Chapter 6 #2
He found himself snatching up a handful of snow and molding it into a ball just in time for another of Miss Fox’s missiles to strike his left arm.
He took aim and threw, hitting his target—her bodice.
She laughed and their battle began in truth, Miss Fox hastening to make another snowball as Lion ducked and dodged, landing several blows to her person as she made her fair share of hits.
Before long, they were both laughing, scrambling for snow, hurling it as quickly as they could.
Dandy ran between them, trying to catch the snowballs in midair.
Their battle lasted for the better part of a quarter hour, until they were both covered in snow. Finally, Lion held up his empty hands. “We ought to go inside and warm up before we take a chill.”
“One more,” Miss Fox said stubbornly, revealing a snowball she’d hidden behind her back.
It hit him squarely in the hat, knocking it from his head and sending snow raining into his face.
Without a second of hesitation, he formed another snowball and sent it in her direction, also striking her hat.
Because her hat must have been pinned in place, the snowball fell over her face, leaving her sputtering.
“You scoundrel!”
She laughed, spitting snow.
By God, the woman was glorious.
His week of trying to see her as little as possible had only left him desperate for more of her.
The effect had been the opposite of his intention.
And now, here they were, covered in snow, and all he wanted was to kiss her again.
To feel her smile on his own lips. To drink in some of her sunshine and allow it to warm his wintry heart.
He was walking toward her without even realizing it.
“Forgive me,” he said as he reached her. “I didn’t intend for that to happen.”
Her eyes sparkled with mirth. “You didn’t intend to hit my hat with a snowball?”
“No, I quite meant to do that.” He removed a glove and wiped the snow from her cheeks with the backs of his fingers.
Her skin was smooth and soft. Lion swallowed hard against a sudden, stunning rush of desire.
He stroked down her throat, over her nose, her forehead.
Gently brushed away the wisps of hair curling at her temples.
There was no snow remaining, only a trace of wetness, and he couldn’t stop touching her.
“Thank you,” Miss Fox said, sounding breathless.
Somewhere behind him, Dandy was running about in the snow. The sounds of her grunting and panting did nothing to overpower his wildly beating heart. His fingers moved with a mind of their own, tracing over the Cupid’s bow of her upper lip.
“I seem to have missed a spot,” he murmured, lowering his head toward hers.
“You did?”
“Yes. Here.”
And then he covered her mouth with his. It was a terrible idea. Wholly inadvisable. Exactly what he had spent the last week avoiding. And it felt so bloody good he could scarcely bear it.
Her lips parted, and he deepened the kiss, tasting tea and sweet strawberry preserves she must have slathered on a scone earlier, and something else that was mysteriously, indefinably Adelia Fox.
The sweetest elixir he had ever known. He cupped her cheek tenderly, taking his time to learn her mouth, drinking in her soft sigh as his tongue stroked against hers.
She clutched at his shoulders, holding him to her as if she feared he would flee.
But she needn’t have worried. Her lips were intoxicating.
He couldn’t get enough of them. And her body?
It was a dream. His free hand fell on her waist, pulling her flush against him, bringing the fullness of her breasts into his chest. How desperately he longed to peel away her layers.
To tear at her silk, velvet, and wool until she was bared to his feverish gaze.
To kiss and taste every inch of this ravishing, vexing, wonderful woman.
But that was foolish and impossible. They were standing in the midst of the outdoors, the punishing winter wind whirling about, snowflakes falling around them. And still, he kissed her. Kissed her because he couldn’t shake the restless feeling that he had to. That his mouth on hers was imperative.
She wound her arms around his neck. Snow fell on his head, and he didn’t care. He was dimly aware of Dandy jumping at his legs, attempting to insert herself. The little mongrel was always desperate for attention. But he hadn’t any to spare. Miss Fox owned all of it just now.
Her lips clung to his, responding so sweetly, as if she were every bit as desperate for him as he was for her.
Her tongue dueled with his, and he delighted in her boldness.
Nothing Miss Adelia Fox did was meek or mild.
She was brazen in all ways, and it both horrified him and drew him to her. He shouldn’t want her.
But he couldn’t stop himself.
He eased a path of kisses along her jaw, then down the sleek column of her throat, finding her pulse with his lips.
And then because he couldn’t resist, he opened his mouth, tasting her soft skin, reveling in her swift inhalation.
He breathed deeply, taking in the soft floral scent of her, unable to get enough.
Dandy chose that moment to bark loudly, bringing Lion back to his senses with a jolt. He was sucking on Miss Adelia Fox’s throat like a green lad who was about to have his first experience with a woman. Lion withdrew, stepping back from her as if he’d been scalded.
“Forgive me,” he bit out, all he could manage.
Dandy barked.
Lion didn’t even bother to retrieve his fallen hat. He fled the gardens like a coward.