Page 43 of Tempting Her Viscount

*

With the assistanceof Nettie, Celia arrived through the back entrance of Kit’s home without anyone seeing her. Seeing his dashing smile when she arrived, sent a shiver of something pleasant through her body.

She called it lust but wasn’t sure that was the correct term.

Yes, she was pleased to be in his arms again with his lips pressing against her skin. Yes, she was impatient as he slowly undid the laces of her gown and freed her breasts to caress and tease them with his mouth.

Yes, her breath quickened and her body readied for his invasion as it had before.

But that smile? That crooked grin that spoke of humor and friendship brought on more than simple lust. Which was why she made quick work of shutting that thought away.

She could not feel anything for Kit other than the physical and their normal friendship. To do so would put her at risk of getting trapped into more with him.

That couldn’t be. She had other plans for her life. Freedom, being the most important. Never again would her life be upended by a man. Be that a father, a brother or a husband. She was in control of what she wanted to do and who she wanted to see.

Right now, she wanted to see more of Kit.

“Take off your clothes,” she ordered.

He growled and nipped the skin over her rib. “I love it when you’re bossy.”

“Then I shall assume you want me to be as bossy as I like?”

“Yes. Tell me everything you desire, and I’ll make sure you get it.”

His eager agreement spurred a thought that came on quick and unsolicited.

Kit would never force you to do anything you did not wish.

Rather than face this truth she gripped him and smiled. “Teach me how to pleasure you in the way you do me. With my mouth.”

“Lord help me,” he whispered. She heard a rip and a pop of a button as Kit removed his clothing in a frenzy.

*

Sometime later, Celialay across his bed with her head resting on his stomach as he lay in the opposite direction from her. She wasn’t quite certain how they’d ended up that way, but she knew it had been great fun getting there.

Stretching to reach the tea tray on his night table he held out a biscuit to her.

She accepted his offering with a smile and didn’t care that a few crumbs fell on her chest when she took a bite.

“I must say, the tea tray does more than just keep us from lying to Gray but provides needed substance after you depleted my energy from breakfast.”

“Are you complaining?” she asked while handing back the rest of the biscuit for him.

“Of course not. But I do think I will instruct my cook to include some meat and cheese on the tea tray going forward.”

“You are a very clever man.”

“A clever man who can’t remember a time when he’s ever been happier than he is at this very moment.”

She couldn’t argue. She couldn’t think of a time of greater happiness either. Which came as a surprise as she remembered how elated and empowered she’d felt when she’d left Lady Harrington’s party, no longer a virgin, but a woman with carnal knowledge.

This—lying with Kit in lazy conversation and playful comfort—was so much better.

She couldn’t help but wonder again what it might be like to be married to Kit. After all, it wouldn’t be a casual contract between two strangers, but a promise of companionship and understanding.

Except she’d wanted those very things from him years ago and he’d rejected her offer. She’d thought he would always be there for her, until he wasn’t. She would be wise to remember how quickly he had changed his mind on matters of friendship.