Page 29 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

“Oh, thank you, Mr. St. Clair. Thank you so very, very much!”

Then she kissed him.

He seemed as startled as she was by her actions. She discovered his lips were firm and warm. She could smell his sandalwood soap and the cold of winter still clinging to him. She started to pull away but his hands went to her waist and held her in place. She already was pressed against him, her breasts touching the muscled wall of his chest. A tingle rippled through her, an awareness of him as a man. Of her as a woman. She stiffened.

Then his lips brushed against hers. They had softened. The tingles continued. Her breasts seemed to swell against him. One hand slid to the small of her back, anchoring him against her. The kiss continued. Mia knew she shouldn’t be engaging in it for a dozen reasons but didn’t want to stop. All reason fled. What she knew was his body, warm against hers. His mouth on hers. His scent filling her nostrils. Her arms tightened about his neck. She had to get closer. Something urged her to do so.

He lifted his mouth from hers for a moment and then the tip of his tongue touched her bottom lip, shocking her. It ran lazily along it, back and forth, stealing her breath and causing her heart to pound fiercely against her ribs. Then he outlined her entire mouth with it, causing a shiver to move down her spine. A very good shiver. Not one of being cold. One that spoke of a fire being lit within her.

He kissed her again and she struggled to understand why Aunt Fanny would have told her kissing was forbidden. Then his tongue ran along the seam of her mouth, causing her to gasp. As she opened to him, his tongue swept inside her mouth, causing more of those delicious shivers to run through her. His hand remained at the small of her back but his other left her waist and moved to cradle her cheek. Mia felt cherished. Adored. And hot. Very, very hot. As if she stood facing an enormous fire that wished to consume her. Suddenly, she understood exactly what Aunt Fanny was talking about. How dangerous kissing could be. Her body throbbed now, on fire, as he continued to tease her with his tongue.

He deepened the kiss and now she clung to him, afraid to let go, afraid she’d fall and never surface from the depths of where he took her. A tiny voice told her she had to end this, now, or suffer the consequences. Though her body pulsed with need, she was coherent enough to know she must be the one to end it.

Suddenly, his mouth left hers. She almost cried out for him to come back. She had to fight the urge to force him back to her.

He didn’t release his hold on her, though. His thumb stroked her cheek. Those emerald eyes of his held hers for a long moment and then, somehow, he untangled them. Mia swayed unsteadily and he gripped her elbow.

“Why don’t you have a seat, my lady?” his deep voice rumbled.

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