Page 57 of Discovering Her Earl

“I find I am quite fascinated to test your theory.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve never kissed a woman as tall as you, and I’d like to try it. I can speak to bending over to kiss women in the past and while it’s not been a problem, I am not getting any younger and must take care with my back. Let’s give this a go, so I might see if it is more convenient.”

“You are mocking me.”

“I promise you, I am not.” He raised his brow and took a step closer. “You admitted to finding me interesting. There must have been something about me that made you think of kissing.” He couldn’t stop himself from thinking of kissing her now that she’d said it.

“It was a long time ago.”

“And we are here together now.” He traced the edge of her jaw with his finger and watched her tremble as her eyes flared with excitement.

She swallowed and closed her eyes to him.

“You should know, I’ve already sent off the letter to my uncle with my decision, so seducing me—or attempting to—won’t change anything. It’s too late.”

He nodded in understanding. He’d known he didn’t carry much of a chance, and the slim one he’d been afforded had surely been lost after his episode. He’d known that this trip to Scotland might be the extent of his adventure and this woman had indeed made it an adventure.

Despite his disappointment in the outcome, there was one thing he was grateful for.

“Good,” he said with a grin. “If it is too late, then you have no choice but to know I am sincere in my desire to kiss you just for the sake of kissing you.” His fingertip brushed her bottom lip and a slight moan escaped her throat.

“I-I’ve never kissed anyone before,” she admitted in a breathy whisper.

He hid his surprise. How had she gone this long without being kissed? But he knew Miss Elaina Bantham could erect some impenetrable walls when she needed to.

“We can change that right now. If you wish.”

As close as he was and as pliable as she was in this hazy state, he would have her permission before he proceeded. He wouldn’t give her yet another reason to hate him.

“I don’t understand.” She stared at him while he waited for her answer. “I assumed your flirtation was simply due to a lack of options.”

Did the woman not know the attraction she held?

Elaina was exciting and unexpected. He loved to watch her lips while waiting for her next words. Not knowing what they would be.

Except now, he was watching her lips for a completely different reason. And the excitement he felt was much lower and pressing earnestly against her hip.

“I would very much like to kiss you, Elaina,” he said to clear up any doubts that may have lingered. Or if she hadn’t yet noticed his erection which seemed unlikely.

“Truly?” she whispered with her head cocked to the side as if she were waiting for him to declare everything a jest.

“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked quietly. During the course of their discussion, she had not moved away, nor pushed him back. Instead, her fingers were clenched in his coat and he would need to remove them to escape. Not that he desired escape. Quite the opposite.

She studied his face for a moment before nodding.

“Yes. Please.”

He didn’t give her even a second to reconsider. It felt as if he’d been waiting for this chance too long already.

His lips claimed hers softly at first as one arm wrapped securely at her waist in easy reach of his own. His other hand rested along her jaw and throat to guide her through her first kiss.

He didn’t take for granted this gift she was giving him. Her first kiss. The rest of her life she would remember it was him she had given the honor. He wanted her to think back on it with fondness. He would make it pleasant.

When he touched his tongue to her lips she opened with a gasp of surprise, and he took the kiss deeper.

She was not wrong about her height being a convenience, but that was not the only thing that made this kiss exquisite. Her innocent exploration of his mouth was unexpected and exhilarating.