The Earl's Outrageous Lover Page 0,40
we don’t agree on a single subject. Besides, you’re old world stuffy and I’m annoyingly new age. You don’t even like the way I dress most of the time.”
He leaned towards her, one eyebrow raised at her comment. “Who says I don’t like what you wear?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Those red boots on that first meeting? I love those boots and you just kept looking down at them and scowling.”
He put a hand to the hood of his car and leaned closer. “I never said I didn’t like the red boots.”
“And you hated that black dress.”
He’d give her that much at least. “I hated the black potato sack you wore because it didn’t fit your style. I’ve already told you this.”
“Same thing.” This time her response came out a bit too breathily for her taste. But he was so close, so strong and tall and…just so male!
“Not the same thing at all,” he countered.
Jessica realized that she was looking at his mouth and looked up into his eyes, her heart racing as he slowly closed the distance between the two of them. “What are you doing?” she whispered.
“I think I’m trying to convince you that I don’t dislike your wardrobe choices.”
“Double negatives are too hard to decipher, Edward. What are you trying to say?”
“I’m going to kiss you. Is that hard to decipher?”
She inhaled sharply and looked up at him, her body straightening slightly in anticipation. “I understand the words, possibly not the motive though.”
“My motives are pretty clear. You think I don’t like you. I’m going to kiss you to prove that I do. As if last night wasn’t enough proof.”
“Wanting to kiss me and liking me are two different issues.”
He conceded her point with a slight tilt to his head. “Fair assertion. But I’m going to kiss you anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because I remember what it feels like and I want to do it again. If memory serves, I think I really liked kissing you but I need more evidence in order to jog my memory,” he replied.
Jessica would have said something, but he covered her mouth with his, his hands moving to her waist and pulling her against him. She pressed her hands against his chest, feeling his heart beat fast under her fingertips.
Chapter 6
Edward looked down at Jessica, her legs curled around his and her breathing soft and even as she slept. He felt like a complete cad for what he’d done, but couldn’t regret it. She was so responsive and he loved the way she felt in his arms. The kiss outside the restaurant had led to another. Then another. Next thing he knew, he was stuffing her back into his car and driving her home. The whole way, he’d anticipated hearing her tell him that he should stop and let her out, but she hadn’t. And now she was his. No more fooling around, this woman was going to marry him. He hadn’t figured out how but he’d get there.
He loved the way she cried out his name and eagerly trusted him, turning to him over and over again. Even in her sleep, she had one hand wrapped around his arm and her other hand was laying on his stomach. He ignored the growing desire that hand created within him, wanting to just savor how perfectly she felt against him.
He never should have left her bed early this morning. He’d been trying to give her space after her first night of sexual activity, but he understood now that it had been a mistake. He should have stayed in her bed and told her what was going to happen as soon as she’d woken up, saved both of them the lunch where they’d danced around the giant gorilla in the room.
The doorbell rang downstairs and he looked at the clock on his bedside table. It was still relatively early, he realized, but that’s what happens when one stayed in bed for the afternoon. With a sigh, he extracted himself from her long, tangled limbs and jumped into the shower. He had no idea who would arrive on his doorstep unannounced, but he supposed he needed to find out. His housekeeper would let him know who it was in a few moments, but he didn’t want to be smelling like he’d just had sex when he greeted whoever had been rude enough to interrupt his perfect afternoon.
Ten minutes later, he was showered and pulling a soft, cotton shirt over his head. His jeans were well worn and