Miles reached up, wrapped his hands around her waist, and lifted her from the saddle, letting her side down the length of his body. He’d never relished the feel of a woman’s curves as much as he did Emma’s.
She looked up at him with her gorgeous green eyes, and he wanted to drown in them and never surface. When her lips parted ever so slightly, he couldn’t contain his passion for the lovely lady any longer.
He bent his head toward her, giving her the opportunity to step back. When she didn’t, he held still a few more seconds, breathing in her intoxicating scent, before touching his lips to hers in a feather-light kiss. Her lips were as soft as he’d imagined. When a moan escaped her throat, Miles deepened the kiss, exploring every inch of her lips until both of them were breathing heavily.
“That was delightful,” she whispered. “Shall we try again and see if the next kiss lives up to that one?”
Miles couldn’t help but smile. “Your wish is my command, Miss Bent.”
“Don’t you think, seeing as we’ve shared a kiss, you could call me Emma?”
“I would be delighted, Emma,” he said. “And I’m Miles.”
“Well, Miles. Will you kiss me again?”
“It will be my pleasure,” Miles said before capturing her sweet lips once again. When she groaned in pleasure, her lips parted, and his tongue swept in, exploring every delectable inch of her mouth.
She was tentative at first, but soon their tongues were engaged in a passionate dance.
Miles pulled her closer, her soft curves fitting perfectly against him. Their kiss went on and on, until he finally stepped back. “My darling Emma, I’m afraid we must stop before we do something untoward. I am a gentleman, and you, my dear, are temptation itself.”
Emma chuckled. “You find me tempting?”
“Oh, indeed I do. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“What? Someone who knows her own mind?”
“Exactly. You’re not afraid to share your opinions, and I greatly admire you for it.”
“My father has always encouraged us to speak our truth. I was never told my opinion was any less valuable than my brothers’ merely because I was female.”
“I admire your father a great deal, and now more than ever, for raising such a fine daughter.”
“What a lovely thing to say. Thank you for that. I must confess, I greatly admire you as well.”
“You do?”
Emma stepped back into his embrace once more, pulling his head down toward her. “Let me show you how much.”
Miles wasted no time in capturing her lips again. They kissed for what seemed like an eternity. He couldn’t get enough of her, and he’d never experienced that feeling before. Although he’d been a confirmed bachelor for years, he was beginning to think that Emma could be the perfect woman for him. He knew she didn’t want to go to London for a Season, but would she consider marrying him?
Emma was surprised ather reaction to Miles’s kisses. She’d been kissed before and hadn’t enjoyed those sloppy kisses, but with Miles, her body tingled with delightful shivers. He certainly knew how to entice a woman. His feather-like kisses only made her crave a deeper connection with him. She was shocked at first when his tongue swept into her mouth, but soon, she was fully engaged in their dance of tongues.
Her passion flared to life, and she couldn’t get close enough to him. What would it feel like to lie skin-to-skin with him? Would he want a deeper connection with her? Even though she’d never imagined lying with a man before, she could easily see herself with Miles. She’d never felt anything like it before, and being with Miles felt so right.
Did he feel the same?
If his kisses were any indication, the answer was yes, but she knew men liked to kiss young women without any intention of offering for them. While she knew that Miles was an upstanding gentleman, especially in helping her father with his financial interests, she had no way of knowing whether he was one of those men or whether he’d even like to marry in the near future.
Their kisses went on for quite some time before they both agreed it was time to head back to the manor.
“Thank you, Mr. Walker, for a most delightful ride this morning,” she said with a wink when they returned to the stables.
Miles smiled at her. “I agree, Miss Bent. A most delightful ride.”
Chapter 14
Bett sat in the parlor,trying to concentrate on her embroidery. Another fortnight had passed, and the early September weather had turned cooler, making walks in the garden quite pleasant without the heat of last month sapping her strength. However, she was upset that she still hadn’t heard from Noah. Had he received her letter? Was the situation with his uncle more dire than Mr. Walker knew?
