Page 72 of A Sham Engagement

He nodded. “Upstairs. In the parlor. Not here.”

Her eyes went to the door as though she was considering making a run for it. He stepped up to her, took her gloved hand, and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Now.”

She made no attempt to escape, so he started up the stairs, acutely aware of her close proximity and her bent head. Was she looking at her feet?

Someone had lit the fire in the parlor, and it was cozy and warm. Keeping his hold on her hand, Jack closed the door behind them and turned to face her.

They were only feet apart.

“Do you mind looking at me?”

As if this were a near impossible request, she raised her head and briefly looked into his eyes. Hers were the bluest he’d ever seen them, but puzzled and uncertain, even a little afraid. She dropped her gaze to his mouth, warm color surging up her cheeks and making his heart a little more hopeful.

“Perhaps you’d like to remove your coat and bonnet?”

For a moment he didn’t think she would, but it was warm in the parlor. She undid the buttons on her pelisse and slipped it off, quickly followed by the bonnet. Her golden hair haloed her face in a cloud of unruly curls no maid could have touched that morning.

“At Mrs. Sharpe’s,” he said, aware of a halt in his voice, “you let me kiss you.”

She nodded, the color in her cheeks deepening.

“And when I asked you if I could do it again, when we’d saved Edward, you said I could.”

Her eyes rose to meet his again, and her lips parted as her breath came quickly in the most desirable fashion. Longing for her coursed through him. If he were to put his hand between her breasts, such a tempting proposition, would he feel her heart pounding as his was? “I did.” Her voice was a timid whisper. How unlike her usual confidence, but how like her to be scrupulously honest.

“May I claim that kiss now?”

She licked those rosebud lips. How could a girl be this beautiful? This alluring, and yet this naïve as well? The smallest nod.

He mustn’t frighten her. Conscious of her dislike of being touched, he made no effort to take her in his arms, but instead just bent his head to hers. Their lips touched, she flinched but made no attempt to draw back, and her lips parted under his. He felt her gasp of what had to be pleasure and suppressed his own groan. How he wanted to press her to his chest and cover her with kisses, but this would have to do—at first.

He drew back. Her breasts in her lowcut gown rose and fell as though she’d been running, and a little smile played around her lips. She met his gaze. “I rather think I liked that. Would you mind doing it again, so I can check my first impression?”

He felt his own lips make a smile. “Delighted to be of assistance.”

This time the kiss lasted longer, and he dared to let his tongue probe her mouth as it opened wider under his. Again came the tiny flinch, and to his surprise, her hand rose to touch his arm. The kiss deepened. His tongue touched hers. She gasped and her tongue retreated before it returned, curious. They parted.

“I was right the first time.” She was almost panting. “I very much like being kissed by you.”

Jack’s heart swelled so much if he hadn’t known better, he’d have thought it would burst. Another baser part of his anatomy joined in. “It’s customary for the gentleman to take the lady in his arms when he kisses her.”

“I know.”

“Would you mind if I did that?”

She had to consider that. “I think I might like it a great deal. I have a feeling it won’t be scratchy at all. I think I like to be hugged tight. I noticed that at the Belmont ball when you held me after Lady Raby had been so nasty.”

With as much gentleness as he could muster, Jack drew her into his arms, at first just holding her pressed against his body, enjoying the feel of her closeness, acutely aware that she must be able to feel his obvious arousal. Then she raised her head. “I thought you said this was part of kissing?”

He chuckled, himself breathless with desire for her. “It is. But I’m afraid to put you off, with the way you dislike being touched.”

“I think, although I can’t be sure, that I might have overcome my dislike of being touched… by you, at any rate.” She tapped his chest. “No scratchy feeling I want to escape. Nothing. Nothing but… a sort of hot feeling as though someone has poured hot water over me. My whole body is unaccountably hot.” She paused and frowned, as though discovering a secret long hidden. “In fact, I think I like you touching me and it’s that which is making me so hot.” One hand fanned her face. “How odd is that, when all my life I’ve found other people’s touch so irritating?”

“Be quiet,” Jack said. “You do too much analyzing of how you feel.” And he bent his head to kiss her once again. This time, as they lost themselves in the kiss, their tongues met with no hesitation, dancing over one another and Jack could feel his arousal growing. Her arms went around him, pulling him closer, and one hand rose to his head, her fingers in his hair.

Good God, she was enticing. An innocent and so different from any other girl he’d known. His own hand slid to cup her breast, and she made no effort to resist.

At last, panting, they parted. She looked down at his hand and he quickly let it drop. “Don’t stop.” She was panting harder, her cheeks rosy. “I find I like that.” Her voice held wonder. “I think I’d like you to do it again.”