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“May I have your first kiss,ma lisse?”

Curse him, and he had to say it out loud, too!

Soleil knew she should refuse, but she couldn’t. The marquis was asking for her first kiss. What girl in her right mind could refuse such an offer? Even so, she muttered resentfully, “Why can’t you just take it? You’re supposed to be a rake. You’re supposed to steal kisses.”

His lips twitched. “Because you’re different, and so I’d like to court you, as you deserve, and this is a part of it.” He inclined his head questioningly. “And so what is it to be, milady?”

She protested helplessly, “But you already know—-”

“I need the words, milady,” he murmured. “I wouldn’t want to risk accidentally offending your sensibilities and incur a lady’s wrath.”

“Liar.”

The marquis only smiled. “The words, milady?”

His gaze dropped to her lips, and she felt her throat dry, making her wet her lips. His gaze burned at seeing it, and her breath caught when she saw the promise blazing from the marquis’ magnetic silver eyes.

She heard herself say, “Yes. Y-you may have my first kiss.”

Chapter Three

Ilie’s heart slammed against his chest at Soleil’s tentatively spoken words. For a moment, he could only gaze at her with hooded eyes, a part of him wondering why it was only with her he ended up feeling like an untutored schoolboy in the throes of first love.

Nine hundred years,he thought broodingly. He’d had that long to master the art of seduction, but with this woman, he found himself breaking all the rules, even to the point of fucking her with his fingers and mouth and yet neglecting to taste her lips.

Promising himself that he would retain control this time, he slowly drew her to him, his gloved hands gentle as he cupped her face. He heard her heartbeat, literally, racing faster every second, and he was almost gratified to know that she wasn’t as immune to him as she acted.

Even if she kept refusing his offer of marriage, at least he could be sure she desired him almost as much as he desired her.

“Thank you, milady.” He shook his head, murmuring, “You are so unbelievably beautiful in my eyes,ma lisse.I cannot fathom how it is that men are able to fight with you or against you.”

Soleil rolled her eyes. “Too much flattery.”

“You know I don’t have to lie to seduce you.”

But he had lowered his head as he spoke, making her voice just a bit more breathless as she said, “I hope that’s not your way of telling me you d-don’t approve of what I do.”

“I don’t.” When she started to pull away, he drew her back to him, saying, “But it doesn’t mean I’m going to keep you from doing what you love.”

She blinked. “How modern of you.”

His lips curved. “Don’t be too impressed, milady. If I ever think what you’re about to do is suicidal, I won’t let you go, even if I have to lock you in a room—-”

She let out an exasperated sound, cutting him off as she exclaimed, “And just when I think—-oh.” He had pressed his lips against hers for the briefest moment, but it was more than enough.

Her toes curled, and she drew a shaky breath—-

Oh.

His lips were against hers again.

There, not there, there, not there—-

Like he was teasing her, the cad—-

She started to open her eyes, but he chose that exact moment to nip her lips. The intimacy shocked and thrilled her, and Soleil’s eyes drifted close again. He nipped her upper lip, then her lower lip. The nipping turned into nibbling, and her toes curled anew.

Was it always supposed to feel like this, the marquis making Soleil feel like he was taking his time eating her? Was her heart always supposed to beat this fast, this hard, to the point she could barely hear her thoughts?