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Unwillingly her gaze slid to Rolt So with Kurt, Rolt had lit a cigarette It was between his fingers, gray s indolent about his stance, the tailored jacket thrust open by the hand in his pocket

"I think the lady is waiting to he kissed, Kurt" His low voice traveled across the room to taunt Alanna

"I don't need to be pro offensive in his older brother's remark, but then he wasn't aware of what had transpired at the airport

Kurt's sunny blue gaze hadn't strayed from her face It continued to beam on her as his hands closed over her shoulders and drew her toward him He would never understand her desire to avoid the kiss and she was loath to have to explain Under the circumstances, there seemed little else she could do but lift her head for his kiss

The pressure of hisshe normally would have cherished and returned As it ith Rolt watching them with bold indifference to his intruder status, it was impossible for Alanna to respond except in the most half-hearted manner

When Kurt lifted his head, there was a perplexed light in his gaze as he searched her face Knowing he couldn't have failed to notice her lack of response to his kiss, she tried to sidetrack his attention from the fact

A fingertip lightly touched a corner of his mouth "I'm afraid you have lipstick all over you," Alanna stated in a contrite tone

"I don't mind," he smiled

"Here" Rolt's voice broke into their private conversion Hehis linen handkerchief to Kurt "Use mine It's already soiled"

Both Alanna and Kurt glanced at the white cloth sie-pink shade of her lipstick stained the ainst the stark white The freshness of her lipstick had probably smeared on Rolt's mouth too when he had forced his kiss on her, but Alanna had been too angry to notice He had left her ale Ithis absence from her that he had used the handkerchief to wipe away her lipstick traces

Rolt had given the sah A

lanna that he had done it deliberately In his own cunning way he had set up the incident, first pro Kurt to kiss her Now he had produced the handkerchief to show his younger brother that he had kissed his girl

As Kurt rather nuaze riveted on the lipstick traces, Alanna sent Rolt a killing look But his heart was encased in iron and it deflected her invisible daggers, leaving a beht in his hooded look

Kurt rubbed the cloth over histraces Pride lifted Alanna's chin at the upward e, his questing gaze centered on Rolt Rolt took the handkerchief from Kurt's hand

"I stole a welcome home kiss at the airport," he stated calmly