Ria adjusted her grip and stretched her fingers. They were beginning to cramp. During the course of the lesson, she had been getting closer to the circle, but her last two shots had been as bad as those at the beginning.
Just when she was going to ask for a rest, Luc took the gun from her nerveless fingers and placed it in the gun case. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how cold you are. We should go in.”
Picking up the case, he led her back to the house. When he opened the door to the orangery, she reveled in the blast of warm, moist air, carrying with it the spicy, exotic scent of tropical plants and rich, damp earth.
As she rubbed her hands, the earl carefully placed the case holding the pistol on a wrought-iron table just inside the door. He stripped off his gloves, placed them on top of the case, and then turned to her.
To her surprise, he reached for one of her hands. Her surprise intensified when he began to remove her kid glove. As he did so he held her gaze, his movements deliberate. He reached for her other hand and slowly removed the second glove. Clasping both her hands in his, he bent his head and gently breathed on her fingers.
Ria jumped at the tingling sensations in her hands as they came back to life.
“Better?”
Unable to speak, she nodded.
Luc smiled and said “They still feel slightly chilled. Perhaps this will help.”
Continuing to hold her gaze, he raised her left hand to his mouth and to her amazement sucked on one of her fingers.
Gasping, she snatched her hands away and held them behind her back. Clearing her throat, she said, ?
??Thank you.” Smiling weakly, she added, “They feel fine now.”
He inclined his head, the trace of a small knowing smile on his lips. “I shall see you tomorrow at the same time.”
Once again doubting the wisdom of what she was doing, she started to say it wasn’t necessary, but before she could, he added firmly, “It is important to continue the lessons until you are confident.”
It was the look in his green eyes that gave her pause. Moments ago they had been warm and seductive—now they were intent and perhaps a little concerned.
Much as she would have liked to say no and stop the lessons, he was right. In her panic at his behavior and her own intense response, she had forgotten why she had suggested this in the first place. She shivered at the reminder that she might be in danger. As cold as she’d been outside, it was nothing to the chill that now seeped into her.
She tried to ignore it and think rationally. If she did persevere with the lessons, she’d be in a different sort of danger. Luc was the last person she should have asked to teach her, but then she’d not been clearheaded at the time.
Ria straightened her shoulders. After today, she knew she didn’t like guns. She was, in fact, slightly scared of them. However, she had to do this. She must learn how to protect herself and the ladies. And she must learn how to do it properly.
Mutely she nodded at him, agreeing to their meeting the next day. After all, another lesson wouldn’t hurt.
Would it?
Though today was not as cold as the past few days, Ria still breathed a sigh of relief as the warm air in the orangery encircled her and settled like a woolen shawl.
In what had become an after-lesson ritual, Luc led her down the central aisle of the orangery until they reached a secluded clearing at the end. It was one of her favorite places in the house—a private oasis surrounded by tall plants with a wrought-iron table and chairs holding deep plush cushions. The aunts and cousins didn’t use the orangery—preferring the library—and over time this space had become hers. Her sanctuary. Even the servants didn’t disturb her here.
He reached for her hands. “Are you cold?”
Mutely she nodded.
His smile was dangerous. “Then I should warm you.”
Anticipation gripped her when he began to slowly remove her left kid glove. Holding her gaze, he raised her hand to his mouth and sucked on her index finger, then her third finger, the next one, and then the next.
She drew in her breath as the strong sensations swept over her. It was such a simple thing, but the rhythmic motion combined with the swirling of his tongue was answered by a pulsing between her legs and a growing dampness.
She stood completely still when he lightly stroked her cheek then tenderly kissed her. At first it was a nibble, but gradually the pressure of his lips intensified.
This kiss was sweeter than those he had given her at the masquerade. Ria closed her eyes. To her surprise the pleasure seemed to intensify. Tentatively she brushed his lip with her tongue. At her touch, he groaned and pulled her close so that her breasts just brushed against his chest.
Their breaths mingled as he deepened his kiss and she savored his taste.