Read Online Once an Heiress by Elizabeth Boyce - Free Book Online Page A

fluttered closed in spite of herself. “I’m leading this dance, remember?”
    Lily’s arm went limp under his touch. “We’re not dancing anymore.” Her voice was small and weak in her own ears.
    “Of course we are.” He guided her hand to his neck. Of their own volition, her fingers burrowed into the short hair at his nape.
    His hand still covered hers, keeping her firmly anchored. His other hand rose to her face and grazed her cheek with the back of a finger.
    She jerked a little, turning her face toward his touch. The part of her mind that had sounded the alarm bells now notified her she was being drawn in by a practiced seducer. But the warning voice scarcely made an impression against the pleasurable sensations rolling through her.
    His finger traced its way to her mouth. Lily pursed her trembling lips to meet him.
    He gasped and let out a soft chuckle. “That’s it,” he said in a low voice.
    Thorburn’s gloved fingertip was warm. He pressed against her bottom lip, parting her slightly.
    Blood rushed in a whoosh through Lily’s ears. A steady thrumming of heat built in her lower belly. She felt heavy between her thighs.
    He lowered his head again, replacing his finger with his lips. This time, Lily was poised to receive him. She tilted her head back into his hand.
    There was nothing timid or asking about his kiss. He very simply took — without preamble, without consideration of her virginal sensibilities. His mouth slanted over hers, soft at first, but increasingly more demanding. His hands roved the curves of her back, molding her yielding body against his hard form.
    Everywhere he touched left a trail of fire on her skin. Lily was burning alive and all she could do was whimper. Her experience with any kind of kissing was limited, and nonexistent when it came to the erotic provocation of Thorburn’s mouth.
    His tongue flicked at the corner of her mouth. Tentatively, she parted her lips. He groaned his approval. She felt the soft warmth of his tongue probing against hers. It was delightfully wicked, and Lily
never
did anything wicked. She opened further and drew him into her mouth, exulting in the passionate
newness
of it all.
    She felt herself leaning against him, as though her legs could no longer support her — didn’t
want
to support her. She wanted him to hold her, wanted to be as near as she could. She clung all the tighter, clumsily trying to convey her need —
    He lifted his head.
    Lily made a tiny sound of protest.
Come back!
    He drew a shuddering breath and exhaled. His breath was a warm caress against her cheek. Then he removed himself from her embrace.
    Thorburn squeezed her shoulders. Lily swayed forward and nearly stumbled when he stepped back. He was still hidden from her sight by the darkness. “Miss Bachman,” he said in his wry, detached voice. “Thank you for the dance.” He kissed her hand, then melted into the dark garden path.
    He was gone.
    Lily stood in the bushes, alone and dazed. Her skin still burned from his touch. Her knees still wobbled. But he was gone, and she was alone.
    A stone bench crouched in a pool of torchlight a short distance toward the house. She dropped onto it. Dimly, she was aware of what had transpired. She’d allowed Lord Thorburn to kiss her, and she had kissed him back, allowing herself to be swept into lust. Slick moisture dampened her upper thighs.
    She’d gone out of her mind and lost control of herself with one measly kiss. Hot shame stabbed through her. What would her mother say if she found out what Lily had done — what would her
father
say?
    Lily drew several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm. The throbbing in her lower portions began to abate. She tried to order it away entirely, but her body refused to obey. So, she’d kissed a man, she reasoned. What of it? Men and women kissed each other all the time. There wasn’t anything special about
kissing
.
    Only there was.
    She touched her lips. Thorburn had touched her mouth just so …