“Of course.”He gave her an encouraging smile.
She chewed her lip, her gaze on his.
“El?”he prompted.
“I should like to know if I can deliver a kiss that devastates,” she finally said.“And, because of our lessons, you are uniquely placed to determine if I can.”
A buzz started in his ears.“Pardon?”he said, the word strangling in his throat.
“Lord Malvern will expect some experience, and I do not wish to disappoint him” she continued, unaware she had dealt him an apoplexy.“I think it best to discover now if I am bad at it.”
Thoughts still a riot, he said, “Surely those you have kissed have told you.”
Her cheeks went red.“I, well… I have not, so no one has, um…” She trailed off, her eyes pleading.
Slowly, it dawned on him what she was stammering.She had never been kissed?Were other gentlemenblind?He knew she had avoided suitors, and he had helped her numerous times to do so, but surely at some point she had…
Her red cheeks spoke otherwise.A strange satisfaction settled, his gaze drifting to her mouth.No one had touched those lush pink lips, no one had discovered their taste.No one had swallowed her moan, or felt her yield to his demand and devoured her mouth.No one.
She scowled.“Do not look at me so, Benedict.It is not odd I have not kissed anyone.There are precious few opportunities as a debutante, and there were even fewer gentlemen who I even wished to converse with, let alone kiss.”
He did not correct her.Better she not know the real reason for his satisfaction.“How then do you propose we proceed?”Christ, she wasn’t going to suggest she kiss some bounder while he watched, was she?The thought soured his stomach and made him want to punch the bastard.
“I shall kiss you,” she announced.
The buzz in his ears became a roar.Blood rushed south, and he was suddenly overwhelmingly, painfully, hard.Bloody hell.This was a million times worse.His feelings for El were already confused enough, he didn’t need to complicate them further by knowing exactly how she tasted.“Your first kiss should be special,” he managed.
She crossed her arms.He tried very hard not to notice how her breasts plumped with the move.“Was yours?”
Christ, he could not think straight, but the memory of his first kiss bled through.It had not been particularly special.He’d been too eager, the girl had been mostly disinterested, and it had been sloppy and wet and extremely awkward.Strangely, he had thought of El immediately after and a kind of guilt had eaten at him.However, they weren’t talking about him.“That is neither here nor there.”
She rolled her eyes.“It is only I should also like my first kiss to be with someone other than Lord Malvern.”
“Yes, but—”
“It is only a kiss, Benedict,” she interrupted.“People give them all the time.Besides, how shall I know if I am any good at it if you don’t tell me?You are the only person I trust to help me with this.”
How could he argue with that?It was a privilege and an honour she trusted him.Still, he felt compelled to protest, “This is a bad idea.”
“Nonsense.”Taking his hands, she led him to the chaise.Instead of seating him upon it, however, she led him to lean against its back.Standing back, she studied his pose critically.
Leaning against the chaise, he was only a little taller than her, their eyes almost level.Raising a brow, he asked, “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you are the right height.”Nodding to herself, she stepped forward and, reflexively, he shifted his legs so she was between them.Putting her hands on his shoulders, she said, “Now stay still.”
He tensed as El leant toward him, her gaze locked on his mouth.Less than a breath from him, she hesitated.
Recognising nerves had her wavering, he said quietly, “El, we do not have to do this.”
Her eyes flicked to his.Uncertainty lurked in their depths a moment, but then they shuttered.Scowling, she said imperiously, “Close your eyes.”
He did as she asked.Her scent wound around him, light and sweet, and he could feel her breath against his mouth, just as light and just as sweet.His hands balled to fists.
Soft lips touched his, as delicate as gossamer.His breath caught in his throat.Her fingers remained on his shoulders as she brushed her mouth over his, and he dug his fists into his thighs to stop himself from touching her.This was her kiss.He would not take over.He would not—
She made a small sound, breathy and needing, and the world disappeared.
Capturing her hips, he pulled her into the cradle of his thighs and took control.He deepened their kiss, opening her mouth with teasing flicks of his tongue, and when she responded, when her tongue hesitantly touched his, any gentleness that remained in the kiss fled.
