt his lessons? She seemed to be enjoying herself just as he was.
“Forgive me, but…I’m not ready for that.” She took deep breaths as her attention flitted around them.
“I understand,” he said, even if he didn’t. “I won’t rush you.”
She licked her lips and adjusted herself in the seat as her trembling hands took hold of the reins, but she didn’t urge the horse forward. Instead, she sat stiff and proper as she stared at the animal.
He really didn’t know what else to say. The mood was broken, and he doubted he’d get it back. Perhaps the only thing to do now was let her down nice and easy while rejecting her proposal.
“So, Lord Trenton, are we in agreement, then?”
Her voice wobbled with uncertainty. Vincent really felt like a jackanapes for denying her, but he just couldn’t go through with it. Even thinking about marriage made him feel suffocated. It was almost certain she would learn that he was responsible for her fiancé’s death, and she would hate him.
He would have to find a different way to come up with the funds for his sisters’ dowries.
Sighing, he shook his head. “As much as your offer sounds very tempting and would help out my sisters tremendously, I cannot accept your deal. I’m not the marrying kind of man, and I will never be.”
Ellie’s expression changed to confused, and then to hurt, and finally to anger. Her eyes darkened as she scowled.
“You knew all this time that you wouldn’t accept? Yet you continued to kiss me…that way?”
