He shrugged one shoulder. “It’s not arrogance if it’s true.”
“According toyou,it’s true.”
He traced a finger along her collar. “There’s only one way to find out if I’m being arrogant.”
She continued to narrow her eyes on him. She definitely looked as if she were considering all of the implications, weighing the positives and negatives. “Very well.”
The next thing Cade knew, her mouth was on his. It was a quick smack, a bit of movement, the slightest swipe of her tongue against the outside of his lips and then she was gone. It was over in little more than a moment.
“What in the devil’s name was that?” he asked, blinking. “I feel as if I’ve been assaulted.”
“A kiss, you dolt.” She was already resettling her skirts around her. “It wasn’t particularly good.”
“That was not a kiss. That was a physical attack.”
She sighed. “It wasn’t much better than what I remember.”
“My dear girl.” He pushed himself off the seat and loomed over her. “I refuse to take responsibility forthat,whatever it was. If you want a proper kiss, come here.”
Her hands froze on her skirts. She slowly tilted up her head, a challenging look in her eyes as if she were a wild animal daring a predator to come closer.
“I’m here,” she whispered. “If you think you can do better.” She pushed her hands behind her, bracing both palms against the seat. Her chest thrust forward to provide him with a stunning view of her décolletage. He moved forward, leaning over her, his mouth mere inches from hers.
“Do better?” He rolled his eyes heavenward. “If that is the standard against which I’m to be compared,betteris not the correct word. There isn’t one sufficient in the English language. You may need to root around in French for one.”
She looked affronted. “Very well. I’m waiting.”
Good. He would make her wait. Slowness was an asset when it came to such things. She obviously didn’t know that yet. No wonder she didn’t want to repeat it, if that nonsense had been her prior experience. Cade hooded his eyes and took his time lowering his mouth to hers. God knew what sort of fool the woman had been kissed by before, but quick, hard pecks were not his style. He liked to savor the moment. Take his time. Enjoy every second.
He let his mouth slowly drift over hers, warm skin to warm skin. When his lips finally met hers, he didn’t press, didn’t push.
“It’s nice, but—” Danielle began, trying to move away.
“Stay there… and kindly shut up,” he murmured against her lips.
She did as she was told, going rigid.
His mouth still on hers, Cade brought up one hand to cradle her face. He brushed his thumb against her soft cheek, traced the outline of her shell-like ear with his forefinger. She sighed. Good.
He pressed his lips to hers more firmly, tilted his head to the side to get a better angle, and slowly, oh, so slowly, nudged her lips open with the tip of his tongue.
As soon as Danielle opened for him, his tongue plunged inside. Their mouths slanted across each other’s and one of her hands snaked up to reach around his neck. She clung to him. She moaned. His mouth plundered hers, again and again, until both of her arms were around his neck and she was supporting herself by clinging to his shoulders. He moved to the side of her mouth, her cheek, her ear. He rained kisses along her neck. She leaned her head back, allowing him to touch every part of her. God, how he wanted to rip open her bodice and put his mouth on her pert, delectable breasts.
He forced himself to move up again. His mouth returned to hers and he gently bit her plump bottom lip. He sucked on the edge of her lip before slowly slipping his tongue back inside. She cradled his head in her hands. His hands were on her waist, pulling her to him, his mouth never leaving hers. It was endless, drugging. One of his hands moved up to the back of her neck where he stroked gently, easing her head to the side to angle the kiss. The other hand moved to her back, pulling her body into ever-increasing contact with his.
When his mouth finally broke contact with hers, Danielle was panting, clinging to him. Her eyes looked wild and her hair was slightly mussed. And yes, by God, there was an unmistakable bead of sweat on her forehead. Mission accomplished.
With a smug, satisfied smile, his mouth moved to her delicate ear and he whispered huskily, “Thatwas a kiss.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The sound of Mary’s voice outside the coach snapped them both back to reality. Danielle hastily smoothed her hair and moved back to the opposite seat just before the coach door was wrenched open and Mary’s smiling face was framed by the harsh sunlight streaming into the vehicle from behind her.
“Good news!” Mary announced, as Cade, who looked positively delectable with slightly mussed hair, helped her into the coach.
“You found a perfume?” Danielle asked as her friend slid into the seat next to her. Danielle steadfastly kept her gaze from Cade. She couldn’t look at him. The man had told her kissing him would be different.Mon dieu, thatwas an understatement.
“No,” Mary replied. “But I know which one I shall purchase.”
