Page 88 of Rakes & Reticules
He owned it up to the cool night air and her anticipation of what was to come. But he took his time wrapping her in his arms and drawing her into his embrace because he wanted to give her the chance to object if she really did not want this.
He smiled as she leaned into him and tilted her head upward. “I am not going to run from you. My legs are already too wobbly and my heart is aflutter.”
“Thank you, Amelia,” he said and closed his mouth over hers.
Her honey lips were as soft as he recalled.
Their first kiss had been far too short, leaving him aching for more. Leaving him, much to his surprise, in utter agony. But even this lengthier kiss would not be enough to satisfy his yearning for the girl. What was it about her that felt so right to him?
She was shy and did not know the first thing about tempting a man, and yet she had his body on fire.
What else could he do but deepen the kiss and put some heat behind it, for he wanted her in flames as well, the two of them burnt to cinders in each other’s arms. Well, perhaps it was a little too much to ask when he dared not seek more than this one kiss.
But it was an effective kiss, and he was quite pleased when she let out a breathy whimper.
He ran his tongue across the seam of her tempting lips to part them, although what he really wanted to do was part the ties of her gown and taste the softness of her skin. But the depth of his desire would only frighten her and this was never his intention.
In truth, his intense craving for her had him thrown off balance.
It was an easy thing to give a woman pretty trinkets, but quite another to give a woman his heart. This is what he meant to do with this kiss, put his heart into it because this — and not his wealth or title — is what Amelia wanted.
Nothing less would win her over.
He parted her lips with his tongue and probed the warm cavity of her mouth. Her sweet acceptance brought him to the edge of his restraint. He wanted to ravage her mouth. He wanted to ravage her. But he had given Rosie his oath not to take more than this one kiss.
Well, he was going to make it memorable.
He kissed Amelia as though she was the breath of life to him.
Perhaps she was, for he loved everything about her. The books she read, her little rabbit ears, her fragile smile.
Her trust in kissing him now.
Was this love?
Were they in love with each other?
He thought they might be. He certainly was, for he could think of nothing more appealing than holding her lithe, little body against him forever.
Nor had he tasted anything sweeter than her lips.
She responded with genuine ardor, giving herself over to him completely.
This was everything he had hoped for in their kiss and more.
She clutched the lapels of his jacket as though holding on for dear life.
He understood these sensations were new and confusing to her, spinning her off balance. Amelia was a sensible girl, another thing he loved about her. But love did not proceed sensibly, it just hit you all at once.
He had meant this kiss for her, but he was no less affected and now knew what he felt for her was real. He was going to propose to her when the house party weekend was done.
He wanted her as his wife.
Groaning, he drew his lips off hers to end the kiss before his hands roamed where they should not and he slipped the gown off her. “Amelia, I’ve wanted to kiss you like this from the moment you stepped down from your carriage.”
She rested her head against his chest, still clinging tightly to his lapels. “I had no idea a kiss could ever feel so good. My limbs are tingling and my blood is on fire. Did this really just happen?”
“I hope so,” he said with a chuckle. “Yes, Amelia. This is quite real.”
