he merely reached down to capture her hand and bring it to his bruised jaw. His fingers encircled her wrist looselyâand there he stopped.
âHave you ever really been kissed before now, Arabella?â
She blinked at the unexpected question. âOf course I have been kissed. I was betrothed, remember?â
âIâll wager it was a tame sort of peck.â
âWhat does that matter?â
âIt matters greatly, if you have nothing to judge by. Your expectations must be severely depressed.â
Arabella sucked in a breath; his fingertips had found the bare skin above her glove.
âItâs a pity, really.â
âWhat is a pity?â she said absently. She was staring at his lips now, disconcerted by their nearness.
âThat youâre a virginal innocent, with no experience in passion or physical pleasure.â
Her cheeks flooded with color. âOf course I am virginal. I am a lady, despite our family scandal. We are
not
our motherâs daughters.â This time she couldnât hide her bitterness.
His blue gaze softened. âIf you knew the pleasures in store for you, you wouldnât be so quick to swear off men. You have no notion what you are missing.â
âAnd I suppose you are offering to show me?â
âActually, I am.â
âI donât wish you to show me a thing, Lord Danvers. I only want you to kiss me and be done with it. Would you
please
just get it over?â
âVery well.â
He bent his head slowly. Arabella froze, bracing herself for the onslaught. She refused to run this time like a coward. It was supposed to be a simple kiss after allâ¦
The trouble was, there was nothing simple about his kiss whatsoever. The caress was a mere brush of lips, true, but his mouth was warm and inviting, and the delicious pressure sent her senses reeling with blazing heat again, made her body shiver with desire. Just like before, when he had left her weak and breathless and helplessly aroused.
Magic, thatâs what it was. He was working some sort of fiery spell over her.
She was inexplicably disappointed when he lifted his head after the briefest of moments. He was staring at her once more, Arabella saw, feeling dazed.
She raised her fingers to her burning lips as she stared back at him. A flame had kindled in the depths of his blue eyesâ¦the same sort of flame that he had ignited deep inside her.
âSo it wasnât an aberration at all,â he murmured, his voice low and husky.
Arabella tried to gather her wits. âWhat was not an aberration?â
âNever mind.â Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes as he stepped back. âNow, are you ready to return home?â
She shook herself from her daze. âNot yet. I concluded a class at the academy this afternoon and intended to call on Lady Freemantle to make my report. She likes to be kept abreast of every detail.â
âI will accompany you there.â
âThat wonât be necessary. Her ladyshipâs estate is just over the next hill.â
He glanced in the direction Arabella indicated. âThen I will send a groom to escort you home when you are through. I donât like the thought of you riding about the countryside alone.â
Arabellaâs expression turned ironic. âI have been doing so for years, Lord Danvers. This is not London. Ours is a completely tame neighborhood, with little wickedness or crime.â
âStill, you should have a groom with you. Iâm surprised your former guardian was so neglectful.â
Arabella felt herself stiffening. âPaupers cannot afford grooms, my lord.â
âYour step-uncle could have afforded to supply a male servant for your protection.â
Her smile was humorless. âOur step-uncle did not consider us worth the expense.â
Lord Danvers contemplated her expression. âStings your pride to be that dependent, does it?â
âOf course it
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