Chapter 4 #2
Carenza was aware that she might be babbling as Julian brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. She couldn’t ever remember being so close to him. His eyes were a very light blue, almost silver, with a broad brown band near the edge …
“Carenza.” There was a note of command in his voice that made her continue to look at him. “There’s no need to be afraid. I promise I won’t bite.”
“I am slightly out of practice at this,” she admitted. “You might have to be patient with me.”
“Don’t worry.” He leaned in and kissed her bare shoulder, his touch as light as thistledown. “I intend to take my time.”
He feathered kisses up the column of her neck until he reached her jaw and gently set his teeth on her earlobe. An unexpected wave of lust shot through Carenza, and she grabbed hold of his sleeve.
“You like that,” Julian murmured, his voice so close to her ear that she shivered.
He nuzzled her earlobe again, a little harder, his hand cupping her chin while his thumb caressed her lower lip. She expected him to kiss her, but he moved on, his mouth and fingers trailing over her collarbones, the curve of her bosom, and down the other side.
His scent surrounded her, a hint of bergamot, the warmth of brandy, and a lingering curl of smoke from the cardroom. She wanted to turn her face into the curve of his throat and simply breathe him in.
“I thought you were going to kiss me.” She was almost shocked to hear her own voice making such a demand.
He chuckled. When she looked him in the eye, he said, “I believe you wished to be in charge of such matters, my lady. I am merely awaiting instructions.”
She set her hands on his shoulders, went on tiptoe, and kissed him firmly on the mouth. She waited for a moment to see if the universe objected and then did it again, this time running the tip of her tongue along the seam of his lips.
His arm came around her waist like a vise, and he jerked her hard against him. “I do apologize,” he said. “It appears that I am not very good at doing as I’m told …”
She wasn’t listening anymore, her body demanding she pay attention to the needs she’d suppressed for so long.
She slid one hand behind his neck and urged his head down until his mouth met hers in a fiery clash.
He kissed her properly then, and she responded, all the frustrated heat inside her bursting forth into one long, lascivious kiss that made her moan his name.
He backed her against the wall, their mouths still attached, his hand curving around her bottom and making her aware that he was fully aroused. She rolled her hips, and he groaned and slammed his other hand on the wall above her head, his breath harsh as he looked down at her.
“I thought you said you were out of practice.”
Carenza froze. “I … have offended you.”
“What?”
“With my enthusiasm. Hector said it was unladylike.”
“Hector was a fool,” Julian said. “Do I look like I am offended?”
Carenza studied him carefully. “No.”
“Then pray continue.”
Suddenly aware that they were in someone else’s house and that there were other people around who would like nothing more than to discover her with a paramour, Carenza took a deep breath. “Perhaps we should stop.”
He looked down at her, his expression hard to read, and took a step back. “As you wish.”
“I don’t wish, but I am reluctant to be discovered with my legs wrapped around your waist as you pleasure me against this wall.”
“I wish you hadn’t said that.” His breath caught. “I can’t tell you how much I want to lock the doors and take you at your word.”
She licked her lips, and he cupped her chin and leaned in close.
“Are you wet enough to take me?”
“I believe so.”
His eyes briefly closed. “I wouldn’t be gentle.”
“I wouldn’t want you to be.”
He groaned and leaned in to kiss her. “You are not making it easy to walk away when it would be much more satisfying to push up your skirts, unbutton my breeches, and fill you with my cock.”
Her body throbbed with temptation to agree that was exactly what he should do, but sanity prevailed.
She’d lost her head when Hector had overwhelmed her with his physical desires, and she wasn’t willing to lose herself again.
The whole point of this current experiment was that she should be the one in charge.
“Luckily, we agreed only to a kiss,” Carenza reminded him.
“I could kiss you wherever you need me—use my fingers and tongue to bring you to a climax.”
Carenza’s knees went weak. Good Lord, no wonder Julian was so successful with women. Even his voice was a seduction. She stiffened her spine and very carefully didn’t look at his breeches.
“I need to find Allegra. She will be wondering where I am.”
“Of course.” He nodded and moved away, his expression composed. “May I ask if you have concluded that we suit?”
“I think so.” She strived to copy his conversational tone. “Do you?”
“I think I’ve proved my worth.” He went over to the fire and extinguished the candles on the mantelpiece. “Perhaps you should leave first. We are all about discretion.”
“Yes, thank you.” She studied her reflection in the mirror, aware of him watching her in the glass. “Do I look disheveled?”
“Only a little—as if you have enjoyed an energetic dance.” He smiled. “Only those who know you well might wonder what you’ve really been up to.”
“Then I should go home alone, because Allegra and Maude are here.”
“You can hardly leave your sister behind,” Julian objected.
Carenza wished she hadn’t attempted to make a joke and tried to match his nonchalance. “How practical you are.”
“It is my besetting sin.” He inclined his head, his attention on the fire. “I won’t approach you again this evening.”
“Oh.” Carenza, who had reached the door, paused. “As you wish. Good night, Julian.”
“Good night, Carenza.”
She opened the door and looked back at him, but he didn’t acknowledge her, which was slightly discouraging.
He’d said he’d enjoyed kissing her—had he been telling the truth?
He’d never been the kind of gentleman to mince words, and if she hadn’t performed to his satisfaction, surely he would have mentioned it?
Carenza stopped walking as she entered the main hall, took a steadying breath, and reminded herself that taking a lover was her choice and that if Julian didn’t wish to claim the honor, she would find someone who would.
“Lady Smythe-Harding.”
She looked up to see Lieutenant Greenwood bearing down on her, a determined expression on his face as he pointed at the hem of her gown. “Fixed your skirt?”
For a moment Carenza had no idea what he was talking about and then she nodded. “It’s fine now, sir. I do apologize for missing our dance.”
“No matter.” He offered her his arm. “Shall we go into supper together? If we hurry, we can be first in line. Lady Ross always offers an excellent supper table.”
“Yes, of course.” Carenza set her hand on his arm. “That would be delightful.”