He trembled himself now. He turned his head slightly, bent his neck, and put his lips to hers.You’re beautiful, I cherish you, I adore you.
Her mouth was warm, soft, yielding. Everything he had thought it would be. But better. Because he had felt her heated breath on his chin, filled his nostrils with the fragrance of her skin, heard her swallow right before he kissed her.
Because it was Franny.
He broke the kiss, let go of her, stepped back. Her eyes were closed.
“How was that?”
She opened her eyes.
His own blue-gray eyes smoldered. His forehead furrowed questioningly. Those heavenly sculpted lips that had just caressed her with such care were slightly parted.
She should say something.
And it shouldn’t beI’ll run away with you right now. Even if it’s just upstairs to your bedchamber or back into a horse’s stall. I’m yours.
Even though that’s what she wanted to say.
“It was very good,” she choked out. She made herself smile. “You’re a quick study.”
“Something must have been wrong with it.”
“No, no. It was perfect.”
Devil the man. There went a reason to kiss him more. She’d have him engaged to the prettiest virgin of thetonby Twelfth Night at this rate.
He glared. “You’re quite sure? I don’t need to do it again?”
“N-n-no.” Drabbit, she was stammering like a green girl.
He shook his head, furious at something, and turned on his heel to go, but she caught his sleeve.
“Wait. Wait. Maybe . . . maybe youshoulddo it again. Just so I can . . . make sure.”
He stopped and turned back to her, his face expressionless. “All right.” He took his gloves off and put them in his pocket.
This time he got closer to her. The fronts of their coats brushed together and she could feel the heat coming off his body. His large hands came up and cradled her face reverently. A thumb brushed her cheek.
“That’s an improvement already, isn’t it?” he said softly.
“Y-y-yes,” she admitted.
His face descended and if the last kiss had been devastating in its sweet gentleness, this kiss was an all-consuming wave of tenderness. He took her mouth and melted it, consuming her lips, tasting them, exploring them. He moved his head and from another angle, he leaned into her with slightly more pressure.
Her knees weakened. Embers glowed in her belly. The tips of her breasts ached for touch. And between her legs, a slick throb set up a pulse of longing and yearning.
The kiss went on and on and on and there was no haste, there was no cold, there was no sound except the beating of her heart.
He ended the kiss but did not move away, continuing to clasp her face in his warm hands.
She opened her eyes.
“Was that better?”
He had dissolved her ability to form thoughts. Words. She swallowed. She licked her lips.
“I didn’t think it possible, but it was.”
