That Would Be a Fairy Tale - By Amanda Grange Page 0,60

close to another woman, in a relationship she did not understand.

And so she focused on her anger, telling herself he had no right to speak of her childhood friend in that way.

‘Lord Chuffington is a dear, sweet man,’ she said, taking a step backwards and freeing herself from his touch. ‘He has more virtues than you could possibly imagine. He —’

‘Virtues!’ He spoke contemptuously. ‘You don’t need virtues! You need a man who can show you what it is to be a woman. He can give you a safe life; an easy life; but there is more to life than ease and safety, Cicely.’ His voice became husky. ‘There is so much more.’

Looking at him standing before her she did not doubt it. It was as though his words had tapped into the primal heart of her, and she was filled with a sense of anticipation, as though something momentous was about to happen.

His presence was so overpowering, the feelings he aroused in her so overwhelming, that she did not know how to control them. And if she lost control . . .

But still she did not turn away. She was held there by his presence, and the searing energy flashing between them. She flexed her feet, but it did no good. She could not move. She was held fast by the overwhelming force that enveloped them, crackling all around them like a forest fire.

‘There are kisses, for a start,’ he said throatily. ‘You have never been kissed, but — ‘

‘Wrong,’ she said breathlessly, remembering the gossamer-light brush of his lips against hers when they had been overtaken by their feelings once before. ‘You kissed me —’

‘In the study?’ He shook his head. ‘That wasn’t a kiss.’ He dragged her into his arms. ‘This is a kiss.’

His mouth closed over hers and the world disappeared. She was aware of nothing but Alex. It was as if there was no forest, no ground, no air and no sky; nothing but the searing heat of his body and his hot mouth claiming hers. His arms pressed her closer and then closer still as he crushed her body against him, until she could feel his every muscle, hard, firm and unyielding, pressed against her soft and pliant flesh.

Her hands rose of their own accord and slid round his neck. It felt so wonderful, opening up to her a whole new world, one she had never known existed. It was a world of heat and passion, of deep, intuitive feelings, of overwhelming sensations, and of pure unbridled joy.

She had never known it was possible to feel like this, to be so close to another person, spiritually, physically and emotionally, that she felt she was melting into him. But she knew it now, and with every touch of his mouth, every brush of his hand, she was aware of it more and more.

She wanted it to go on for ever, and when his mouth left hers she gave an unwitting cry, feeling suddenly lost. But he had released her only so that he could pull back and look at her, drinking her in.

His dark eyes traced the delicate curves of her face, lingering on her cheeks, her eyelids, her chin and her brow, before they looked deeply into her own.

Then taking her face between his hands he caressed her, his strong thumbs following the line of her cheekbones until at last they held her face with a strength and delicacy that made her shiver to the depths of her soul. And then he kissed her again. Slowly, languorously, as if time did not matter, as if they had all eternity in which to discover each other.

His hands dropped to her shoulders and trailed a blaze of heat down her spine . . .

In the background, she was dimly aware of a sound. Some small part of her, a part that had not yet completely succumbed to the intoxicating sensations that were coursing through her body, began to interpret it as bells.

Alex released her, slowly, reluctantly, as though it cost him an enormous effort, and yet he let her go. Gradually she began to emerge from her rapturous state and return to reality.

And reality was that the church bells were tolling the time, their ponderous chimes ringing out the hour of twelve. If she did not return at once to her aunt’s villa she would be missed, for it was time to change for luncheon.

She stepped back, still dazed, and tried to collect herself. Steadying her