She broke the kiss to stare at him. “What do you think you are doing, Heath?”
“Showing you that my kisses do mean something. I swear, you can’t know what you do to me. I could kiss you all day.” And to show he meant it, he trailed kisses from the tip of her nose to her cheek and then her ear. “Sweeting,” he whispered, and nipped her earlobe. “You taste delicious.”
“You … you swore this would not happen … again,” she whispered, though her breath quickened and her hands clutched both his arms to hold him close.
“Did I?” he rasped as he scattered kisses down her neck. “I don’t remember that.”
“Liar …” Yet she arched her neck to give him better access.
Unable even to get near her throat because of her bonnet ribbons, he untied them and then went one step further and untied her cloak.
Feeling her gather her breath, probably to protest, he took her mouth again, this time in slow, drugging kisses that made him desire her even more. Only half-aware he was doing so, he slid his hand under her now-open cloak to cover her breast through her gown.
She tore her mouth from his to whisper, “Dieu, aide-moi. You are a very wicked man, sir.”
“Not as wicked as Iwishto be with you,ma belle chérie,” he murmured, then kneaded her breast with his hand, wishing he dared unveil it. He didn’t—it was growing too cold out here, as evidenced by the way her nipple was hardening. Unable to resist that pert enticement, he thumbed it through the fabric, yearning to taste it and suck it, too, though that would be unwise in this place where someone might come along at any moment. “You make me insane, you know.”
Her eyes opened and she stared at him a long moment. Then she seemed to look around them. “Good heaven, it is nearly dark. We must go. Maman will wonder what has happened to us!”
He stepped back as she hastily retied her cloak and her bonnet. He offered her his arm, but she ignored it, setting off toward the road with brisk steps.
“Still angry, I see,” he said as he followed.
“Not quite.” She slowed her pace. “But I cannot go on with thisjeu de volantof yours.” And to emphasize the point, she mimed the game with her hands.
“In what way am I playing ‘shuttlecock’ with you?” he growled.
“First you kiss me. Then you swear you will not do it again. Then you give me sweet compliments. Then you use me to attack your cousin. Then you kiss me again! It is too confusing, sir! I do not know where I stand with you.”
He gritted his teeth, although he knew she was right. But to befair,hedid not know where she stood with him, either. He wanted her, yet he shouldn’t.
“So,” she continued, “if you wish this to be a pretend engagement and to use me for the benefit of getting your brothers back, that is fine. I already agreed to that, after all. But we must make some rules.”
He didn’t know whether to be relieved she was going on with their scheme, or annoyed she wanted rules. He hated rules. His father had possessed more rules than an Eton headmaster.
“I don’t know if I like the part about using you,” he grumbled, “since this is a case of mutual benefits, but go on.”
“First rule—there will be no more private kisses. Much as I enjoy them, they cannot lead to anything since neither of us want to marry yet, so all they can do is frustrate us both … or bring about my ruination.”
“Or mine,” he said dryly.
She muttered a French curse. “You know perfectly well that ruining me would onlyenhanceyour reputation as a rogue.”
“Perhaps. But it would hurt my reputation as a gentleman. And my closest friends would skin me alive if I ruined you. That prospect alone would keep me on the straight and narrow.”
She sniffed. “If you say so, although I doubt I can trust you not to act according to your nature.”
He stiffened. “My nature is not to—”
“You were just kissing me and … and caressing me against a tree, so forgive me if I do not entirely believe you.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine. No kissing.”
She halted to plant her hands on her hips and stare at him. “Do you swear?”
“I swear.” He held up his own hands. “Next time we kiss, you will have to be the one doing the kissing.” But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to make herwantto kiss him.
“Thank you,” she said coolly. “Second rule—you may lie as much as necessary to continue our ruse.” Her voice trembled. “Just do not lie to me.”