“Why can’t it be possible?” he whispered, brushing his lips across her cheek.
Her heart jumped so crazily, she could scarcely breathe. “I…I thought about kissing—”
Before she finished her sentence, his mouth covered hers. The contact was shocking, and she gasped, but the moment his tender lips moved on hers, she sighed heavily and leaned against his hard body. His hands roamed slowly up and down her back, gently pulling her closer. She clung to his shoulders, answering his heady kisses the best she could, since this was the first time a man had ever passionately kissed her.
Cassandra’s head whirled faster, and her heartbeat quickened. Yet breaking away from him was the last thing she wanted. The experience was meaningful, and made her heart expand. Warmth encased her, making her hotter by the second. For a moment, she wondered if she was ill, but she didn’t want to pull away to find out. Kissing him was much more enjoyable.
His mouth tore away from hers and his lips moved over her jaw and down her neck. Trickles of delight danced over her skin, and her body grew limp. Perhaps she was ill after all. Thankfully, his strong arms held her up, or she would crumple to the ground.
Suddenly, he stopped and lifted his head. She stared deep into his shadowed eyes, and her heart melted even more. Passion was etched on his expression. She was certain hers looked the same.
“My sweet Cass. I fear I may have gone too far.”
Confusion filled her.Too far?“But we haven’t moved.”
His irresistible mouth stretched into a grin. “No, I mean that I should not have kissed you so passionately.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Is there another way to kiss that is less exciting? Because I assure you,passionatelyis much better.”
Chuckling, he pulled her closer, and she pressed her cheek against his chest. Inhaling deeply, she knew she never wanted to leave his arms, and she wanted to smell his scent of spice and musk all the time. Silently she prayed that this amazing feeling would never leave.
“Oh, my sweet Cass. I forget how innocent you are.”
She loved how he shortened her name. It was so endearing. “Indeed I am, but I’m willing to learn, regardless of my innocence.”
A groan rattled in his chest as he bent his head and captured her mouth again. Obviously, he liked her response. Very much so, in fact. The way he kissed her was so different this time. It was wilder, and the passion level had been taken up several notches. She could scarcely breathe from his sultry kisses, yet at the same time, she couldn’t catch her breath fast enough.
Perhaps convincing him to become her husband wouldn’t be a difficult thing to do. Her hopes lifted. How soon should she bring up the subject? She would wait until after they were finished kissing. And she prayed he was open to the marriage idea.
She snuggled against him more, releasing a satisfied sigh. But the sudden rattle of bushes brought both of them alert. They jumped apart. The absence of his hold made her sway, but she quickly adjusted her footing so she wouldn’t fall.
Another man came toward them, but she couldn’t quite see his face. A different rhythm took over her heartbeat. If it was her father, then he would definitely make sure Collin did the right thing by her. But would Collin hate her for it?
*
Collin tried toregulate his breathing, but the panic filling him made it impossible. To be pulled so quickly out of a passionate kiss, and to realize the danger of being caught, had affected him so fast that he couldn’t think straight. How could they not have been caught? Whoever this person was would certainly tell Cassandra’s father about catching them alone and in a scandalous embrace.
Unless itwasher father…
Swallowing the terror rising in his throat, he concentrated on the man coming toward them. Collin’s mind was sluggish and wouldn’t work properly, but he needed to come up with an excuse quickly in order to smooth over what just happened between him and his sweet, innocent Cassandra.
When the intruder was closer, Cassandra sighed and placed her hand to her neck. He glanced at her relaxed body. She smiled weakly at the unknown man.
“Oh, Stuart. It is you,” she said, breathless.
Collin frowned. She knew this man and called him by his first name?
“Miss Featherstone?” The man’s gaze jumped back and forth between her and Collin. “What are you doing out here so far away from the party?”
“Um, well…” she stammered.
Finally, Collin recognized the man. It was the driver of the hackney that Kentwood had hired. He stepped forward, aiming his scowl at the man. “You should not talk that way to a lady,” he snapped. “The question should be…what areyoudoing here?”
“Uh, forgive me, my lord, and Miss Featherstone, but Lord Kentwood sent me to find you.”
Confusion filled Collin. “You are here to findme?”
“Yes, my lord. He is waiting for you in the hackney.”
