Page 14 of A Gentleman's Kiss
His breath caressed her cheek, its hot warmth sending spiraling tingles through her limbs. She was nervous and excited at the same time.
A gasp escaped her with the butterfly flutter of George’s lips brushing ever so gently against hers. She melted further into his arms as they came to encircle her waist and pull her closer.
What was she doing? She didn’t know, but couldn’t stop. She went limp in his arms, completely letting herself be controlled by him. Warnings went off in the back of her mind for letting him take such liberties, but the overwhelming feelings of curiosity coursing through her overruled the cries in the back of her mind to stop.
Then his kiss changed.
George’s lips pushed hard on hers, crushing her, almost painful… Perhaps he was only feeling extremely passionate toward her. She tried to pull her head back a little to soften the crush, but he only pressed forward more, his teeth grazing her lips. Lillian let the kiss continue a few moments longer, hoping he would soften his assault. He groaned with feral lust in the back of his throat, and the warning cries inside her mind dinged loud, getting the better of her. She may be an innocent, but she certainly understood where they were headed was not where she wanted to be. Caution won out over curiosity.
She put her hand on George’s chest and pulled her lips from his. She could feel his heart pounding against her hand. His lips were swollen red and moist from kissing her. Lillian’s lips felt as his looked, and her heart beat just as fast—but most likely for different reasons. She stared into the cloudy green eyes of the man who gave her such unnerving feelings.
“George, we must stop,” she said, hoping her eyes would explain why.
His hand captured hers as he pulled it to his lips, laying a kiss on each of her fingertips.
“I do apologize, for taking such liberties from you. I fear your beauty and companionship this afternoon have caused me to lose myself. I shall not take advantage of you again, unless perhaps we are on even more familiar relations. Forgive me?”
She sighed and squeezed his hand, uncertain of his words. She supposed he could have just become carried away. Men did sometimes when kissing didn’t they? Not that she was experienced enough to answer her own question… But he had apologized sincerely, promised not to take advantage of her, unless… By mentioning a future of more familiar relations, was he telling her he may love her, want to marry her? Or did he think her loose and only meant to have her as a mistress. She would need to be more careful.
“I forgive you, Sir — George,” Lillian said, turning from him to look out the carriage window, hoping to hide the heat flaring along her cheeks.
Looming in front of the thin glass window was the face of Lord Wessex.
