Page 15 of Treasure of the Ton (Heiress #2)

Chapter

Fifteen

E verything within Evangeline stilled at Lord St. George's words. Maybe a little part of her had guilted him into kissing her, but now, seated before him, watching him look at her with such hunger that it stole her wits, not to mention her breath, she could not regret her actions.

And no one was forcing him, as he stated, she had to believe that was true. That he wanted to kiss her out of his own desires and needs and nothing else.

She drank in the sight of him, his chiseled jaw, his lovely, soft-looking lips, and perfect brows that sat above almond-shaped eyes of the darkest blue. She wanted to reach for him, run her fingers through his thick hair and pull him close, kiss him as much or as little as she wanted, whenever she wanted, for however long she wanted.

She desired him, and there was no denying that.

Even if it were scandalous behavior and went against her decree not to cause any trouble for her sister and the duke. But one kiss in a carriage as they traveled back to London could not hurt anyone. No one knew what they were doing inside the vehicle. There would be no scandal, merely pleasure.

"You are going to kiss me…" She bit her lip, nerves fluttering in her stomach. "What if I do not know what to do? What if I do it wrong?"

"You will not do anything wrong. You'll find that kissing will come naturally in time."

She threw him a disbelieving look. "I would believe that, if I were to kiss a gentleman every day for practice, but I cannot do that, so I may be terrible at it with you and still terrible at it with my future husband."

He pulled her closer still, his large, warm fingers warming hers. "You will be perfect at it, I promise."

She nodded and watched, transfixed, as he moved toward her. She did the same, thinking that copying him would be her best course of action, and thankfully that seemed to be the right thing to do.

"Relax, Evangeline. You'll like my kisses, I promise."

The sound of her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine and goosebumps to lift on her arms. Her fingers tightened about his as his lips, as soft as she assumed them to be, swiped against hers.

She gasped at the first touch of a man in such an intimate caress. Lord St. George brushed his mouth against hers again, and Evangeline copied his movements. His breath teased her lips and hunger balled in her stomach with the need for more.

The earl pulled back, and their eyes met, and she wondered what he was doing. Was there more to kisses than the teasing one he'd just bestowed? Had he finished? Oh, please don’t let it be so.

"Blast," he whispered, before his hand clasped the nape of her neck and he kissed her.

Hard.

There were no soft swishes of lips this time. No slow seduction of the mouth, teasing, guiding. Oh no. His lordship kissed her as if she were his lifeblood, commanding her to yield to his superiority and taking more than she'd ever imagined possible.

Evangeline reached for the lapels of his coat, needing to secure herself, ground herself from the firestorm that erupted within her. His kiss was everything she had ever hoped and more. Seductive and sweet all at once. His tongue teased hers, and tentatively she copied his movement, eliciting a moan from his lordship that went straight between her legs.

She closed them, attempting to soothe the ache his outburst had caused. Her nipples hardened, the soft cotton shift doing little to lessen the tension building within her.

"Tell me your name," she managed to gasp as his kiss continued to spin her out of control.

"Ezra."

She liked his name, strong and powerful as he was. "Kiss me more, Ezra."

He needed no coaxing. He kissed her again, his fingers spiking into her hair, clasping it with enough tension that he tipped up her head to guide her to do as he pleased. He kissed his way down her throat, her shoulders, running the tip of his tongue along her shoulder blade.

She gasped, having never been in such a great tweague.

"Yes," she moaned, unable to stop the plea that voiced itself. She held on, relishing the feel of his mouth against her skin, teasing her flesh. He kissed around her bodice, shamelessly paying heed to the tops of her breasts. She bit her lip, wanting him to touch her, everywhere, but unable to voice her wants.

She could not be so bold or wanton, and yet, right at this moment, should he ask for more, she wasn't certain she could deny him anything.

"You smell like jasmine and sin," he breathed against the top of her breast. She slipped her hand into his hair, fisting it as she held him against her.

Perhaps she was a wanton all along, and there was no use fighting the urges that burned within her body. All had to be normal for a woman. There was no way one could feel so good, and that emotion be a vice.

His lordship moved and came to kneel before her. His change of position placed him between her legs, and he was hard against her, his height placing his eyes level with hers.

"I told you I did not kiss you out of pity." He reached for her again and she was lost. Lost to a world of passion and need and wanting to revel in this sweet, intoxicating world forever.

His mouth took hers in a searing kiss that stole the last of her wits. She allowed herself to fall, to let go and simply feel all that he offered.

"Ezra," she moaned when his hand slipped along her waist to cup the bottom of her breast. The intimate touch soothed a little of the need overwhelming her, but still it wasn't enough.

She wanted more.

"I should stop. This has gone too far." Yet his words were the opposite to his actions. His strong hand pawed her breast, his thumb and forefinger finding her nipple with expertise she would later wonder about before he squeezed it through her gown.

She moaned, pressing into him, needing the satisfaction of his touch. He left her mouth, moving down her neck, his hand clasping the bodice of her gown and sliding it down.

The cool air kissed her exposed breast and heat kissed her cheeks. She did not look, merely closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel all that he was doing to her. His warm mouth covered her nipple, sucking her, his tongue flicking her sensitive flesh. It was too much, and moisture pooled at her core.

She wanted him so desperately.

She clutched him, pulling him close, and he pressed her back against her seat, his body cocooned between her legs, pressing and teasing her needy flesh as his mouth lavished her breast.

"This is too much," she managed to say, overwhelmed by what he was making her feel.

He pawed and kissed her, and with his body pressed hard against hers, warmth overwhelmed her. A pleasure unlike anything she had ever known pulsated from her core out to every part of her body. Evangeline clung to him, seeking the pressure of his body as pleasure rocked through her blood.

"Ezra," she gasped, unsure of what she was doing but feeling so much unexplained euphoria that she was dizzy.

"I like my name on your lips." His words, dark and commanding, thrummed through her like a second release, and she could barely breathe, nevertheless respond. She had never felt so utterly wonderful in her life. How had he made her feel thus with just a touch, with just a kiss?

The man was a marvel. And she was utterly besotted with him.

"I like your hands on me too."

He growled against her breast, leaving one last kiss on her nipple before he pulled up the bodice of her gown and fixed her dress back in place. He pulled back and sat on the seat across from her, adjusting his cravat. His eyes were dark, wild with need, and she knew what he was feeling.

For he had made her feel wonderful, and she had little doubt that he wanted her, wanted to do more, to press further. And right at this moment, should he ask, she could not say that she would deny him anything.

The outskirts of London passed by the window outside, blurred by the falling rain, and yet all of the world and its troubles seemed to dissipate with their cocooned selves. She wanted to stay here forever. Just the two of them.

"One kiss as I promised. Did that suffice, my lady?" he asked, once again the composed earl he normally was.

Evangeline sat up and attempted to appear the same, although inside she was all sixes and sevens. Her blood was aflame, her body lethargic with release, and yet her mind raced for when she could kiss him again. Seek him out to have more of this wonderful man all to herself.

"It sufficed very well, thank you, my lord. I do believe you're quite proficient in the art."

His lips twitched. "Do not tease, madam. I'm balancing on a knife's edge."

Evangeline schooled her features. That worked perfectly well for her too.