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The chaotic desires that peaked in the low of her stomach were surely unladylike and wanton, but she was unable to stop herself from falling helplessly into his kisses.
Chapter 5
Sebastian wanted to shout his triumph when Fanny’s lips parted after the sweetest sigh of surrender. A small noise broke from her throat, curiously soft, filled with wonderment and pleasure.
Then her taste hit him, spice and sweetness, and his entire soul stirred. For a moment, he felt thoroughly disoriented, drunk on the flavor of her mouth. He framed her delicate face with both hands and slanted his lips over hers with a far greater passion than he had planned. He coaxed her lips even wider, and then dipped his tongue into heaven. He kissed her with ravishing expertise.
She whimpered. The sound made him go still. Finally aware he must be bruising her tender mouth with his passions, he took a deep breath. And released her lips.
Her green eyes had widened and darkened with shock. Her lips were red and swollen. A deep flush worked up from the collar of her dress to the edge of her hairline.
“Lady Fanny,” he began gruffly. Christ. He hardly knew where to start. She was a lady, and he had taken a kiss from her like she was a doxy.
Trembling fingers rose to touch her swollen lips, and when he reached for her, she jerked away. That rejection was like a fist to his gut, and he stilled. She moved away from him, facing the fire, and he could see the slight tremble in her elegant frame.
“I never meant to lose control, I—” he cursed silently.
A great hush fell upon the room.
It hardly mattered he had only wanted to kiss her, it was evident to him he had frightened her with his coarse manners. “I apologize for my untoward behavior.” What the hell was he thinking to even want to marry her? He wasn’t a gentleman, he wasn’t genteel with his desires. How would he even consummate their marriage? The way he made love, licking and tasting a woman all over, splitting her legs wide to suck along her sex until her taste exploded on his tongue, her cries of bliss echoing in his ears, and then…and only then would he ride them long and hard to completion. This seemingly delicate woman before him wouldn’t even be able to tolerate him seeing her nakedness. She would possibly think their marriage bed an indignity she must suffer, much like his mother had.
The thought lingered, troubling him.
He was a damn fool.
Then she turned “There is no need to apologize.” Her face flushed a delicate, rosy hue. “I…I simply had no notion it was possible to be kissed like that.”
The most delightful color blushed on her face. “And we are affianced, so some enthusiasm is expected.”
The tension winding through his soul eased.
Lively intelligence glittered in her exotically slanted eyes. “I must ask, Lord Shaw…Sebastian, why do you wish to marry me?”
In those beautiful eyes, lingered an aching demand, one that begged for sweet words and praises, and it struck him that she did want words of love, but perhaps no longer trusted in it. As it were, he did not love her. It was impossible. Sebastian wasn’t even sure what love felt like. But he wanted her in his bed, by his dinner table. She would add more than a refinement to his life, she would be the proof he had achieved all he had ever hungered for.
“I am eight and twenty years, and I have been thinking to marry. Since I met you…Fanny, you rouse hunger in me unmatched by any other.”
Her eyes widened, and she blushed prettily speaking of innocence that made him feel far too worldly for her. He wondered if any of the ladies he knew blushed.
“I’ve also wanted to marry a lady of quality.”
She canted her head to the side and seemed to think on that. “You are accepted in society.”
“Barely,” he said flatly. “I am tolerated. With a wife of your breeding and connections, I daresay my low origins will become more palatable when they rub elbows with me.”
Compassion and something more glittered in her eyes. “Thank you for being honest.”
Sebastian couldn’t help feeling as if he had wounded something tender inside of her. He cleared his throat. “Please do not mistake me. I’ve had a few other offers from families of quality.” They had needed his fortune, and a couple of the daughters had acted most ridiculously to sway his interest. He had never been the type of man to succumb to force or blackmail. If he had been that weak of character, the world would not now call him the Iron King, and scurry to be in his favor.
"Yes, I did hear the rumor that Lady Arabella tried to compromise you. She is the daughter of an earl and had a blemish-free reputation, marriage to her would benefit you more."
“Possibly,” he said, smiling when she scowled. Evidently, he should not have agreed, women were such contrary creatures. “But it is not her I’ve ever dreamed of kissing.”
Lady Fanny brightened visibly. “I will speak with Colin and inform him—”
“I will be the one to meet with your brother. Return home, and I will call upon him in the morning.”
She lifted her chin defiantly. “No. He needs to hear this from me. I would like to speak with him first.”
