Enticing the Earl

“I would like that.” He took the seat across from her.

“I also wanted to apologize again for my actions.” She stared down at her hands. “After hearing the duke’s words, I feel even more like a strumpet for criticizing your kiss.”

Hart rose from his chair and then gently eased her to a standing position. “If my betrothed would like another kiss, all she has to do is ask.”

Mia’s lips parted but before she could ask, his lips were on hers. This time, it was anything but tame. His tongue took full advantage of her parted lips and forced her mouth to open for him. As he kissed her, she wanted to put her arms around him but the bindings on her ribs kept her from doing that. Instead, she clung to the lapels of his jacket as the heat of his kiss scorched her.

Her heart pounded against her chest and the urge to rub her hips against his became almost too much to bear. Moisture pooled between her folds as she wondered how his mouth would feel on her breasts. He might be a gentleman, but he kissed like a rake.

Slowly, he lifted his head up and stared down at her. His gray eyes were filled with desire for her. She trembled from the passion he brought out in her. She had never felt anything like it with either of the men she’d been with and suddenly wished her monthlies would come quickly. She wasn’t terribly worried about being with child. Her mother had taught her how to prevent conception but it wasn’t foolproof and until she knew for certain, she couldn’t be with Hart. No matter how much she might desire it.

Who was this man? She thought she’d known him as a kindhearted man who would protect her and she could come to love slowly. But that heated kiss had shown her a different side of Hart. He might be kindhearted but he was a man who knew how to kiss a woman with enough passion to make her knees weak.

She had never expected to react to his kisses with such intensity. She took a step away from him needing to put a little distance between them.

“What’s wrong, Mia?”

“Nothing,” she said and turned away from him. She strolled toward the window and looked out at the rolling pastures of his estate. Was she truly a strumpet? A woman who could be with any man and feel desire? She had enjoyed her time with Paul, but it was never as passionate as one kiss from the earl. With Allan, it had never been right, which was why she had tried to break it off with him the day he beat her. That was when he became so incensed and demanded to know about the few pieces of gold she’d found. She should have never mentioned the gold to him.

“Mia?” He came up behind her. His warm breath tickled the back of her neck.

“Yes?” She wanted him to wrap his arms around her and press her against his hard chest. Protect her.

“I apologize for being so forward with that kiss. I should have been gentler.” He sighed. “Apparently, I am incapable of going slowly with you. So I am sorry.”

“I’m not,” she whispered.

“You’re not what?”

“Sorry or accepting your apology. I wanted to know if being married to you would be difficult as we became intimate.”

“And will it be difficult?”

She leaned her head against the window. “I don’t believe it shall be the least bit difficult.” Frightening, perhaps, to put her trust in a man built like a blacksmith. But if he was as kind as she believed, the intimate details of marriage would be most pleasant.

He drew a few tendrils of hair away from her neck. “Good,” he whispered and then leaned in to kiss the length of her neck.

Shivers ran through her as his lips touched

her. Truly, things were moving far too fast. She had only been here a few days. “Simon?”

He pulled abruptly. “Simon? I have never heard you call me by my Christian name.”

“I apologize,” she said quickly.

“I am not. I far prefer you calling me Simon than Hart. My friends call me Hart. I want my betrothed to call me Simon.”

She smiled. “I am not your betrothed just yet.”

“But soon.”

“Yes. I believe I shall retire until dinner. Being out of bed has tired me more than I realized. When do you think we might begin my training?”

Confusion crossed his face, causing his brown brows to furrow. “Training?”

“On defending myself.”

“Of course, not until you are well healed.”