A Gentleman's Vow (Saints and Sinners 2)

“What are you thinking, Giddy?”

“Nothing.”

Her lips twisted. “I am thinking of nothing, too. I also think I have been very patient, and I’m ready for my real kiss now.”

His breath caught. “Wouldn’t you rather have a new rose bush for your greenhouse? I owe you a present.”

“My birthday is not for another year now. I can wait for a present.” She grinned. “But I want a kiss much sooner than that, tonight under the stars. From you. I won’t forgive you if you try to trick me again.”

She backed him against the tall tree she’d been hiding under before he realized she meant the kiss to happen right here, right now, whether he agreed to it or not.

Her eyes were fixed on his lip in the most disconcerting way. “Everyone said kissing is supposed to be painless and enjoyable,” Jessica promised. “Don’t frown like kissing me might be torture.”

Dear God, it might be.

“Do you know how to kiss a woman so they enjoy it?”

Of course, he did. He wasn’t a monk. “Yes,” he admitted slowly.

“Show me?”

He glanced around, hoping for a reason to escape, but it was dark and there was no one on the estate grounds to distract her with at this time of night.

Kissing Jessica, no matter how chastely done, would change him…and how she saw him.

He was a trusted friend, but friends should not kiss unless—his heart raced—they intended to marry each other.

All the reasons he’d avoided entanglements with women seemed not to apply to the one standing before him now, however. Jessica demanded his attention, as always. But if she wanted to kiss someone for experience, his heart pleaded that he be the one to do it. He could restrain himself, and berate himself later. He was very good at that by now.

He drew in a shaky breath before speaking. “Enjoyment depends on many factors.”

Her smile was so bright, he almost staggered. “So you’ll let me try? Thank you, Giddy! I swear you are the best friend I’ll ever have.”

He was the worst friend she had, if he could lose a simple argument with himself within the space of a minute. “It will only be once, and then we will never speak of it again. Not even to each other, and especially not to your father or your siblings.”

“Of course not. My lips are sealed,” Jessica promised—and then ground hers hard against Gideon’s.

Gideon pushed her back then pressed his fingers to his bruised lips. “Ouch, Jess,” he grumbled.

“Sorry, that was wrong, wasn’t it?”

In so many ways that he couldn’t say out loud. “A great deal too enthusiastic for a first kiss, I should think.” He grabbed her arms to hold her back from throwing herself into a second attempt immediately. “Kissing should not be rushed. Let me show you how it is done. Slowly is best.”

He bent his head and brushed his lips softly against hers.

Jessica remained still as a stone as he kissed her again and again, little pecks upon her soft lips that were tender and sweet and everything she should experience the first time.

Unfortunately, his body clamored for immediate gratification and for him to continue. He yearned to hold her close against his body, no matter what the future might bring. Kissing Jessica was dangerous.

He drew back as soon as it seemed the right time, searching her expression for some indication of his success or failure.

Jessica had closed her eyes during the kiss and now licked her lips in the aftermath. “Hmm, you do that very well, Giddy.”

“Thank you.” He wiped his brow, glad a kiss hadn’t changed anything between them. He was still Giddy to her, and that made him a good friend still, didn’t it? The excitement was only on his side.

Her eyes opened suddenly. “Now it is my turn to kiss you.”

Gideon groaned. He had counted on satisfying her curiosity, but he had entirely forgotten that this was Jessica Westfall he was kissing. She was the sort of female who liked to do everything in her own way and own time. He stood patiently in readiness for her next assault, hoping for a far gentler approach than her first attempt.