“What was all that about?” he asked softly.
She shook herhead. She didn’t want to think about it.
“Sometimes it’s better to talk about it, but you don’t haveto. You can if you want.”
She shook herhead again. She couldn’t talk of Miss Edirisinghe and herfather—she took a shuddering breath.
The corner ofhis mouth kicked up. “Maybe later, then.”
There was thehint of a reddish beard on his jaw and she stroked the line of it.“Your valet did not shave you properly.”
He sucked in hisbreath. “What?” he said, his tone husky.
“Your beard.” She followed the line of his jaw with herfingers. It was strong and square and it was definitely— “It isred.”
“Itis not red. It’s a slightly darker blond.”
“It’s red,” she said finally.
Again, his mouthkicked up. “Well, you are clearly recovered.”
Suddenly, shebecame aware of how close they stood to each other, how his armswere still around her. How strong they felt. Wordlessly, she staredup at him.
His expressionchanged, his eyes darkening. “Sera,” he said.
Her gaze driftedto his mouth.
He wet his lips.“Sera.”
Sheshivered.
His head bent tohers even as she lifted to him. Her lips met his. He was soft andfull beneath her mouth, and oh so gentle.
She’d beenkissed before, often, and she’d always enjoyed it. She wouldn’thave done it if she hadn’t. But this…this was different.Hewas different. His hand cupped her jaw, his thumb running over hercheek as his fingers traced the skin behind her ear.
His tongueflicked at the seam of her mouth and she opened to him, her fingerstangling in his coat as she brought herself closer tohim.
They kissedagain and again, and she wanted it to continue, wanted to kiss himuntil she’d forgotten everything.
But shecouldn’t.
She ended thekiss, exhaling. He rubbed his mouth against herforehead.
“Isthis part of the bet?”
“What?” He pulled back. His mouth was reddened, his lipsslightly swollen. From her mouth. From their kiss.
She cleared herthroat. “Are you hoping that would assist with the bet?”
His eyesshuttered. “Ah. The bet. Of course.”
She had said thewrong thing. He was pulling away from her. “I liked it,” sheblurted.
Surprise lit hiseyes. “Pardon?”
She cursedherself. She never blurted. She was always assured in what shesaid, what she did. She cleared her throat again. “You kiss quitewell.”
“Quitewell?”
