He blinked at her. “Yes?”
Her cheeks heated. “You’re not…married are you? Or otherwise engaged?”
His brows snapped together in a frown. “Of course not.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank heavens.”
Lucas smiled at her comment, then made to step past her back toward the entrance to the alcove. But she moved to the side at the same moment he did, and they bumped into each other. Her head tipped back, and his chin tipped down. Their lips were mere inches apart.
He couldn’t move. He watched intently as she tucked a fallen curl behind her ear, then she lifted her gaze to his and he studied the flecks of gold in her dark orbs. His hand moved slowly of its own accord to gently cup her elbow. Her breaths increased, causing her chest to rise and fall faster. He stepped infinitesimally closer, the scent of peonies driving him mad.
He licked his lips in anticipation of the kiss.
Her tongue darted out to run over her lips as well.
He sucked in a breath. Somewhere in the back of his head, he knew he’d be crossing a line if he didn’t turn and walk away right then, but he couldn’t make himself leave her.
“Must you go so soon?” she asked, her voice a trembling whisper.
“I suppose I could stay a bit longer,” he replied, his own voice husky. “If you’d like to convince me to.”
In answer, her hands moved up his shirtfront and wrapped themselves around his neck, pulling his head down to hers. “I would like to,” she breathed.
Lucas needed no further invitation. His lips met hers, a warm press at first until he opened his mouth and slanted it across hers. His tongue slid between her lips and she moaned in the back of her throat.
Lucas went hard instantly. He pulled her body tight against his and ravaged her mouth with his. He couldn’t get enough of her. She was soft and tasted like spring, and the scent of her perfume made him want to taste her. She wrapped her arms more tightly around him as the kiss intensified. He wanted to press her back against the bookshelf, wanted to grind himself against her, but he didn’t want to scare her. She might be questioning her decision to kiss him already and any sudden movement from him might well cause her to push him away.
His hands moved down her back. Lower and then lower again. Until he pulled her against him even more tightly, a groan emanating from his throat.
Time seemed to spin as he held her and kissed her, never wanting it to end. A voice calling from somewhere in the garden intruded, making Lucas quickly come to his senses. He slowly pulled his mouth from hers and moved his hands up to cup her face. Her eyes were still closed, and her lips were pink and swollen.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and stepped back.
She opened her eyes. Her breathing was heavy, and she looked at him as if he were some sort of exotic creature standing in front of her instead of a flesh and blood man. She lifted her fingertips to her lips and softly touched them.
Confusion marred her lovely brow. “I…should probably go,” she whispered.
Lucas nodded. He was desperately hoping his raging cockstand would diminish before he was forced to leave the alcove. He cleared his throat and tried to think of something else. What? What? He shook his head. Oh, yes. “Before you go, may I ask you something about what you said earlier, regarding the Employment Bill?”
She nodded, closing her eyes again briefly as if still trying to make sense of what had just happened. “Of course,” she finally offered.
Lucas leaned a shoulder against the bookshelf. “Did I understand you to say that you attempt to speak with members of the House of Lords to convince them to vote against the bill while you are at parties with them?”
Her eyes focused on his face and she slowly raised a single brow. “Don’t look so aghast. Men have been doing the same thing for centuries. I’m not naïve enough to believe that many important decisions aren’t made in a gentlemen’s study over port and conversation while a ball is happening in the ballroom.”
Lucas shifted his weight to the opposite leg. Thankfully, his cockstand was quickly subsiding. “I cannot argue with you there, my lady, but tell me, you said you don’t see how anyone with a heart beating in his chest could be for the bill. Why do you think that?”
“Countless reasons!” Her words were nearly shouted. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. Her next words were delivered in a much more moderate tone. “I mean, I could list a solid dozen reasons off the top of my head, but the biggest is that it only benefits the wealthy.”
He knew that was patently untrue. Charles would have never authored such a bill. But Lucas sensed he needed to reply carefully, so Frances would listen without feeling as if he were like so many others who had attempted to stifle her opinions.
A bell chimed.
Lucas stepped out of the alcove and glanced at the clock that sat on the desk nearby. “We both must go now. But Iwouldvery much like to discuss this more. Will you meet me here tomorrow, say, one hour earlier?”
“I suppose I could do that.” A small smile popped to her lips. “If you promise to kiss me again.”
This time a smile made its way tohislips. “I suppose I could do that.”
