To Tame a Dangerous Lord (Courtship Wars 5)

“Of course I am trying to persuade you.” Abandoning her hand, he reached up to brush her cheek lightly with the backs of his fingers. “As for wanting you … I see I will just have to convince you of that also.”

She strained away from him, to no avail. Haviland bent his head, letting his mouth hover over hers, heating her lips. When she sucked in a breath of anticipation, he took full advantage and claimed her mouth.

Madeline quivered at the enchanting feel of his kiss … the warm, tempting friction, the slow thrust of his tongue. As it tangled with hers, stroking, desire shimmered through her.

His intoxicating mouth was arousing her just as he’d planned. Alarmed by his success, she made one last effort to resist, pressing her palm against his chest, feeling the hard muscles there beneath the rich layers of fabric.

Unexpectedly, her protest resulted in Haviland breaking off his kiss and lifting his head.

“K-kissing me,” she rasped in a shaken voice, “will only prove that you are an expert at throwing females into flutters.”

“Am I throwing you into flutters, sweetheart?”

“You know you are … devil take you.”

“But I have barely begun.”

His voice was teasing but his eyes were hot.

“Lord Haviland … you cannot seduce me—”

“I can, love.” His hand shifted to her nape, his fingers splaying against her sensitive skin. “Now hush and let me kiss you properly.”

He bent and took her lips more forcefully this time, angling his head so that he could go even deeper. Madeline forgot to breathe altogether as a searing rush of heat flooded her. His taste was hot and heady as he drank her in, his mouth coaxing, teasing, possessing.

His devastating kiss went on for an eternity. Her head swimming with pleasure, Madeline was only vaguely aware that both his arms had closed around her, and that she was clinging to him in return. Her fingers clutched at his powerful shoulders to keep her from drowning in the wonderful sensations he stirred in her.

She was even less aware that he had unfastened the hooks at the back of her gown until at last he gave her one final, heart-stealing kiss and raised his head.

“Ah, my sweet Madeline, how can you doubt your delightful charms?”

She opened her eyes, dazed, panting for air.

“You have such lovely eyes,” he murmured in a husky rasp, gazing down at her.

His own eyes had grown heavy-lidded and dark with passion, she realized as his gaze swept lower, over her face.

“And you have the most luscious lips….”

His head dipped so that he could nibble on her lips.

“And your breasts …”

He slid the lavender crepe of her bodice down over her shoulders so that her undergarments were exposed. Before she could protest his brazen action, he dealt with the modest neckline of her shift and pulled the edge of her corset down so that the full mounds of her breasts burst free, exposing her bare nipples.

Her skin fairly burned as his heated gaze drank in the sight of her.

“Your breasts are magnificent,” he whispered before letting his hand follow his gaze.

She felt the caress of his fingers down her throat and over one ripe swell—and a shameful thrill raced through her when she understood his intent.

Then he cupped her fullness, his touch blatantly possessive, shockingly intimate. She gasped at the sharp sensation spearing through her. His thumb swirled in scorching circles over her nipple, prodding it to a tingling erection. Then bending her back over his arm, he lowered his head again to capture the taut peak in his mouth.

Madeline whimpered and arched against him as he coaxed the pebbled tip with his tongue, laving, stroking, teasing. He was lighting sparks in every nerve ending in her body, kindling hot embers low in her feminine center, deep between her thighs.

After a moment, though, he left off the one breast to attend the other, first scattering hot, open kisses over her flesh, then claiming the nipple. His tongue and lips softly abraded the sensitive bud, alternately suckling and soothing.

The tender, ruthless seduction of his erotic mouth soon had Madeline shuddering with need. She was no longer fighting the ache he roused in her. Instead she gave herself up to the fiery delight of his caresses, straining weakly toward his seeking mouth, her hands caught in his hair, pulling his head closer as she tried hopelessly to ease the longing that welled so fiercely inside her….