Page 36 of Scandalous Heiress
His face fell and he raised his arms in a helpless gesture.“If I must.”
“You are a good man,” she had to say it.
He swallowed hard and took one of her hands to kiss the back.“And you are a noble woman.”
Gratitude for his kindnesses ran through her.“I’m honored you think me so.”
His turquoise eyes flashed with need and regret.“Would that I could honor you more.”
She stared at him.Paralyzed with a ray of hope he might care for her, she wrestled with a hot desire.
He reached for her and she went like one mesmerized into his arms.Pressed to the iron contours of his marvelous body, she saw on his face a ferocity, an affection that she’d never glimpsed on the face of any other man.“Would that I could offer for you, darling.”
The shock of his words shot to her heart.
But the shock of his lips on her own blasted all else from her world.She reeled and clung to him, his lips—lush and hot—his tongue—probing and sweet—his hand, a rough brand upon her spine as he crushed her closer.
She moaned, his need her own.This was what she’d wanted.He was who she’d sought in countless ballrooms, endless gardens.
He broke away like lightning.Staring at her, steadying her on her feet, he grew solemn.“I’m sorry.I—”
But she wasn’t done.She leaned against him, hand to his chest, up on her toes, greedy for more of him.“Victor,” she pleaded, her voice hoarse with discovery, “kiss me again.”
Groaning, he clamped her close and swung her further back into the shelter of the roses.He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her with the smoldering passion that their first kiss briefly defined.Kissed her again with a soft mold of her lips and a tender sigh.“Ada,” he called to her between sweet little pecks, “Ada, Ada, I’ve wanted to do this since that first afternoon.”
She ran her fingers up into his hair and anchored him so that she might kiss him with all the ardor he aroused in her.And when at last, she tore her mouth from his, she saw in his smoldering dark eyes that in passion, Victor Cole was a delectable rogue.So unlike the cool creature who could lure her with a look, or the sweet man who apologized with humor.He was a danger to her impetuous soul.She could kiss him forever and never tire.Allow him all sorts of freedoms and live to pay dearly for each one, then call the trespasses her bliss.
She needed air.And sanity.Others were too near.Ruin too close.
She pushed away.
“I must go,” she told him, pushing curls of hair up into her pins, straightening her lace fichu and brushing at her skirt.
But when she turned, there stood Ezzie and Edgecombe.
Both gaped and chuckled.
Ada stepped backward and Victor’s hands were upon her shoulders.“How long—?”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Sir James Edgecombe with a sparkle in his forest green eyes.
“We won’t tell,” Ezzie said with a wink at Ada.
Grateful to her friend, embarrassed at being caught, fitful that she craved more kisses from Victor and would never have them, Ada growled, grabbed up her skirts and ran.
