Page 72 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
“One more kiss,” she whispered against his lips. “That’s all I ask.”
“Aye.” His sensuous half-smile warmed her heart. “One more. For now.”
And then, he claimed her lips. Teasing. Caressing. Tempting her with what was yet to come. Leaving her ever so slightly weak in the knees.
She closed her eyes and drank in every sensation as if it were a true delicacy. Ah, how utterly sweet life would be in this man’s arms.
Tonight is only the beginning.Finn’s rough-edged words whispered in her thoughts.
Indeed.This night, these delectable kisses might well be worth the risk. If only her heart was not so very tender. And she were not still a wee bit wary.
He was the one who’d made her yearn to toss away the shields she’d erected for so very long.
Macie smiled to herself.How very unexpected.
*
Finn had beena cheeky lad scarcely out of short pants when he’d stolen his first kiss. Since that mischievous peck on the lips, he’d believed he knew what it was to kiss a woman. Knew how to kiss her well and leave her breathless. A kiss had seemed a fleeting pleasure, a sensual caress that had no meaning beyond the moment.
But since he’d taken Macie up on her challenge, everything had changed. From the first moment he’d taken the time to look upon her as a woman—not a lass, not the sister of his friend—Finn had known he’d discovered something rare. Something precious.
And now, he’d tasted true pleasure, found in a simple caress.
Now, as he drank in the feel of her in his arms, he held his desire in check. Her eyes were wide with a look that betrayed the innocence she tried to hide. Her chest rose and fell with eachshallow inhalation, and she gazed up at him with a look of true trust. Her lips parted, ever so slightly. Pure bloody temptation.
Drawing the pad of his thumb along the curve of her bottom lip, he pulled in a low breath. How he wanted to savor the taste of her lips. That, and so much more.
He wanted her in his arms. And in his bed.
By thunder, he wanted Macie more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life.
But this was not the bloody time. Nor the bloody place. Only a single door separated them from costumed revelers, musicians, servers, and their esteemed hostess. He had to rein in his instincts before anyone came upon their rendezvous.
Her eyes narrowed, silently questioning. “Is someone coming?” she asked.
“It’s possible,” he said.
“I find the prospect rather exciting.” She gave him a fetching little grin. “How very unexpected.”
“We need to get back to the ball.”
One delicate brow arched. “Before the gossipy hens begin to cluck?”
“If I have my guess, they’ve already begun.”
She shrugged. “Let them say what they will. I’m not afraid of them.”
“Ye do like to tempt fate, now don’t ye, Macie?”
She pulled in a breath, then met his question with one of her own. “Why did you stop? Tempting fate, that is?”
“I didn’t,” he said. “Every moment I’m with ye is taking a chance.”
Her mouth quirked at one corner. “You don’t want to risk my preciousgood name?”
“No, lass. I can’t chance losing what little is left of my control.” He threaded a silky tendril of her hair around his finger and tucked it behind her ear.
“Is that so?” Her smile was coy and lovely and tempting enough to drive him to madness.
