Page 14 of To Steal a Kiss

He did.

She’d made him laugh. She’d never made a man laugh before, at least not like that. He hadn’t been laughing at her; she’d just amused him.

There had been plenty of times she’d been laughed at in her life, plenty of times men had chucked her under the chin or patted her head and laughed at the audacity of the little girl before them, pretending to be a grown up.

God, she was tired of being that little girl. She wanted to claim the woman inside her, the one fighting to get out.

Well, that’s why you’re here, Alice. Get on with it!

With a sudden rush of determination, she lifted her hands to his face, tugging his head down, and pressed her lips to his.

For a moment he seemed a little startled and he froze, stilling under the sudden advance. Alice wished he’d snap out of it, as she had the creeping suspicion there was more to kissing than pressing one mouth against another. She urgently needed a little guidance. Yet she was afraid, if she removed her lips from his, he might not keep his promise to kiss her back. She couldn’t stand here all night with her lips glued to his. Not that it was unpleasant, but….

One hand framed her face, his palm, warm against her cheek as he drew back a little.

Oh.

Disappointment crashed through her. Except, barely a moment later, his lips returned, pressing against hers, softer than she’d done it. They retreated once more and brushed against hers again, and Alice sighed.

His hand slid from her face, cupping her neck whilst the other slid over her back, pulling her closer as his mouth continued the delicate press and brush of lips.

Alice shivered with pleasure and sighed again, and this time she felt the warmth of his tongue trace the opening of her parted mouth. He touched it to her upper lip and then nipped at the lower, making her gasp and shiver again, and his tongue dipped further into her mouth. This was not what she’d expected at all, but… but she wasn’t complaining.

She’d wanted to feel confident after this; she’d wanted tonight to change her, to change her life, so she could live it instead of having others manage it for her. In this moment she was alive, more alive and aware than she’d ever been before. Why this man was here, she didn’t know. What Matilda had done to get him here, she had no idea. She didn’t want to know, but surely, surely, he couldn’t kiss her like this if he found her completely unattractive.

He let out a low sound, akin to a growl, and Alice’s breath caught as her heart skipped. That was for her. She’d drawn that sound from him. Emboldened, she slid one hand into his hair, and the next time that teasing tongue attempted to beguile her into opening further, she complied. Alice pressed her body closer, feeling dizzy as the kiss deepened. She slid her hand beneath his coat, wishing she could feel his skin beneath her fingertips instead of the warm silk of his waistcoat. Beneath that, however, she could feel the contours of a powerful body, the shift of muscles as his hand slid up and down her back.

Abruptly, he paused. She felt bereft.

“Don’t stop.”

The words were out before she could even think about them and his eyes widened with delight, a flash of a crooked grin making her heart skip.

“I wasn’t about to. But I’m breaking my neck and I need you closer.”

Alice frowned. It was true he was having to bend a great deal to reach her mouth. What did he intend to do about it, though? She watched, a little perplexed, as he moved away from her. On the far side of the balcony was a table and two chairs, and an elegant wrought iron footstool with a cushion atop. He cast the cushion aside and returned to her, his hands grasping her waist and lifting her as if she weighed nothing at all, and he proceeded to set her down to stand upon the stool.

“There,” he said, sounding smug. “Much better.”

It was, she realised, now that their faces were level.

“Do it again, Alice,” he said, a challenge in his voice she couldn’t mistake. “You’ve got your man in the moonlight. Make good use of him.”

Your man.

The words rocked through her. He didn’t mean them that way, of course. She wasn’t a complete ninny. She knew that wasn’t what he’d meant, but still, for now, for this moment, he was hers.

Alice stared at him.

You’ll never get another chance, Alice, she told herself. There will never be another night like this as long as you live. For heaven’s sake—live this one to the full.

With trembling hands, Alice reached out and touched his face, tracing the strong line of his jaw, the curve of his lower lip. He watched her, unmoving, his eyes intent as she catalogued all the elements that made up this handsome, intriguing man.

“Now with your lips,” he said.

Alice’s breath caught as desire lit something inside of her. Yes, she thought, yes, she wanted that. That and so much more.

She leaned in, trembling, though she was certain it was with excitement now, and with the need to do as he’d asked her. Tenderly she kissed his cheek, his jaw, and the corner of his mouth. She’d intended to creep up on that mouth, slowly, a little bit at a time as she gained confidence, but he turned his head, unwilling to wait and this time, when their mouths met, it was… stunning.