Page 54 of A Royal Kiss & Tell
She clucked her tongue. “Completelycertain.”
Leo leaned forward in the small space between them. Lady Caroline pressed back. He placed his hands against the bench where she was sitting, on either side of her knees. “May I offer a bit of advice, Caroline?”
Her lips parted and she drew a slight intake of breath. “I’d really rather you not.”
He lifted one hand and touched his fingers to her jaw. “My advice—”
“Which I just said I’d rather not have—”
“Is that you not kiss a man in anger. An angry kiss can be an enjoyable kiss, and certainly yours was, I won’t deny it. But it’s not as enjoyable as a happy kiss.”
She blinked. Her eyes had landed on his lips, and he could feel desire stirring in him. “I suppose I’ll have to take your word for it. I understand you’re an expert.”
“I do know a little about it,” he agreed. He couldn’t help himself—he touched a dimple in her cheek with the tips of his fingers.
“And I know a little about rakes,” she said as he tilted her chin up just slightly. “I know one instantly.”
Leo smiled. He leaned closer. “Are you cross, again, Caroline?”
“Yes,Leopold, a little.”
“Would you like me to move away?”
She hesitated. She pushed his hand from her face, and he thought that was the end of it. He was just about to slide back into his place when she cupped his face with her hand. “Just be warned that if you kiss me, it will mean something. I would advise you think long and hard about that.”
“I am thinking long and hard,” he said, and shifted closer.
She put her hand on his chest and sighed. “You are theworstsort of rake, Leopold Chartier. But if you mean to do it, then do it. We haven’t much time.”
He bit back a laugh of surprise. “Has anyone ever told you how contradictory you are?”
She traced her thumb across his bottom lip. “What the devil are you waiting for?”
Leo moved then, touching his mouth to hers. He kissed her quite differently than she kissed him. She’d pressed her mouth hard against his, her tongue probing. He kissed her softly and carefully, lingering against pillowy lips while the faint scent of florals teased his nose. The kiss was so exquisite that he had to claw his fingers into the squabs to keep from falling into her and nibbling her up like a delicious delicacy. He teased her lips apart with his tongue. She tipped her chin up and opened her mouth to him. The kiss was tender and slow, but the flames in him were not. This was the tiny gasp of air in a hearth before a fire raged.
Caroline lifted her hand and cupped his jaw. The gentle touch of her fingers caused him to shiver—he felt as if he could explode with his desire at any moment. He had meant to tantalize her, but she was luring him in, enticing him to a mystic mountain of pleasure, and he very much wanted to go with this brash woman.
Don’t tell me what to do.Her words popped into his head. He wouldn’t tell her what to do; he’d let her lead him to what she wanted. He leaned in, pressing her against the squabs at her back. The kiss was quickly sending him off to oblivion—he wanted to touch her flesh, to feel her skin against his. He wanted to put his hand between her legs and feel the damp of her desire.
It was Caroline who reminded him of where he was. She cupped his face with both hands and pushed his head back. Her lips were wet with his kiss. “My brother is just outside.”
Beck.His only friend if his life continued to progress as it had the last few weeks. Leo gathered himself. He nodded, pressed his eyes shut for a moment, then fell back across the carriage, adjusting his Alucian coat to hide his enormous erection. He pushed his hand through his hair and smiled at her. “How did you find that kiss, madam?”
A ringlet of her hair had tumbled out of place, and she very carefully tucked it back in. “I found it serviceable.” She smiled impertinently.
“I don’t believe you,” he said playfully. “I think you felt that kiss in a way you’ve never felt one before.” He arched a brow, daring her to disagree and knowing full well that she would.
But she laughed and said, “Now who is proud? Very well. It was very nice, Highness.Thankyou.” Her smile broadened.
She enjoyed the game she was playing. So did Leo. “You little—”
The door suddenly swung open and Beck’s head popped into the interior of the carriage. He looked at his sister, who was smiling like a fat little feline. “Bit of a mechanical problem,” he said, hoisting himself back inside. “One of the harnesses, as it happens. It’s always something with the harness, isn’t it?” he asked, and began to talk about the number of times he’d been involved with harness issues.
Leo didn’t hear much of what he said. All he could think of was how hard he was for the woman sitting across from him with the most annoyingly enticing and cheeky little smile he’d ever seen.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
All of London rejoices with the return of the sun to our skies, but many have already departed for the country. In Sussex, it is anticipated that Lord Hawke will debut his Alucian racehorse at the Four Corners event. He is rumored to have brought the steed to Arundel to be housed there until the racing season is complete.
