A Spy Unmasked (Entangled Scandalous) by Tina Gabrielle Page B

frowned. “My lips and even once on my neck.” She pointed to a spot just beneath her chin.
    His gaze dropped to where her finger pointed, then slowly lowered to the skin just above her bodice. Her pulse skittered.
    “Then you won’t mind if I test your mettle?”
    She stood frozen.
    Looking into her eyes once again, he came close, moving slowly. He mouth brushed across hers, once, twice, a featherweight touch before she stepped back. Her fingers flew up to cover her lips.
    “Just as I thought,” he drawled. “You lack experience. A few stolen kisses inside a dim maze are not sufficient.”
    She bristled with indignation. “Not sufficient? Whatever else do you have in mind?”
    “This.” Pulling her close, he swooped down and kissed her.
    His lips were full and warm, teasing hers. His tongue ran over her bottom lip with tantalizing persuasion, and she gasped. He took advantage of her parted lips to slide his tongue into her mouth. He tightened his hold, and her breasts pressed against his solid chest.
    Sweet heaven! He was right; her prior experiences fell far short when compared to the feel and taste of him.
    Despite her prior misgivings, her instinctive response to his kiss was powerful. Her skin grew hot; her heart pounded an erratic rhythm. Her fingers rose of their own volition and trailed up his forearms. She felt the sprinkling of hair, touched the soft cotton of his rolled-up shirtsleeves, then moved higher to grasp his broad shoulders. His muscles were hard slabs beneath his shirt. Arching her body into his, a low growl rumbled in his chest. Encouraged, her tongue grazed his, tentative at first, until shivers of delight raced down her spine, and she returned his kiss.
    Lifting his lips from hers, he trailed kisses down her throat, past the spot she had initially pointed to below her chin. Then his lips seared a path above her bodice and the overwhelming heat spread…flooding her limbs and pooling low in her belly.
    It was everything she had ever dreamed a kiss would be and more. So much more.
    She moaned low in her throat, winding her fingers around his neck and trying to cajole his lips back to hers.
    He stiffened and pulled back, a frown marring his brow as he gazed upon her upturned face.
    She ignored the strange aching in her limbs and tried to calm her pounding heart. To her dismay, he did not appear the least affected by the kiss.
    He does this all the time, she thought. W omen must throw themselves at him!
    Then she looked into his eyes and changed her mind. There was a wild darkness in the blue depths, a hint of tightly reined lust that was startling in its intensity.
    “Did I pass your test?” she asked.
    “I believe I had mentioned dispassionate control.”
    She stiffened, momentarily abashed. “Despite your newly acquired title, you are not a gentleman.”
    “I wouldn’t be successful if I were.”
    She took a step back from his towering frame. “I may be impulsive, but you are quite arrogant, my lord.”
    “Do not judge me too harshly, Sophia. You may think my tactics ungentlemanly, but my past results are unquestionable. I will find who is responsible for your father’s murder and unravel the mystery behind the Inventors’ Society.”
    She couldn’t ask for more, could she? Still, she was having difficulty settling her racing heart.
    Kirkland reached into his pocket and placed a flash of gold in the palm of her hand. “I believe this belongs to you.”
    She glanced down. “My locket!”
    “I had the latch repaired. I apologize for my barbaric methods.”
    “Thank you, my lord.”
    “It’s Robert.”
    She met his gaze. “I don’t think that’s proper, my lord.”
    “The world will soon think us engaged.”
    “Still, I don’t think—”
    “In private, then. The title is new to me and we are to work together, correct?”
    A flutter of nerves swam low in her belly. “All right, Robert.”
    He handed her the ledger. “This is yours as well.”
    Her father’s leather-bound