Living London - By Kristin Vayden Page 0,37

the light of his smile remaining in his eyes.

"I was hoping you would."

"So you didn't want to see me, just hoped I'd want to see you."

I reached out with my slippered foot and nudged his Hessian boot. "You know that's not true."

"Indeed." He paused, and a devilish grin lifted his lips and smoldered in his eyes. "You'll never believe what happened to me last night."

"Oh?" I played along.

"I was accosted by a beautiful siren that forced her attentions on me."

"You don't say!" I gasped and pressed my gloved hand to my chest.

"I do."

"Well, what did you do?"

"What any sane man would do in my situation."

"And what is that?" I asked, wondering what he'd say.

"I kissed her back."

"You certainly did." My cheeks heated up just remembering his lips melting with mine, his body pressing against my own. His expression went from teasing to hungry. The tension in the air was electric, creating a powerful current that crackled with desire.

"The closed carriage was a bad idea," he announced, closing his eyes and breaking the spell.

"Oh?" I whispered, not quite recovered from the heated exchange.

"Yes. It was a very, very bad idea."

"Why's that?"

He opened his eyes and gave me a look of unabashed desire. "Because I can't resist the temptation of your siren call now that I've tasted you. I can't keep my hands away from you now I’ve felt your skin. My body aches for you with a passion I'm not sure I can control…I don't want to control. That is why this is a bad idea." His eyes closed again and he leaned his head back, taking a deep breath.

I'd never heard a more romantic speech—better than anything in any book I'd ever read, and he wasn't even trying to impress me. "Kiss me." My voice was husky, foreign to my own ears.

"No."

"No?" He'd turn me down? After everything he just said?

"Why?" I asked, a little insecure.

"Because it wouldn't be enough, and I'm afraid that, as alone as we are right now, if I started to kiss you, I wouldn't be able to stop."

"Stop… kissing me?"

His expression smoldered with heated emotion. "Oh no, therein lies the problem. Kissing you would only be the beginning."

"I see."

"Do you?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Honor is aggravating at times, wouldn't you agree?" I was thankful for his self-control when mine was so obviously lacking.

"You have no idea."

"So…?" I asked, trying to distract myself from his handsome face, glorious body, and smoldering eyes. "Where are we going?"

"Just around the park, nowhere specific," he answered, his eyes focused on my lips.

I opened my mouth to ask another question when he tapped the roof with his hand and the carriage slowed. "Are we getting out?"

"Yes. You deserve more attention than what I'm able to give in this deliciously small space, so we're going to walk." He let out a small laugh that said he was not amused. I tried to sober up, but failed.

"I'm glad you're finding humor at my expense."

"Never! I'm not laughing at you, simply with you."

"Strange, I don't remember laughing."

"Ah, well, I'm sure you meant to."

"Hmm, I'm sure," he replied sarcastically.

Trying to keep my grin in check, I took his offered hand and stepped out from the carriage. The simple touch made my belly stir, and I averted my eyes, trying to not throw caution to the wind and kiss him right there in broad daylight. I knew enough to realize it wouldn't be a good idea. Considering the sky, I wondered if we'd make it far before the heavens opened up, but I didn't say anything. A little rain never hurt anyone.

He offered his arm, and we began to walk towards the Serpentine. The water didn't look like it carried much of a current. It benignly accented the green of the trees and grass.

"Hard to believe it was frozen, isn't it?"

"The Serpentine?" I asked stupidly.

"Yes, and the Thames, just last winter. But ah, you don't remember that, do you?" There was no ridicule in his voice, only subtle realization.

"I can't say that I do, but it sounds interesting."

"Oh, it was. We had frost fairs, and everyone came back early for the season. Worst idea I'd ever heard of. Oh, it's true, the sight of the ice forming on London Bridge was worthy of note, but staying outside, having parties in the cold…well, not my idea of a good time. Bloo — er, deuced cold." He gave a slight shiver as if remembering the sensation.

I grinned at his expression. "Yes, I can imagine it was."

We walked a while,