Avalon’s breath hitched as Devan moved closer. Her entire body felt as if a burst of electricity had arched between them setting her alive. For the first time in ages, she wanted a man to hold her. She wanted a man to kiss her. She wanted to lose herself in Devan’s arms and never be found.
Inch by inch, he moved nearer. In response, she did the same with her heart pounding in approval. With his breath fanning her lips, she forced her gaze to his. “Devan, I want...”
The words came from a place inside so deep, so forlorn, that she hardly recognized herself.
Without answering the undeniable plea in her voice, he closed the distance between them. Like a touch of a feather, he brushed his lips against hers. Before she could grow accustomed to the indescribable heat of his mouth against hers, he drew away and looked at her as if memorizing every feature of her face.
This time she did moan in protest. After so many years to be denied the feel of lips against hers was a sin against humanity. She leaned forward shamelessly to capture his mouth against hers again. Awkwardly, her nose bumped against chin. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I want to kiss you as much as you want to kiss me.” He moved closer, and his mouth descended to claim hers deliberately with tender care.
This time his lips pressed against hers, and she could do nothing except push her body close to his as if seeking him—ready to claim him. He tasted of brandy and mint, and she wanted to drown in it. Instinctively, her arms curled around his neck holding tightly while she pressed her chest against his. Immediately, her breasts grew heavy, aching for him as her nipples tightened into painful points as if pouting for him to give them attention.
When his arms encircled her waist, she sighed against his mouth when he pulled her tighter against him. The buttons of his waistcoat were a delicious torment, and she wiggled against them seeking relief.
He nipped her lower lip playfully, and she tried to return the gesture. When she opened her mouth, he slanted his mouth over hers and his tongue slipped inside. It was heaven. For the life of her she couldn’t remember ever sharing anything so personal and intimate with another person. His tongue slowly danced with hers and she groaned in appreciation as hers matched each intricate movement.
He drew back slightly, and by his rapid breath he was as affected as her. “Avalon,” he whispered.
The sound of her name made everything inside her soften into a molten heat. With infinite care, she kissed him again. At first, she teased him by sweeping her lips across his. When he made to deepen the kiss, she pulled away. He allowed her to play before capturing her lips with his. The caress turned sweet and tender, then like a wildfire, it became a force to be reckoned quickly with.
Eventually, he was the first to pull away, and she protested with a whimper. His breathing had grown ragged, and he rested his brow against hers.
“We must stop.” He pressed his lips against her forehead.
Her own breath raced as if trying to keep up with her frantic heartbeat. “Why? Am I doing it wrong?” Even to her own ears, she sounded like a petulant child having a treat taken away. “You could teach me. With your experience, it shouldn’t take long.”
He pulled away from her.
She’d been denied such pleasure all her life. For once in her life, he made her feel and believe she deserved it. She never coveted a physical closeness with another like she had with him tonight.
“It’s not a matter of experience, Avalon. These aren’t ordinary kisses, are they?” He waited for her to answer.
Instead she pressed her face against his neck cloth and inhaled deeply. The smell of starch and orange bergamot along with the stiffness of his cravat combined into a maelstrom of sensual excess. She wanted to bury herself in it.
“Are you afraid to do more because I’m your benefactress? Please don’t be.” God, she wanted more kisses and more of him. It was paradise in his arms, and his kisses tasted of ambrosia straight from the gods. But a startling truth grabbed ahold and woke her from the sensual dream they’d created. If he told his brother, Larkton, what she’d said or done, Thane would be ripped from her and Warwyk within a week. After one last deep inhale, she forced herself to back away from him.
The sharpness of his gaze told her he missed nothing when he studied a person. He was much too intelligent not to know how much she wanted him.
“I got carried away,” Avalon offered. She pressed a hand against her pounding heart with the unintended effect of her arm pressing against her hardened nipples. How would she survive the cold of the night and the deluge of new sensations that was her new companion?
“We both did,” he answered. The tenderness in his voice immediately made her wary.
One kiss from Devan Farris, and she’d turned into a love-sick fool. No wonder he was so popular with ladies. She straightened her shoulders as she struggled with how to address what would happen next.
“This whole night should stay a secret. If word got out, I’m concerned…your brother would take Thane.” Memories of Richard’s threats that he’d take her son resurfaced. The fears and horrors of his rants grew. She gulped a breath of air desperate to flush away the haunting reminder.
He silenced her with a finger against her lips. It only took one look at the affection shining from his eyes, and she felt as if she was falling endlessly head first down the tallest cliff at Dover.
“Avalon, what happened between us is no one’s business but ours. Larkton will never hear of it from me. If you choose to tell him, that’s your prerogative.”
She swallowed the fear that had lodged her throat. “I’d hoped we could keep this private.”
“Of course.” He dipped his head until his gaze met hers. “But this does change things between us.”
“How so? Aren’t I just another in the long line of women…” She let the words trail to nothing as she immediately regretted the tartness of her words. “That was unbecoming of me.”
He trailed a finger down her cheek as he slowly took in every one of her features. “What am I going to do with you?” The affection in his voice was mesmerizing. “I know you well enough to recognize the defensiveness in your tone. You don’t have to shield yourself from me as there’s nothing to fear. I won’t hurt you.” He traced her lips with his forefinger, the touch incredibly erotic. “Do you want another secret of mine?”
She nodded as if mesmerized by him.
Which she was—completely and irrefutably entranced by him tonight.
“Do you know why I call you Lady Warlock?”
Without her gaze leaving his, she shook her head slowly.
“Because like a witch, you’ve completely enchanted me.”
She blinked slowly. Was he just saying it out of kindness or did she dare hope there was a kernel of truth in his words. Her heart thudded so loudly against her chest Devan had to hear it.
He took his greatcoat and spread it around them. “Now, I think we best figure out a way to stay warm.”
