Page 12 of In the Prince's Bed

Now her dreams would never be the same. But how could she have guessed kissing would be so…so delicious, even with the wrong man? And Lord Iversley was definitely the wrong man. Too bad he kissed like heaven, his lips gliding over hers softly…subtly—

She jerked her mouth away. How could she have let him go so far? “Enough, sir. You’ve shown me what kissing is. Now let me go.”

Seizing her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he turned her face up to his. “Ah, but there’s more to kissing than that. So much more.”

“How can that be?” she blurted out, then cursed herself for the question.

His gaze smoldered as it played over her flushed cheeks and quivering chin. By the time it rested on her mouth, the fire was rising inside her, too. “I’ll show you if you like.”

If therewasmore, perhaps she ought to learn it, so she wouldn’t seem completely inept when Sydney finally did kiss her. “You may show me, I suppose.” She added quickly, “But only for a moment.”

With a chuckle, he ran his thumb sensuously over her lower lip. “Such a sweet mouth you have. Let me inside it.”

Inside it? Before she could question the curious demand, he bent to kiss her again, but this time his thumb pressed down on her chin, urging it open. And then his tongue slid right into her mouth.

Ohhhh.Insideit. So that’s what he meant. How very…odd.

And hot. And bold and thrilling and…

His tongue withdrew, only to advance again. He repeated the intimate motion until she grew too flustered to think, too dizzy to stand. Grabbing at his shoulders, she held on for dear life.

With a low groan, he pressed against her. His arm gripped her about the waist, plastering her to him from breast to thigh, igniting fires wherever his body joined hers.

Lord preserve her, she’d had no idea kissing felt so…wonderful. And reckless. Anything this intensely pleasurablehadto be reckless. She should stop him, really she should.

Instead she clung more tightly to his neck, savoring every bit of his kiss. It went on and on, a feast of sensation beyond her experience. She smelled the smoke on his breath, tasted the tart sweetness of champagne on his tongue, felt the muscles in his shoulders flex beneath her fingers as his kiss grew rougher, fiercer, faster, until her head swam and her body surged against his lean, hard frame, the way she’d always imagined it would do if Sydney ever—

Sydney! Oh, Lord!

Shoving the earl away, she broke the kiss. For a moment they merely stood staring, both panting too heavily for decorum.

Somehow she found her voice. “Thank you. That was a most enlightening…lesson. Now if you’ll excuse me—” Her heart pounding, she started to escape before she lost complete control.

But that cursed hand of his shot out once more to stay her.

She glared at him. “You must let me go in, before my mother comes looking for me.” Or worse, Sydney discovered them together.

Her commanding tone only made him smile. “Must I?”

Panic swirled in her chest. “Please?”

His smile faltered. He searched her face. “Afraid to continue the lesson, sweetheart?”

The rasped endearment gave her pause. She’d assumed this was merely some whim of his, but if he meant more by it…

No, that was absurd. The Earl of Iversley could have any woman he wanted—he didn’t need to seduce a virgin. And if he really was as wild and reckless as everyone said, he certainly wasn’t ready to settle down with a wife.

“The lesson is over,” she said firmly.

“Surely it’s a lesson that bears repeating.”

“Definitely not, Lord Iversley.”

For the first time that night, anger darkened his features. “Call me Alec, not Lord Iversley. I don’t want you thinking of me as anything but Alec.” He tugged her closer. “Who’s already eager to repeat your lesson on kissing.”

“No, we can’t.” Shaking her head, she struggled against his hold. “I have to go…Alec. Please.”

Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. Then it vanished, replaced by a smooth smile she didn’t entirely trust. “All right. For now.” He dropped her arm. “But I warn you—this isn’t the last you’ve seen of me.”