Page 31 of An Earl Unmasked
She peered over his shoulder, and when she leaned back, her cheek grazed his. Without thought, she wrapped both arms about his neck and brought his head down to hers. She searched his eyes and pressed her lips to his. He tightened his hold and widened his stance.
Tilting her head to one side, Diana asked, “Does kissing always leave one breathless?”
“No.”
“Perhaps I was doing it wrong. Should we try again?”
“No.”
“Did you not enjoy our first kiss?”
“I immensely enjoyed our first and our second.” Warmth radiated from his body as he held her tight, his gaze smoldering with an emotion she could not ignore—why would she want to?
He was counting the kiss in the field, which had been rather shocking and exciting, but this…this kiss is the one she would always consider their first. She hoped for more.
Diana smiled. “We should return to the library.”
“As you wish.”
Chapter Fifteen
Randal wanted tohold on to Diana as long as possible. The interlude in the ballroom left him nearly panting once more—it was merely a kiss. Yet it had been far more intimate, even more so than any of his past sexual encounters with women. His feet took them back to the library, but his mind wandered—images of Diana laying across his bed in his chambers floated before him. He ran his tongue over the edge of his teeth at the thought, but she was an innocent. He straightened and readjusted his arms, so there was no chance of his forearm brushing against her bosom.
“Am I getting too heavy?”
“Not in the least.”
She placed a hand on his cheek. “Are you certain? My ankle feels much better. I do believe I could walk.”
He paused and stood a few feet away from the library door. “I like having you close.”
“I like being in your arms.” She ran her hand down the side of his neck and laid it flat against his chest, where his heart continued to thump erratically. “If Minerva and Greg have returned from their walk outdoors, will you remain to assist me with the remaining clues?”
“Would you like for me to stay and assist?”
“I would.”
The woman was dangerous. She fed his yearning to be needed. If he spent more time with Diana, would he let be able to her go? Would she want to stay? Needing answers, Randal asked, “What if we completed all four remaining clues this afternoon? You will no longer have a reason to return.”
Tapping her forefinger against her flushed cheek, Diana replied, “Hmm… I can think of a reason.”
“Care to share it with me?”
“You.” She shifted and placed a chaste kiss on his jawline and settled back into his arms as if there was no more to be said.
A gale of laughter wafted down the hall, prompting Randal to move again. “We should join your family.”
“Wait.” She lifted her palm to her cheek. “Are they still red?”
He glanced down. Her cheeks were a pretty pink but no longer rose red. “No. Are mine?”
She tilted her head. No meek fluttering of her eyelashes, simply an honest stare. She giggled. “A little.”
What?Surely his suntanned face hid his blush.
She wrapped her arm around the back of his neck once more and ran a finger down the side of his neck.
Randal chuckled. “Minx, it is all your fault.”
