Without his support, she stumbled. He caught her hands to stop her collapsing in a humiliating heap. Her blood raced like a raging torrent, and her lips burned. With a mere word from him, she’d step back into his arms and beg him to do it all again.
She’d had no idea a kiss could turn her so silly. How utterly irritating.
Lord Channing’s expression was searching and almost tender. The lids lay heavy over those deep-set eyes. He was breathing unsteadily, but his grip was firm.
Helplessly—and Bess wasn’t a woman used to feeling helpless—she stared up at him, wanting to say something clever and dismissive. But that kiss had stolen all capacity for speech. She trembled to recall those blazing seconds when the silky tip of his tongue invaded her mouth. That should have revolted her. It would have, if he’d told her what he intended. Instead the wanton exploration had melted all defenses. Made her hot. Made her curious.
Made her want…more.
At her faint sound of distress, he frowned. “Are you all right?”
No, she wasn’t, but pride came to her rescue. Bess straightened and tugged her hands free. She could stand on her own two feet, curse him. Swallowing to ease her dry throat, she told herself she could talk, and walk away, and go on with her life, and absolutely nothing had changed. One kiss from a pirate didn’t turn her into a different person. She was still competent, managing, independent Bess Farrar.
Competent, managing, independent, lonely Bess Farrar.
She swallowed again and forced her voice to work. It sounded scratchy and out of practice. “Perfectly.”
That expressive eyebrow tilted when she couldn’t control the hitch in her answer, although she was grateful that he didn’t contradict her. She told herself to move away, but she seemed to be planted where she stood.
He brushed his lips over hers. Unable to resist, she closed her eyes and kissed him back.
Something soft and cold brushed her cheek. She opened dazed eyes to see snow drifting from the heavy gray sky.
As he shifted away with unconcealed reluctance, she licked her lips and muffled a groan. She could taste snow—and Lord Channing. How…disturbing.
“The…the arrangement was one kiss.”
A twist of that fascinating mouth, even more fascinating now he’d kissed her. “Just something on account.” He glanced up at the sky. “I think we need to get Daisy into the barn, don’t you?”
The abrupt shift from forbidden enchantment to prosaic reality left her struggling to adjust. “I’ll take her back to the vicarage. We’ve got a rehearsal tomorrow afternoon.”
“She can stay in the Abbey stables. Once you start on the house, I imagine you’ll be there most of the time, getting things ready. It’s only a week until Christmas, my dear Miss Farrar. No time to be lost.”
The lingering glow ebbed as practical considerations became paramount. But the soft fall of snow reminded her that only moments ago she’d been lost in his arms. She struggled to sound as if she hadn’t just been kissing his lordship with an enthusiasm that made her blush. “You’re very highhanded.”
He laughed softly. “It comes with the title. I was a perfect lamb when I captained my ship.”
It was her turn to laugh. She didn’t believe that for a second. “You meant it about holding a Christmas dinner for the village?”
“Of course. You must know by now I’m a man of my word.”
One kiss. He’d stuck to his word there, too. With just a little extra in the final moments.
The sting wasn’t that he’d kissed her. The sting was that she’d enjoyed it so very much. Too much.
Still, she’d paid the price he asked, and now she got what she wanted. Even if she counted out the price not in pennies, but in sighs of breathless wonder. “I have your permission to staff the house, and provision it, and decorate it for the party?”
“I’ll expect you to tell me what you’re up to.”
That was fair, given he was funding everything. “And you’ll come to the church at four tomorrow and play Joseph?”
“I said I would.” He paused. “And I’ll bring Daisy.”
“I warn you that the house will be noisy and messy until I’ve finished.”
He cast her a mocking glance. “Are you trying to talk me out of this?”
She was convinced that entering into this arrangement was a mistake. But she’d look like a capricious fool if she backed out now, when he agreed to everything she asked.