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Authors: Vivienne Lorret
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her mouth again. His tongue swept inside, tangling with hers, teasing her enough to follow, to taste, to traverse the ridges and valleys of teeth and palate, leaving nothing unexplored. She knew the flavor of him now. Swallowed the essence of him—the tang that was slightly salty, slightly sweet, and more pleasant than she could have ever guessed.
Wanting more of this elixir, her hands found the back of his head and drew him closer. His soft wavy hair was cool at the tips but blazing with heat at his scalp. She slanted her mouth over his in the opposite direction. This time, she nudged his lips apart. She sought his tongue, butting up against his in a sudden frenzy of need that sent a swift jolt of warning through her.
Something within her had awakened. Something that fed off kisses and burned with an intensity she’d never known.
Something that threatened the life she wanted for herself.
Suddenly, she broke away from him, giving his shoulders a little shove in the process. He released her instantly and stared down at his hands as if they alone were the culprits of this whole affair.
“Miss McFarland,” he said, his breathing labored, his broad shoulders straining against the impeccably tailored tailcoat. “I want you to know that I had no intention of kissing you when I came in here. In fact, my thoughts were centered solely on making sure you understood the dangers of being alone with a man.”
She recoiled. His words were like a slap, and one hard enough to shake the last of the fog from her mind. Only now did she realize what a fool she’d been. He’d had no intention of kissing her . . . as if the mere idea were abhorrent to him. For a moment, she’d actually thought he’d found her desirable—not her fortune but her person, her entire being—so much so that he couldn’t help himself. And she’d responded in kind.
Hearing the truth wounded her pride more than she thought it could. “I’m ashamed to admit how well you’ve made your point, Mr. Croft.”
He shook his head, plowing a hand through his hair. “What I meant to say was—”
“I’m sure in our limited acquaintance we’ve both intended for each of our encounters to unfold differently. Let’s simply add this to our list of disasters, shall we?” She smoothed the front of her gown and hoped she didn’t look as wrinkled as she felt. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to return to the ballroom before our names are once again joined in scandal.”
As she passed, he reached out and grasped her arm. “I was speaking of Montwood. He’s not to be trusted. And if his creditors see him driving in the park with you, they’ll soon find a way to make him truly desperate. All I ask is that you take that under consideration.”
“While I appreciate your unsolicited advice, what I do or do not do with Lord Montwood is none of your concern.” She cast him a withering glare. “Now, if you’ll unhand me, I’ll bid you farewell.”
He released her at once.
Delaney held her head high as she walked out of the conservatory. She only wished she didn’t feel so cold inside.
C HAPTER F IVE
“S even and twenty,” George Croft said to his son, adding a whistle at the end. This morning, they sat alone in the curricle for his father’s first outing in over a fortnight. “By this age, I’d been married four years and widowed one.”
Griffin kept the reins steady in his grip and stared straight ahead to the park’s path. This was his father’s not-so-subtle way of reminding him of his duty to find a bride—and soon. “I’m attending every event my schedule will allow. Unfortunately, this year is far too much like the last.” Aside from one night—the night of the incident —the previous Season had been tedious at best. Worse yet, the highlight of this Season had been a stolen moment in the Dorsets’ conservatory the night before last with the same damnable woman.
“Then perhaps you aren’t attending the right events. I know
Wanting more of this elixir, her hands found the back of his head and drew him closer. His soft wavy hair was cool at the tips but blazing with heat at his scalp. She slanted her mouth over his in the opposite direction. This time, she nudged his lips apart. She sought his tongue, butting up against his in a sudden frenzy of need that sent a swift jolt of warning through her.
Something within her had awakened. Something that fed off kisses and burned with an intensity she’d never known.
Something that threatened the life she wanted for herself.
Suddenly, she broke away from him, giving his shoulders a little shove in the process. He released her instantly and stared down at his hands as if they alone were the culprits of this whole affair.
“Miss McFarland,” he said, his breathing labored, his broad shoulders straining against the impeccably tailored tailcoat. “I want you to know that I had no intention of kissing you when I came in here. In fact, my thoughts were centered solely on making sure you understood the dangers of being alone with a man.”
She recoiled. His words were like a slap, and one hard enough to shake the last of the fog from her mind. Only now did she realize what a fool she’d been. He’d had no intention of kissing her . . . as if the mere idea were abhorrent to him. For a moment, she’d actually thought he’d found her desirable—not her fortune but her person, her entire being—so much so that he couldn’t help himself. And she’d responded in kind.
Hearing the truth wounded her pride more than she thought it could. “I’m ashamed to admit how well you’ve made your point, Mr. Croft.”
He shook his head, plowing a hand through his hair. “What I meant to say was—”
“I’m sure in our limited acquaintance we’ve both intended for each of our encounters to unfold differently. Let’s simply add this to our list of disasters, shall we?” She smoothed the front of her gown and hoped she didn’t look as wrinkled as she felt. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to return to the ballroom before our names are once again joined in scandal.”
As she passed, he reached out and grasped her arm. “I was speaking of Montwood. He’s not to be trusted. And if his creditors see him driving in the park with you, they’ll soon find a way to make him truly desperate. All I ask is that you take that under consideration.”
“While I appreciate your unsolicited advice, what I do or do not do with Lord Montwood is none of your concern.” She cast him a withering glare. “Now, if you’ll unhand me, I’ll bid you farewell.”
He released her at once.
Delaney held her head high as she walked out of the conservatory. She only wished she didn’t feel so cold inside.
C HAPTER F IVE
“S even and twenty,” George Croft said to his son, adding a whistle at the end. This morning, they sat alone in the curricle for his father’s first outing in over a fortnight. “By this age, I’d been married four years and widowed one.”
Griffin kept the reins steady in his grip and stared straight ahead to the park’s path. This was his father’s not-so-subtle way of reminding him of his duty to find a bride—and soon. “I’m attending every event my schedule will allow. Unfortunately, this year is far too much like the last.” Aside from one night—the night of the incident —the previous Season had been tedious at best. Worse yet, the highlight of this Season had been a stolen moment in the Dorsets’ conservatory the night before last with the same damnable woman.
“Then perhaps you aren’t attending the right events. I know
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