Page 27 of Midnight with the Marquess (The St. Clairs 2)

“I think so. I’m trying to create a picture in my mind. The waltz is a very sensual dance. If that’s what you and I danced to, I’m already aware of you as a man. Your touch. Your scent. If I’m to go out on a darkened terrace with you, it’s because I already find I somewhat like you.”

“All right, a waltz it is. We’ve danced. I’ve held your hand. My arm has been around your waist. Perhaps I’ve even held you a bit too close as we’ve danced and your breasts have brushed against my chest. You’re anticipating something will soon occur. We’ve now stepped out for some air and walked to the far end of the terrace. It’s dark but we can see one another’s silhouettes, like now.”

Rachel pictured it in her mind. How Evan linked his hand with hers. How she smelled the sandalwood soap he’d used. How intimately they’d moved, almost as one.

“No more talk. Our lips will now do the speaking.”

She waited, her heart racing. Evan released her hand. His strong hands cupped her face, ever so gently. He bent, his mouth approaching hers. Anticipation ran through her.

Then his lips softly brushed against hers.

A fire lit insight her. Instinctively, her hands went to his shoulders and gripped them. He continued touching his lips to hers as his thumbs stroked her cheeks. Rachel stepped closer, her breasts making contact with his chest. Evan’s lips stilled. He lifted them from her slightly and then pressed his mouth against hers. He kissed her, over and over. Soft. Hard. In the corner of her mouth. Fully against her lips. His hands released her face and slid down her neck, his thumbs again stroking it as he had her cheeks.

Then they slid down her back, sensually moving up and down. She moved her hands around to the back of his neck and pulled him to her, her fingers locking so he couldn’t escape. When she did that, his hands ceased to move. Instead, his arms pinned her to him. His kisses became more heated. They came harder. Faster. He’d break the kiss and then lean back in hungrily, kissing her over and over.

Rachel had no idea how long this went on. Time ceased to exist. All she could think of was his mouth on hers. Her body crushed to him as if he’d never let her go. Wonderful tingles electrified every part of her body, especially in her most private place.

Then she became aware of something hard pressing against her and realized it was his arousal. Curiosity overcame her. She relaxed her hold and dropped her arms. Her hand moved between them and she gripped his member.

Evan tore his mouth from hers. “Stop,” he ordered quietly and stepped away from her.

Rachel panted heavily, feeling as if she’d been cut adrift at sea.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“You most definitely did. When you’re kissing a man for the first time, it is not appropriate to touch him in that manner.”

“What if it’s for the second time? Or third? Frankly, I lost track of the number of our kisses.”

Evan grabbed her shoulders roughly. “Don’t play games with me, Rachel. I’m trying to teach you about men. If you do what you just did to a man, he will expect that you are more experienced than you are—and that you want him to make love to you.”

He grabbed her elbow and walked her across the room to where they were in the light.

“Look,” he said.

She looked down and saw how his member strained against his pants and how tight his features were as if he were doing everything he could to hold back.

“This is the sign that a man is aroused. That he wants you. Many men lose their heads when this happens. They can’t think straight. Even if they are a gentleman, that goes out the window. They aren’t thinking with their heads. They don’t remember that there are consequences. All they want is satisfaction with the woman in front of them.”

Rachel bit her lip. “You’re saying... that some men might force themselves upon me?”

“Exactly. You don’t want to put yourself in that position. Think what might happen. He could deflower you and you might find yourself with child. Someone might discover you in the act. You say you want to marry for love. What if you’d already decided you didn’t believe you could fall in love with this man?”

He grabbed her arms roughly. “It wouldn’t matter,” he ground out. “You would be forced to wed. And then you’d be stuck with a stranger. Angry that he had taken away the choice from you.”

Evan loosened his grip. “I don’t mean to scare you. I’m only trying to warn you that there are consequences in kissing a man. Especially if it becomes too heated. I recommend that you keep your tongue in your mouth and don’t even think of using it until you are in love and properly engaged. You’ll get into less trouble that way.”

“You haven’t waited,” she accused. “You know how to use your tongue when you kiss.”

“It’s different for a man. I’ve told you. People—men in particular—don’t need to be in love to have sex. Arousal comes easily for a man. He’s likely to do it with numerous women.”

“As you have.”

“As I have.”

Rachel stared at him, understanding that he had kissed many women. Had relations with them. And never made any kind of commitment.

It frightened her. Even more because she could see herself falling in love with Evan Drake. Yet she was just another woman to him.

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