“Adorable. Tentative,” Algernon replied. “A good start if you are trying to play bashful or coy but not seductive, which is how you need to be.”
“Oh,” she murmured, her eyes dipping to the floor. “I see.”
“Try again,” he encouraged, settling his large hands around her waist. “Remember how I kissed you the other night. Remember how my lips moved against yours, slowly inviting you to open your mouth for me.”
Perspiration erupted in Beatrice’s palms as she heard Algernon’s deep voice describe their first kiss, and she was quite sure that the soft flush in her cheeks had transformed into a crimson red.
Drawing in another steadying breath, Beatrice drew her gaze back to Algernon’s face. Not his eyes this time but his lips. Then she leaned forward and kissed him again. As before, she kept her touch soft, but instead of staying perfectly still, she caressed her lips over his after a second.
Her hands tightened on his shoulders as she grew bolder and drew his bottom lip between her lips. She drew it out slowly, feeling those delicious tingles from before take over as she then gently kissed his top lip, then both, then very timidly drew her tongue over the flesh of his bottom lip.
Pleasure shot through her veins as she heard a deep rumble rise from Algernon’s throat, and again, she grew bolder. Her hands drew around his shoulders, pulling him into her arms, and she used her lips to coax Algernon’s lips to open wider—just enough so that she could slide her tongue so very slowly over his.
Another deep growl erupted from Algernon’s chest as she did so, and his large, warm hands moved from her waist to her back, forcing her entire body to press into his. Beatrice whimpered, taken over by the pleasure of feeling Algernon’s tongue massage hers. The lesson faded, and want took over.
She drew her palm to his cheek, cradling it softly as she drew back to kiss his lips again then as she felt their tongues reunite, she boldly began to suckle at his. Algernon must have enjoyed it as one of his hands drew from her back to the nape of her neck, locking her to him.
Beatrice moaned as his grip tightened into her hair, and in that moment, when he drew her bottom lip between his teeth and slowly dragged back, she felt the control of the kiss go from herself to him.
Then he was gone.
His touch. His kiss. He had moved so fast that Beatrice nearly lost her balance on the stool as her eyes flew open. She caught sight of Algernon two steps away, his chest heaving as his trembling fingers touched his own lips. The green in his eyes was gone once again, eaten away entirely by the black of his pupils.
Beatrice drew in a deep breath, trying to fight the dizziness that had taken over her body.
“Did…” She paused, drew in another breath to steady herself. “Did I do something wrong?”
Algernon looked at her heatedly for another long moment then slowly lowered his hand from his lips as he shook his head.
“No,” he groaned.
Beatrice’s brows furrowed in confusion as she watched his chest heave in another deep breath.
“Well… did I do it right?” she asked.
To her surprise, Algernon let out a shaky laugh.
“Yes,” he panted then drew himself into a more composed stature. “Yes, you did right,” he agreed.
“Well done,” he added.
A tense moment of silence drew around them as they stayed apart. Then Algernon stepped back toward her and held out his hand.
“That is enough for today,” he said, helping her off of the stool.
Beatrice’s brow perked in surprise. She had not expected the lesson to be so very quick. Or had it been? Time seemed to lose meaning when they were in such lessons. Had it been only seconds? Or had hours passed?
“Your dance instructor will be here momentarily,” Algernon explained, letting go of her hand once both her feet were back on the floor. Immediately her fingers twitched, as if they missed his hold.
“You should eat something before you begin. I will have Mira bring you a tray,” Algernon stated, his disposition going back once more to that of a commander.
“I have meetings,” he went on as he adjusted his jacket, “So I am entrusting you to eat whatever is brought to you. Mirawilltell me if you do not.”
“I will,” Beatrice answered, her tone light.
Appreciation glittered in Algernon’s eyes, the green slowly returning to them.
“Very good. I shall speak to you later. Good luck with your dance lesson.”