He paused. “We’re alone in a darkened part of the house. Whether or not you’ll admit it, I know you want me to, so what kind of man would I be if I didn’t kiss you right now?”
“A gentleman.”
“An overly cautious gentleman. You wouldn’t like that.”
No, she wouldn’t.
Then his warm lips touched hers. Softly, brushing back and forth. Delicate, feathery, enticing.
The marquis raised his head and said, “You’re not a typical young lady, Miss Prim, and that makes you very difficult to forget.”
“Did you try?”
Leaning forward, he slipped his arms around her waist and gathered her up close. “Many times,” he said huskily, and kissed her again.
Oh, yes. This was what she wanted.
Slow curls of unexpected pleasure twirled inside her. It pleased her that he admitted he tried to forget about her. Lillian had tried to erase him from her thoughts, too. She hadn’t changed her mind about how unsuitable they were for each other. There were many reasons the marquis would not be a good match for her, but she wouldn’t deny herself his touch this night.
“Aren’t you going to admit you couldn’t forget about me either?” he asked while peppering her with short, moist kisses along the column her throat and down to the crook of her neck and back up again, sending chills of desire shivering through her.
“No,” she whispered, unable to resist the heat from his body. Sliding her arms inside his coat, she circled them around his slim waist.
“I thought as much.” He chuckled lightly and then claimed her lips with his once again.
Confidently, commandingly. And she loved it.
They kissed over and over, sharing soft kisses, hungry kisses, and kisses broken by erratic breathing. Open-mouth. Deep. Long. With every movement his lips made over hers, their breaths shortened and their bodies pressed closer together. Eager tongues swirled and probed as her open palms explored his broad back, powerful shoulders, and slim hips. The marquis fondled her breasts, caressed her hips, and massaged her buttocks with strong sure hands.
With a growing desire, they moaned, gasped, whispered, and swallowed past passionate after passionate breath. They teased, tasted, and tantalized until Seth lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the settee and laid her down, settling his body over hers as best he could on the small piece of furniture. When Lillian felt his weight upon her, anticipation too thrilling to put into words tingled across her nipples and down her abdomen, settling into the core of her womanhood.
It felt natural and right when he slipped the neckline of her gown off her shoulder to kiss down her chest, and over the swell of her breasts. Through the thin fabric of her gown and stays, the marquis palmed one breast, lifted it, and closed his fingers around its fullness, squeezing gently yet firmly. With little work, he freed her nipple and closed his mouth over it.
Intense pleasure flooded through her. Lillian cupped his head to her chest and moaned as one thrilling sensation after another splintered throughout her. She gloried in the feelings of wanting this man to possess her.
The heavy sound of masculine steps bounding up the stairs penetrated the fog of exhilarating passion. Lillian and the marquis broke apart with a startled gasp. The marquis jumped up and stepped in front of Lillian as Crispin made it to the top of the stairs.
“Before you say anything, Crispin,” the Lord Wythebury said, “I want you to know that Lillian and I are getting married.”
Married?
Did he just say that? Yes she loved him, but could she marry him?
Lillian gasped and scrambled off the small sofa. “What did you say?” she asked, coming from behind the marquis, straightening the neckline of her gown over her shoulders. “No, no, I don’t know that I can marry you.”
Lord Wythebury looked at her as if she’d taken leave of her senses. “Of course you can.”
“Well, then my lord, let me put it this way, I don’t know that I’m going to marry you,” she stated firmly.
“I have just compromised you. Your brother-in-law is a witness to it.”
“Compromised me? By a few kisses? I’m afraid not. If that’s all it takes to be compromised then I have been compromised three other times before tonight.”
“Lillian,” Crispin said in a gentle tone of warning. “I don’t think you should admit to—”
“You’ve been kissed three times?” Lord Wythebury asked, taking a step toward her.
“Yes.”
