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“That is the yellow rose,” she offered into the silence. “It symbolizes both infidelity and friendship.”
He gave a soft laugh. “Indeed.”
“Hmm. It is startling what one can learn when one has an inordinate amount of free time on one’s hands.”
“And why is it you have such an appalling amount of idle time, Miss Hastings?”
She quickly glanced at him, and saw only simple curiosity…along with something else. Interest, perhaps?
Her breath caught as he gently detached one of Lady Lawrence’s white roses with a pair of clippers left on the table and handed it to her.
“And what does this one symbolize?” he asked with a disarming smile.
“Purity.”
“Ahh, innocence.”
Her heart gave a jolt as he cupped her chin, his thumb stroking her lower lip. Her mouth parted slightly, and shock flared through her when he dipped his thumb briefly between her lips. Inexplicable heat curled in her stomach when he removed his thumb and put it in his mouth. Was he tasting her? She had the overwhelming urge to feel his lips pressed against hers.
“Do you intend to kiss me?” she whispered.
He dropped his hand in obvious reluctance. “No.”
She squelched her acute disappointment. “Why not?”
“You are innocent.”
She furrowed her brows. “I fail to see how they are related.”
His low chuckle rasped over her. He stepped back, putting space between them. She moved forward, wanting to maintain their closeness. It was as if the heat of his vitality spread out and warmed her deep inside where she had felt numb for so long.
“Don’t you want to kiss me?” Did he find her unappealing? The thought pained her.
His deep wariness returned. “Most young ladies would not be so eager to kiss a stranger. You are in desperate need of a chaperone,” he said in a gentle tone that made her even more flustered.
Still, pleasure suffused her that the reason for his reluctance was not for lack of attraction. She could not hold back the radiance of her smile. “I am pleased you are concerned about my reputation. But as hidden as we are in the conservatory, we are not in danger of being seen.”
She frowned in confusion when the heat fled from his eyes, and his gaze shuttered. He blasted an arctic chill, one that had her stepping away from him.
“Oh, dear. What have I said?”
“If your plan is to compromise me, I must warn you of abject failure. Many young ladies have tried such a ruse. As you can see, I am still a bachelor. I bid you good eve, Miss Hastings.”
Her eyes widened. “Good heavens. That was not my intention. I have no designs on your person. Well, I do…but not in the way you mean.”
He scalded her with an incredulous look. “You have designs on my person?”
Heat blazed through her. “I meant, I would like to be kissed, but I have no desire to trick you into marriage. Please do not worry about my reputation, as nothing is likely to ruin it further.” She did not need the look of amazement on his face to know how ridiculous her statement sounded.
She flushed in embarrassment and gripped the folds of her gown. She was being foolish. To be caught in any situation alone with a man known as the Lord of Sin, she would probably have to flee to America to escape the backlash, even if they were not actually touching. “Forgive me. Now it is my behavior that is brazen and inappropriate. I do not know what came over me.”
He laughed, looking more baffled than angry. “Forgiven.”
Back at the main house someone opened the terrace door, and louder laughter and music spilled into the night. The air felt suddenly alive with temptation as she stared into silver eyes that were no longer cold and distant. They were…filled with heat.
“Perhaps you would honor me with another waltz instead?” he asked.
She nodded mutely. He drew her into his arms, tightened them around her, and put his cheek to her hair. She was thrilled to her toes at the intimate caress.
He moved them gracefully across the stone floor, holding her far closer than appropriate. In their second dance together.
Now she truly never wanted the night to end.
She licked her dry lips, and his eyes followed her motion. Fascination grew within her at the slight color that flushed along his cheekbones. A thrill of anticipation vibrated along her spine. Was he thinking of kissing her?
He stopped abruptly, even though the strains of the waltz still filtered on the air. He muttered a curse, and she offered no protest when he drew her closer.
Her excitement roared as he dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers. She tipped up on her toes and wound her arms around his nape. The pressure on her lips was firm and sweet.
“Kiss me,” he ordered gently. The desire in his voice wrapped around her, luring her to madness.
“I am kissing you,” she breathed, and brushed her lips against his again.
His fingers drew slowly over her cheek, and a frisson of sensual awareness surged through her. “Open your mouth.”
Shock froze her, then a wave of heat seized her, making her tremble. “I—” But she tentatively parted her lips, though unsure of his intentions.
He responded with a groan and deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth.
She drew away from him, unsettled at the intimacy of his tongue sliding along hers and the startling pleasure from it. “What are— Oh, my,” she murmured when he repeated the motion.
“You are ravishing,” he murmured in satisfaction, his dark drawl rough with need. “Open more for me,” he coaxed, pressing soft kisses to the corner of her lips.
“It feels so strange, but a good strange. Are you sure—”
He stole the air from her mouth, and she forgot everything she had been thinking. His tongue slowly stroked hers, and she gave herself over to the warm, languid sensations building within her. He kissed her with gentle bites and nips, coaxing a response, and she slowly relaxed and gave him everything he asked for.
His hands slid from her neck to the side of her breast. He walked her deeper into the shadows, and she grasped his shoulders for balance as a fever of desire ignited within her. One of his hands drifted to her hips and squeezed gently. Her knees weakened until she could hardly stand as his hand curved around to her bottom.
She pulled her lips from his, gasping for air, shaking with passion and uncertainty. And a little fear. She had not expected…this…when she had asked for a kiss. She had never imagined anything so improper and scandalous. But before she could pull away from the shocking intimacy of one of his hands on her derriere and another brushing her breast, he claimed her lips once more. His tongue mated with hers in long, slow licks, unraveling her from the inside out. His hand clenched her bottom, holding her against him while his mouth devoured hers with smoldering sensuality.
His lips grew fiercer, more demanding, and she felt a twinge of apprehension. Her corset seemed unusually tight, and she labored to breathe. She drew away from him, gasping, and he let her go. What was she thinking? She should run from this scandalous situation. Yet her heart fluttered in excitement. She wanted to step back into his arms and partake of a passion she had never imagined. But she didn’t dare.
He seemed to deliberately gather himself. “Forgive me for losing control.” He raked a hand through his hair and stepped back from her. “It is best you return inside at once, Miss Hastings,” he said with a brittle smile. “I will wait an appropriate interval before leaving, so our absences are not linked.”
