A Knight in Central Park(50)

“Beats me,” he said.

No longer hungry, she set her plate atop his. Then she straightened and found herself staring at the curve of his lips and the fine angles of his jaw. He looked back at her with the same intensity. “Are you going to kiss me?” she asked.

His lips curved. “I was considering it.”

“What is there to consider?”

“Whether or not it’s a good idea.”

“I find it to be a lovely idea.”

“You would.”

“And so might you if you just—”

He leaned toward her, brushed his mouth against hers, stopping her from saying another word.

She pressed closer, wanting much more of him, probably more than he could give her. She heard a small moan, surprised to realize the sound was her own. Her lips smiled over his mouth.

He opened one eye, their lips still brushing against one another in a whisper. “What is it now? Recalling another sad flaw of mine?”

“Nay,” she said softly, the tip of her nose touching his. “I have never been kissed so fully. You surprised me...I surprised myself. I didn’t know a simple kiss could be so nice.”

His other eye came open, their lips still hovering. “I thought you’d been kissed hundreds of times before.”

“Aye, thousands,” she fibbed, “but never before did a mere kiss make me feel dizzy and alive.”

“Dizzy, huh?”

She nodded, brought her lips fully against his once more, putting an end to their conversation. His enthusiasm matched her own as they continued where they had left off. He tasted of red wine and wild herbs, heavenly, tempting. The chill of the night, the wind, the stars, nothing else existed or mattered. Her pulse raced as she slid her tongue over the curve of his mouth.

His hands curved around her waist, slowly sliding higher to the swell of her breasts. Feeling reckless, she brought her hands to the V of his tunic, loosening the ties in order to gain access to his bare chest. Soft curly hairs swept through her fingers as she felt the hardness of his warm skin beneath her palm. An undeniable moistness along with a fierce ache started between her legs. Her body responded to him, instinctively and with abandon.

His lips broke from hers. “Alexandra,” he said in a raspy whisper, his warm breath on her cheek, “we should stop.”

“Why?” Her eyes were half closed as she breathed in the earthy, masculine scent of him.

His actions belied his words when he picked her up by the waist and brought her to his lap. “Because we might do something we regret.”

“’Tis not possible,” she said, adjusting her skirts, and moving her legs around his waist until she was straddled across his lap. She felt his hardness against her. She leaned closer and put her mouth to his ear so she could nibble on it while her fingers sifted through his hair, something she’d been longing to do for what felt like an eternity.

Alexandra had discussed the act of lovemaking with her friends before, but verily she did not know what she was doing, not exactly. Sir Joe seemed not to mind her inexperience, and so she let her body lead her, instinctively following her senses. She recalled watching two people make love on Sir Joe’s people box, remembered every word they said to one another.

“I want you,” she said softly into his ear, her hand between their bodies, fingers splayed against his hardness. “And you want me.”

He groaned, his breath more than a sigh upon her cheek as she brushed feathery kisses across his jaw.

His jaw tensed beneath her lips. “I can’t stay,” he said. He kissed her neck, his actions again betraying his words as he said huskily, “This isn’t fair to you...or to me.”

She wanted to tell him the truth-that there were no other men, never had been. Not one suitor had ever come to her door. She wanted to tell him she had spoken the truth all along, and that she truly never wished to marry until he came into her life. Never dreamed of giving her heart and everything else so freely, or so fast.

Despite his heated kisses, she felt his passion waning. This time it was she who pulled back so as to look into his eyes. “If you care for me at all you will take what I am offering. Hold me, make love to me, help me to remember our time together when you are no longer here.”

“Our being together will only complicate matters.”

“If I am willing to take such a risk, then why not you?” Her body was afire as she waited for him to respond, afraid he would move her aside and walk away, leave her empty and wanting.