“I need to find this letter, ensure it never gets in the wrong hands, and put an end to this mess.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “And I need your help to do that.”
Clementine offered a soft smile that made her blue eyes sparkle. “You want my help now?”
“No need to look so smug about it.”
“Is this smug?”
She twisted slightly and set a finger to his lips, tracing them. “Oh most certainly.”
He met her gaze, any amusement fleeing when he registered the feel of her fingertip on his mouth. He snatched her hand and her eyes widened. The heavy thud of his heart urged him forward, though it might have been more of a cautioning beat—like a war drum warning him of a battle over the hill.
Her eyes widened when he pressed a kiss to the end of her finger then released her to set a hand behind her head and draw her close.
Warning beat be damned. He needed to win this battle.
As though drawn by an invisible force, she moved into him. Using his hold upon her, he eased her down to the floor, a hand upon her hip, the other still cradling her head. Clementine wrapped an arm about his shoulders.
She never looked away, never hesitated. He lowered his mouth to hers.
Chapter Sixteen
Clem considered herself an average sort of woman. Unless one counted the inordinate number of freckles she had. However, in Roman’s arms she felt anything but average. The hand that cradled the back of her head made her feel small but protected. That hard wall of muscle made her aware of curves she never really thought much about before. Her nipples chafed against her stays while his mouth explored hers. Every part of her shot into awareness when his lips met hers and it was almost too many sensations to handle.
Almost, but not quite. Because she found herself desperate to handle every part of this man. No matter how much she tried to bring her mind back to the fact she was kissing a man she did not even like, she failed. All she could do was cling on, her fingers digging into his thick upper arms covered by mere shirt fabric and accept everything he could give her.
Which was so, so much.
She sank deeper into the kiss with a sigh. Her limbs felt like liquid and her lips tingled. He kissed like a man wanting to conquer, though the moment his mouth met hers, he’d won. She’d acquiesce to anything while in his arms.
Some strong, independent woman she was.
Roman’s tongue touched hers. She’d kissed Archie enough times to understand what to do next. She met each sweep with one of her own, but this was no tender, exploratory kiss of two people not quite knowing what they were doing.
No, Roman was an absolute expert. He moved the kiss deeper, and a groan rumbled up from his chest when she shifted her hands upward and looped her hands around his neck. At the same time, his touch slid downward, curving around her waist and drawing her impossibly close. She could feel himeverywhere.
A shiver travelled through her, and he broke away when she shuddered. She snapped her eyes open. The throb in her ankle returned while she blinked in what felt like abrupt daylight.
Roman rolled back a little, his shirt creased where she’d grabbed it, his chest moving rapidly. Were it not for her swirling head or the pain in her leg, she might have reached for him again. Did the man have to be so wretchedly beautiful?
Did he have to be such an excellent kisser?
Clem held back a sigh as he eyed her warily. It was more than that, though. There wasmoreto him. Between the stern lord-like moments was a very real, very caring man. He clearly loved his aunt and she wagered he loved fiercely when given the chance.
But of course, she would never know of that. And why would she want to? Marriage was not for her, for goodness sake. She could hardly commit to a favorite color, let alone a man.
“Forgive me,” he muttered, his voice coarse.
Forgive him? For the best kiss of her life? For an experience she would relive over and over? If she went to her grave tomorrow, at least she could say she had been kissed most thoroughly.
She could hardly admit that to him, though. He’d probably kissed dozens if not hundreds of women and would laugh at the idea of a Musgrave swooning over him. Besides, he’d be kissing his wife soon enough if the rumors were to be believed. Many men were happy to keep kissing other women whilst wed but with Roman’s rule-bound ways, she did not believe him to be one of those sorts of husbands.
She met his gaze, caught his searching stare, and inhaled deeply. How easy it would be to roll into his touch again. He might even let her, despite knowing the risks. If they were caught actually kissing, she doubted even his aunt could turn a blind eye. She and Roman would probably be a miserable match. She could not even think of one similarity between them.
Apart from a weakness for nearly kissing thenactuallykissing each other, of course.
“It won’t happen again.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No, it will not.”