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“Let go of h clenched teeth

Barnaby mentally swore He knew that if he stepped away from her she would do exactly the opposite to what he had just told her With little other choice, he removed his hand from her mouth completely and replaced it with his lips

Rose’s world ground to a shattering halt Nothing made sense as she stood within the war her lips with his She should stop hiet her ard mind to co-operate then at the first available opportunity she would co her so distractedly this very instant

Or, maybe, in a moment or two

This was the first time in her life she had ever been kissed It was - curious It was strange in a warhtful even, and terribly risqué given she had no idea who thisway that made her want more at the same time that every survival instinct she had ever possessed was screas went too far She knew she should slap his face and chastise hi liberties She knew she should put soe in the crowd occupying the ballroos, Rose copied the movements of his lips She didn’t know this ain after this What was there to lose?

Nevertheless, she put her hands on his chest in a feeble atte too close but it was a token protest at best given that there was already not a breath of air between them Each tiainst her The unusual sensation seemed to draw her deeper into his embrace and left her unable to deny him

Barnaby groaned when he tasted strawberries and sweetness that he could only describe as te He forced

hi and focus on the fact that his unprotected back was now facing a gununman at that He could only hope that Chadould consider thehts of the darkness of the balcony If the man chose to take a pot-shot at them because they had been in the vicinity at the ti Barnaby could do, except protect the woman in his arms with his life

Well, if you are going to die anywhere it ht ruefully as his lips slid sensuously against the woman’s

When everything fell silent in the yard, Barnaby waited for several an to contemplate how to deal with his next proble such sweet teo after Chadwick?

CHAPTER TWO

This has to stop, Barnaby thought as he tried to ease back only for the woers into his hair and hold hi at the temerity of the woman he had assu

At first, there was so tentative about the way she returned his kisses It was almost like she had never been kissed before but, once her initial surprise had faded, she had started to enjoy herself Too much as it turned out because now she had thrown herself into the situation she see to cover Chadwick’s view of her pale dress shining like a beacon in the light The only thing he had at hand was hiet close to her and force her to allow hi the place down meant he had to kiss her

Nohat? He thought, aware that Chadas getting further and further aith each ered on the balcony It took ht he would ever need to eventually break off the kiss and set her away from him

Rose gasped, her lips throbbing She stared up at him, completely lost for words When she opened her mouth to speak whatever she had intended to say, and she had no idea what she had wanted to tell hiish to coly handso eyes that were almost hypnotic, especially this close, he was the epitoer, and he had just kissed her Her Rose Higginbothaht there and then on the balcony