Mary’s heart softened when she saw the flare of understanding in his eyes.This man did know how she felt.“Do you wish to speak about it?”
He shook his head.“Perhaps another time.But Lowenbrock and his wife might return at any moment, and I believe there was something you wanted to know.About why your sister would tell you that your mouth is unseemly.”
She nodded.“And why…” She had to clear her throat before continuing.“Why I’ve caught you staring at me.”Her hand waved in front of her mouth.
“To begin, despite your previous experience, kissing can be quite pleasant.”
“I shall have to take your word for it.”
“Or I could show you.But only if you want me to.”
Mary’s mouth dried at the implication.Was he saying that he wanted to kiss her?And why did she not find that thought unpleasant?
“Do you trust me, Miss Trenton?”
Mary nodded without a moment’s hesitation.His smile at her response felt like the highest of praise.
“To begin, one’s lips are very sensitive.When one is kissed—properly and only when the lady in question desires it as much as the man—it can feel quite pleasant.”
Mary sighed.Given how happy Amelia was in her marriage, she’d imagined that to be true.She also knew that kissing the man standing before her would feel very different to her last experience.But their courtship was only pretend, and he would never want to kiss her.
“Lips can also deliver a great deal of pleasure.”
He extended his arm toward her.Again, without hesitation, she placed her hand in his.
He lifted her hand to his mouth, turning it so that her wrist was up.He used one gloved finger to draw down the fabric and expose her wrist.For a moment Mary forgot to breathe, only to release her breath in a loud exhale when his mouth landed softly on the skin at her wrist.The light touch of his lips against her skin, together with the warmth of his breath, sent heat coursing through her.
He straightened and gazed down at her, waiting for her reaction.
“That was quite nice.”The words were a pale description of what she’d felt at the all-too-brief touch of his mouth on her skin.
His eyes seemed to bore into her.“Yes.And let me assure you, Miss Trenton, that you have a mouth made for sin.”
She was beyond caring about propriety.The way he looked at her had her believing he might just grant her heart’s deepest desire.
“Show me.”
His gaze drifted down to her mouth before lifting again to hers.The heat reflected in his eyes made her feel as though she were the most desirable woman in all of England.Perhaps even the world.
He cleared his throat and looked away.She realized that perhaps there was a hidden meaning to her words that she didn’t understand.“With a kiss, my lord.I wish to know that it can be more than what my one experience led me to believe.And unless I’m mistaken, you are the man to show me that perhaps I’m not lacking after all.”