Her breath came in short pants. “You… you have?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you look like a goddess descended from Olympus?”
She couldn’t help but smile. “That’s not a very original thing to say.”
“My apologies. Seems your nearness makes me unoriginal.” His lips brushed against the soft skin beneath her ear. She shuddered and closed her eyes. Heat raced through her body and pooled in the private space between her legs. “Ooh, I…”
“What?” he whispered, his lips moving up her neck. His hands dropped away from hers and came up to cradle her cheeks. His mouth moved along the tender skin of her throat. He kissed the underside of her jaw, then moved to the corner of her lips. He slowly bit her bottom lip, sucking in its plump fullness while her eyes remained closed.
Then his tongue slowly parted her lips and moved deftly inside. His mouth boldly slanted across hers as his strong hands moved up to hold her head in place. It was an endless, drugging kiss, designed to seduce. When he finally dropped his hands from her cheeks and pulled his lips away, he was breathing heavily and so was she.
“Well?” he said, a triumphant smile on his lips.
“Well what?” she breathed, unable to process what he was asking her afterthat.
“Does that answer your question?”
“Not in the least!”
“Pardon?” This time he blinked.
“I want to know whether you’renotinterested in me or if you simply think you shouldn’t be interested?”
Daffin scratched his cheek. “How much have you had to drink tonight?”
“Only a glass and a half of mulled wine. I’ve drunk more than that at boring dinner parties in London. Don’t worry, I’m entirely in my right mind.” She lifted her glass. “But you are trying to change the subject again, and I—”
“No. I promise I’m not.”
“Go ahead then. Answer the question.”
He leaned close to her and placed his hands on her hips. “The truth is I’m interested. Too interested. I thought perhaps my kissing you all these times may have given that away.” He grinned at her. “But you’re right. I think I shouldn’t.”
She tilted up her chin, a defiant look in her eye. “But why do you think you shouldn’t?”
He scrubbed a hand across his forehead. “Let’s see, your impending engagement, my friendship with your cousin, and—” He took a deep breath. “Suffice it to say I’m not who you think I am.”
She reached up and cupped his cheek. “I know who you are, Daffin. And Iwantyou. Tell me you don’t want me too and I’ll never bring it up again.”
He tipped up her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “Love, you could tempt a saint. Of course I want you.”
A slow satisfied smile spread across her face. “What would you say if I said I wanted more?”
He pressed his forehead to hers. His common sense warned him, but his emotions ignored the warning. “I’d say meet me in my bedchamber after midnight.”
***
Daffin walked Regina back to the salon where her family was no doubt looking for her. Then he took himself off to his bedchamber where he was hard-pressed to make his cockstand subside. No doubt he’d made a mistake inviting her to his bedchamber, but she wanted more and so did he. He could finally admit that to himself. He had no intention of taking her virginity. That would be too much, but he could touch her. He could make her body sing with pleasure. He wanted to give her that. He sat staring out into the darkness, sipping his brandy, remembering the feel of Regina’s body against his, her soft mouth, the tiny moans she made in the back of her throat. God, he wanted her. He didn’t care anymore if it was wrong.
Sometime well after midnight, a soft knock on his door jolted him from his thoughts. He’d begun to think she’d changed her mind. He’d begun to think sheshouldhave changed her mind. He knew damned well he shouldn’t open the door. Even as he told himself that, he found himself heading straight for it. With a deep breath he swung it open.
Regina stood in the corridor in her night rail, a dressing gown slung over her shoulders, her glass of wine still in her hand. Her gorgeous dark hair was down, streaming down her back. His mouth went dry.
“May I come in?” she whispered.
