Page 21 of Once Upon an Aggravatingly Heroic Kiss

Indeed, allowing Lord Aberley to kiss her proved to be a most powerful incentive.

Slowly, Edith turned to face him, aware of the wild expression in his eyes and the way his shoulders rose and fell with each rapid breath. His hands were fists at his sides, slightly trembling as he took a step toward her. “Why did you do this?” he demanded, as his eyes raked over her.

An almost giddy feeling surged through Edith, and the corners of her mouth twitched with teasing delight. “My lord, if you intend to shout like this, I’d advise you close the door.” She lifted her brows challengingly, well aware of the way his eyes narrowed at the tone in her voice.

With a kick of his boot, Lord Whickerton did as she had suggested. Then he prowled toward her, his dark gaze fixed upon hers. “Why did you let him kiss you? You could’ve prevented it! You are not one shy for words, and yet when he turned toward you, you—” His teeth gritted together as he glared at her. “Why?”

Lifting her chin, Edith looked up into his eyes. She felt almost dwarfed by his tall stature, and yet she was not afraid. Her heart was beating strongly, still excited, still expectant. She felt that flutter in her belly again, and although Lord Whickerton stood close, so very close, he still was not close enough. “Do you truly not know?” she asked just as teasingly as before, delighting in the way his eyes narrowed even farther.

“Is this a game?” he growled as his dark gaze swept over her face. “Do you want Lord Aberley for yourself? Is that the reason for your interference?”

Edith was not surprised to hear his accusations, for she had already read them upon his face. “Even if that were the case, what does it matter to you?”

Instead of answering her, his glare darkened and that muscle in his jaw twitched angrily. “Do you make it a habit of kissing men under some mistletoe?” Bitterness rang in his voice. “Can anyone get a kiss? Or is it only betrothed men you pursue?”

Edith regarded him carefully, unable to ignore the sting of his words. “I ask again, what is it to you?”

His lips thinned, and his jaw worked as he leaned closer. Then he swallowed, and for a split second, something vulnerable sparked in his eyes. “I thought…” His gaze briefly dropped from hers. “I…”

It was all Edith wanted. “No, I do not make it a habit,” she told him honestly, peeking up into his downcast eyes. “Truth be told, it was my first kiss,” his eyes widened, “and…and I wish it had been yours.”

For a long moment, Lord Whickerton simply stared at her, his body so still that he appeared like a sculpture, lifelike but frozen in place for all eternity. And then, like a strike of lightning, he hauled her against his chest and his mouth claimed hers.

Even though she saw his intention a split second before feeling his touch, Edith gasped. His closeness overwhelmed her, made her heart trip and stagger and her skin tingle with delight. His lips on hers were demanding, his kiss fierce, nothing compared to the emotionless peck Lord Aberley had bestowed upon her only minutes earlier.

Oh, how she loved the feel of him! The taste of his lips! The urgency in his embrace! As much as he had tried to hide his longing for her, his jealousy, she felt it now, knew that things between them would forever be different now.

Because she knew.

Because he did as well.

He kissed her again, slowly and thoroughly, before lifting his head, his eyes almost midnight black as they looked into hers.

Edith smiled. “See? All that was needed was the right incentive,” she teased, delighting in the way he stilled as understanding dawned.

* * *

Rather dumbfounded, Jasper stared at the lady in his arms. Even though he had come to know her well this past fortnight, she still had the power to surprise him, to make his jaw drop and his eyes gawk at her as though she were a fairy, flitting through the air with golden wings.

Her words echoed through his head,See? All that was needed was the right incentive, and all of a sudden, Jasper was laughing. “I cannot believe I did not see this coming,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “You did this intentionally, didn’t you? You manipulated me into…” He stared at her in awe, realizing that he no longer felt angry. Instead, he felt almost flattered. If her manipulations always ended in such a kiss, she was more than welcome to do this every day of the year.

“Into kissing me,” Lady Edith finish for him. “Yes, I admit it. Do you mind?”

Grinning, Jasper shook his head. “Do I look as though I mind?”

Placing a thoughtful finger to the corner of her mouth, she gazed up at him. “I believe not,” she replied, her pale blue eyes glowing like the sky on a bright summer’s day. “Yet…an incentive was needed.” Her eyes searched his. “More than once, I thought…you wanted to kiss me, but then you did not. I wondered what it could be that held you back.” A questioning look came to her eyes.

Jasper shook his head. “I honestly can’t say. Yes, you’re right. I thought about kissing you more than once, but…” He trailed off, shrugging his shoulders. Why had he not kissed her before? He did not have a clue. Then he paused, his eyes narrowing. “So…everything that happened just now, including letting Lord Aberley kiss you, was to lead to this very moment right here? You planned it all?”

Lady Edith smiled at him. “As much as I would love to take credit for this,” she shook her head, “no. No, I did not plan it all like this. While the thought occurred to me to make you jealous,” she grinned at him in an almost diabolical way, “I could not possibly have planned it all like this. There were too many variables outside of my control for that. No.”

Jasper nodded. “So, you simply reacted? You took advantage of the situation the moment it presented itself?”

Her grin widened. “I did,” was all she said, her blue eyes looking into his, as though she were waiting to see how he would react. Was she truly worried he would disapprove? After such a kiss? Perhaps, though, it was something more meaningful that made her draw in an unsteady breath. Was she perhaps apprehensive to see how he would react to her meddling ways?

“That was quick thinking,” Jasper replied, delighted to see the corners of her mouth twitch as she exhaled audibly. He wondered if she had even been aware of the tension that now slowly left her body, relaxing her arms and shoulders. “You are a marvel.”

A joyous smile lit up her face, and without thinking, Jasper leaned down and kissed her again. His arms wound around her, holding her tightly against him, reveling in the way her fingers twirled through his hair. He kissed her again and again, certain he would never tire of doing so.

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