With a moan of heady enjoyment, she leaned against the hard muscles of his chest, her hands running through the length of his hair. She could feel his shudders as he hungrily returned her kiss, and the rising tide of desire was sharply echoed within her.
She had hoped that the kiss would ease the frustration that was plaguing her, but oddly, it only seemed to fuel the restless need. She wanted to be closer, to run her hands over the hard planes of his body and to feel his fingers against her bare skin. She yearned to drown in the flood of sensations that clouded her mind and tormented her body.
It was the knowledge that her thoughts were becoming increasingly wicked that caused Amelia at last to reluctantly pull back.
"Oh," she breathed unsteadily.
His lips twitched at her obvious shock, but the silver eyes remained dark with barely suppressed desire.
"Is that all you have to say?"
Her hands moved to clutch his shoulders. It was that or sinking to the damp ground.
"It was very ... enlightening."
Sebastian's own hands lightly trailed up and down her spine, seemingly unaware of the distracting sparks he was setting off.
"I am uncertain if that is good or bad."
"I am uncertain as well."
He was caught off guard by her blunt honesty, "Amelia, what is it?"
Sensing his growing concern, she managed a small smile. "You spoke of danger, but I did not realize pre-cisely how potent a mere kiss could be."
She half expected him to laugh at her innocent amazement. Or even to reveal a faint smugness at his ability to stir her with such ease.
Instead, his expression was heartbreakingly tender as he gazed deep into her wide eyes.
"Nor did I."
She regarded him with a faint frown. "But you have kissed before."
His hand shifted to lightly stroke her cheek. "Ah, but I have not kissed you before." He drew in a deep breath. "Now I must firmly insist that you return to your bed while I am still able to allow you to go alone."
On this occasion she did not give her reckless streak an opportunity to protest. She had tasted the fire. She could only hope that she had not yet become addicted.
"Good night, Sebastian."
He briefly lowered his head to brush a kiss over her forehead before pulling away.
"Good night, my dear."
Sebastian watched Amelia hurry through the garden with a wrenching sense of loss.
He had known from the moment she had entered the garden that he should leave. He had only been at the house to ensure that there were no unwelcome visits from Drake. And, of course, to keep an eye open for the mysterious vampire who had attacked him in the stables.
He had not expected to have Amelia make a sudden appearance. And certainly he had not expected her to so easily slip beneath his stern self-control.
Still, he was all too aware that his passions ran far too hot during the silky darkness of the night. And combined with his growing awareness of the maiden, it had been the makings of a disaster from the beginning.
Yes, he should have left, he acknowledged as he thrust his hands through his mussed hair. But deep within his logical self-reproach there remained a shimmering pleasure that refused to regret the interlude.
The deepening bonds that were being woven between the two of them had only intensified the passions that threatened to blaze out of control. Each sensation was shared. Each need echoed within the other.
But beyond that was the more dangerous realization that she was beginning to consume more than just his passions. He admired that bright, impetuous nature. The staunch courage that she revealed in establishing her own home. And the tender care that she devoted to her brother.
She was a rare, sometimes aggravating minx who continually rattled him out of his stoic existence.