“Two out of three.” Her voice was an embarrassing near croak.
They stared at each other across the table.
Firelight had turned his skin to copper, and his eyes to gold.
He appeared to be considering this.
“If the price is too high, I’ll release you from the bargain, Daphne. And I shall not bear a grudge.”
His voice was calm and nearly uninflected. The voice of a man who had gambled and won countless times. A tone that could mask a million emotions.
She could see herself reflected in his pupils. She could read nothing of his thoughts. But there was something watchful, perhaps even braced, about him. As if so very much hinged on her answer.
And exultation slowly bloomed in her. Hepowerfullywanted to kiss her again.
All of this was a way to arrange it so that she could if she wanted to.
She could blame a wager and a sense of honor for kissing him, rather than her own clearly lustful, newly discovered animal nature.
“It’s not too high,” she almost whispered. “It’s a fair wager.”
His pupils flared hot and black.
There was an outrageous answering throb between her legs.
She did not think she’d ever before factored into a man’s appetites.
She’d never dreamedshepossessed appetites.
Both of these things were like discovering powers she did not fully understand and was uncertain yet how to control, like fire-breathing, or flight.
She had never wanted and feared something in such desperate and equal measure, something that was reckless and mad, purely hedonistic.
If she kissed him once, she could call it an experience.
Twice and she suspected there would be no return to the person she was supposed to be. Twice and she was a person who wanted to kiss rogues.
There he sat, clearly brimming like a pirate’s treasure chest with sensual knowledge.
“I very much want the earring.” This was also true.
He studied her for a long, silent moment with his formidable brows drawn together.
“Very well.” He paused. “I’ll agree to your change of the rules. But the forfeit is now two kisses.”
A tiny indignant sound escaped her.
“You will be offered a choice of locations for the second kiss, neither of which will be the lips.”
Now she was shocked silent.
“Those are my terms. You can pay now. Or you can pay twice in a few minutes, when I win again.”
His expression was implacable.
She knew she could refuse. It would be easy enough to open her mouth, form the words, “No, thank you.” Part of her wanted to do it to watch how his expression changed, if it would.
Panic and lust and good sense warred in her.
