page38 (1/2)

Their first kiss had been hungry—almost clumsy They’d reached blindly for each other in the hall as soround, and he’d ended up pushing her up against the ith his hand halfway up her dress until he’d realised that he hadn’t wanted to do it to her like that Not on her wedding night Not after last ti of the word consideration He wanted to make love to her slowly—very slowly And so she had allowed hi around her with a slightly nervous expression on her face

‘I suppose this must be the scene of a thousand seductions?’

‘A rather inflated estimate,’ he responded drily ‘You don’t want ht here?’

She gave a funny little smile ‘No, of course not’

‘I haven’t asked you about any of your former lovers, have I?’

‘No, that’s right You haven’t’

He wondered what he was trying to do—whether he was trying to sabotage things before they’d even got started Why the hell hadn’t he just told her that in her silvery gown she eclipsed every other woman he’d ever known? That she was beautiful and soft and coer directed mainly at hiain and he heard the gasping little sound she ht hold of his shoulders He kissed her for a long tian to press herself against his body and the barrier of their clothes suddenly seeer He led her over to the bed and sat her down on the edge, before getting down on his knees in front of her

‘What are you doing?’ she joked weakly as he began to unstrap one of her shoes ‘You’ve already made the proposal’

He lifted his gaze; his expression ?’

‘Oh, yes’ She tipped her head back and expelled a breath as he started rubbing the pad of his thumb over her instep ‘So I did’

He re dress before laying her back on the bed and kicking off his shoes and socks He lay down next to her, pushing the hair fro his time ‘You are very beautiful,’ he said

‘I’m—’