Redeeming the Reclusive Earl - Virginia Heath Page 0,85
one...’
His heart was hammering in his chest now. Every signal she was sending him was positive. Or at least he thought they were. Before the burns, he wouldn’t have been so uncertain. Wouldn’t have dithered. The old Max would have grabbed this opportunity with both hands and to hell with the consequences. He’d have taken the risk—but the new Max had so much more to lose and simply wasn’t brave enough.
Her teeth worried her plump lip again and she couldn’t meet his eyes, except briefly, too briefly, and he was sure they flicked to his mouth.
‘I am reading too much into what you just said and... I mean, you are different, Max. You have always been different from everyone else. You seem to be able to tolerate me for a start. And what you are doing for me now speaks volumes, but... I should be happy with that... I am happy with that, but... What I mean is there is different and then there is different...’ Her gaze was now riveted to a spot on the floor, her hands busily fidgeting among the lace. ‘Really, I should go. And let sleeping dogs lie... Shouldn’t I?’
Of its own accord, his finger reached out to tilt up her chin. In case he had completely misread things, he needed to see her eyes before he dared to dream. Needed to hear the words. ‘Unless what, Effie? Ask your question.’
‘I know I am odd and not quite what any man expects or wants from a woman... But I was wondering if you would like to try...’ She turned her face to the side and he realised she was blushing now, too. ‘Lord, this is mortifying. That I have to ask should tell me all I need to know... Which in itself makes it apparent that of course you wouldn’t like to kiss me again...’ All the air rushed out of his lungs and the ground felt unsteady in the very best way. ‘I’m sorry, Max—I should never have...’
He pressed his lips to hers greedily and to his complete delight she melted instantly against him, winding her arms around his neck as she sighed into his mouth. It was all the encouragement he needed.
There was no possibility of this kiss being soft and unhurried. Too many emotions had been stirred up this last week and he had temporarily lost the ability to mask them. There were too many of them coursing through his body now to dawdle or hold back. Utter despair had turned to overwhelming relief. Longing to lust. Grief to joy. Elation. Surprise. Affection... No... Something else, something big and complicated and frankly terrifying—except he wasn’t terrified. Not in the slightest. He was glad for it. Giddy with it.
She was kissing him!
With all the enthusiasm and passion she displayed in everything she cared about.
Max filled his hands with her curves, revelling in the feel of her naked body beneath the thin material of her siren’s nightgown. Apparently misplaced jealousy made him possessive and desperate to stake his claim on her and brand her as his. He deepened the kiss and she matched him, her tongue tangling with his as her fingers wove themselves into his hair and anchored him firmly in place. He could feel her pebbled nipples through the unwelcome barrier of his shirt. The rapid rise and fall of her bosom as she pressed herself against him. The throaty, wanton sigh when he finally gave in and cupped her breasts was like an hallelujah. She wanted this. Wanted him and that indeed was everything.
Then all at once she placed the flat of her hands on his shoulders and pushed them apart. Her eyes wide. Kiss-swollen lips parted. Her breathing erratic and laboured as she stared at him. For a moment, he was terrified she already regretted it, until her fingers touched her lips and miraculously she smiled. A sultry, seductive and wholly feminine expression he had never seen on her before.
‘That was...rather lovely.’
‘Yes, it was.’ He found himself smiling back.
‘Enlightening...’
‘Very.’ He had certainly never experienced a kiss like it. But then again, he had never kissed a woman he loved heart and soul before, so it was no wonder. And wonderful.