Mistletoe Wishes: A Regency Christmas Collection
“Definitely.” He replaced her hand where he’d set it. Then he caught the other. “Now where to put this one?”
“Giles…” she said in warning.
He ignored her repressive tone and curved her arm around his back, forcing her closer. “Here, I think, for the moment at least.”
She was painfully conscious of the powerful male form mere inches away. The rest of the church might be bitterly cold, but under the kissing bough, sultry summer ruled. “What do I do now?”
“Stare into my eyes as if it would kill you to look away.”
“I only want to learn how to kiss,” she muttered, directing her gaze everywhere but at him. If she obeyed, he’d guess that her heart raced with forbidden excitement.
“No, you want to learn how to capture a man’s attention and keep it. Kissing’s just part of the game.”
She wanted to argue, but he was right. Blast him. The most terrifying part of this terrifying encounter was that just now, the man she wanted to attract was standing in front of her. And that was completely insupportable.
“Look at me, Serena,” he said in a deep voice she’d never heard before.
This time, she couldn’t deny him. She raised her chin and stared into those dark eyes. Who knew a man’s eyes could be so fascinating? As the silence extended, her head started to swim. After last time, she knew enough to snatch a breath before she lost her balance.
It didn’t help.
For the first time, she saw Giles Farraday in full. And heaven help her, the view was magnificent. Without prompting, her hand slid up his shoulder and around his neck, until his black curls brushed her fingers.
“Very good,” he whispered. “Now move closer.”
He didn’t need to tell her. Already she swayed forward, as if he was the moon and she was the tide. When those thin, elegant hands closed around her waist, heat sizzled through her.
“Don’t jump, girl,” he murmured. “None of this should come as a surprise. You know he wants to touch you. He can’t do anything else.”
She barely heard as she tilted her face up. “Giles…”
“Yes, like that.” Impossibly his dark gaze turned darker. “As if you can’t endure waiting one more second for him to kiss you.”
Rising on her toes, she stretched toward those beguiling male lips. “You’re talking too much.”
Still he held apart. Curse him. Did he mean to drive her mad? “Now you’re getting the idea.”
“Kiss me,” she whispered.
“Excellent.” Except he no longer looked in charge. Instead he looked as dazed as she felt.
“Kiss me, Giles.”
One more excruciating second of delay, before his grip on her waist tightened with unmistakable purpose. “Damn it, Serena,” he groaned as his mouth crashed down on hers.
Chapter 4
Through the rush of blood to his head, Giles heard Serena’s shocked gasp. Before he could tell himself to move away, to treat her with the respect she deserved, she curved so close that he felt every inch of her warm, lovely body.
Ridiculous that in all his years of fantasizing about kissing Serena Talbot, Giles had never imagined that he’d ever have the real woman trembling in his arms. Yet as she pressed against him with such eagerness, waves of shivering combed through her.
It was poignantly moving to know that he was the first man to taste those luscious pink lips. He took his time, letting her grow accustomed to the kiss. Yet still the doors of heaven remained closed against him. Although at least now, she made some attempt to join in. Greedy hands closed around his arms, and her lips moved with subtle interest against his.
Too subtle.
He trailed his lips along her cheek, and his hold on her waist firmed. Essence of Serena filled the air. Flowers. Lemon soap. A tinge of feminine warmth that was new.
“Open your mouth, Serena,” he murmured.