“No. I just tasted a variety of sweets and picked my favorite.” If he wanted, she could detail that she preferred hot to cold. She liked the crunch of the crust over the melt of the ices. And sometimes—when it was very hot—she preferred an ice to a pie, but she didn’t want to over-answer his question, so she kept her thoughts to herself.
“Are you categorizing the things you prefer in pie over an ice?”
He was so perceptive. “Yes.”
“Then perhaps you don’t need to learn how to kiss. You merely need to experience a wide variety of kisses and pick the kind you like.”
She pursed her lips, considering this possibility. “Is that how you did it?”
“I believe it is how everyone does it.”
It made sense. “Pity that women aren’t generally allowed that kind of exploration.”
“But now that you are on the shelf—”
“You will let me learn?”
“I shall do my poor best.” There was a dryness in his tone, but she wasn’t offended. Indeed, it made her tease him back. A little.
“You are accounted very experienced. I have every confidence you will be up to the task.”
He grinned. “Perhaps, but I get the feeling you will be a very exacting student.”
Chapter Seventeen
His teasing setGwen at ease, and so when they came to the next tree, she reached up and grabbed a branch. It was a sturdy oak—though somewhat young—and she used it to stop their forward momentum. Or perhaps just to have something solid to grip. And then she turned to face him.
“Will you kiss me now?”
He seemed to contemplate that for a minute. “I’m trying to decide which would be the best to start.”
“What did you conclude?”
“We’ll start as you asked. Quick and light.”
She nodded, her lips already tingling in readiness. He leaned forward—just his head—and she held up a hand. “But I suppose we have already tried that. Perhaps you could try a little longer this time.”
“An excellent suggestion,” he said, and she detected no mockery in his words. But rather than close the distance between their mouths, he held up his hand. “I should like to touch your face too. Would that be allowed?”
She shook her head. “The best scientific method requires changing one variable at a time. So the first kiss can be of longer duration. The second one can add touching.”
“A sound decision.” Then he smiled, and before she could question his expression, he said, “I am not teasing you. I am finding this a great deal of fun.”
“Really? But we have not even begun.” Though, she had to admit, she was feeling very energized.
“Even so.” Then he straightened. “First test. Or second if you count the earlier kiss.”
She did, but she didn’t have time to say that. He leaned down and she stretched up. Their lips touched and tingles seemed to shoot from their point of connection straight into her blood. He kept the pressure light as he moved across her mouth. Their shared breath seemed to heat the space between them, and she was grateful for the cooler air when he finally pulled back. Grateful, and also sad, because that had been fun.
Thankfully, she still had a grip on the branch because her body swayed toward him as he pulled back. He took a deep breath as he looked at her, and she struggled to catalogue her own reactions while also wondering what he thought.
“Did you like that?” he asked, his voice rough.
“Yes,” she said, her mind spinning again as she realized her heart was beating fast and her breasts felt heavy.
“Are you ready for the next test?” he asked as he raised his hand.
She smiled. “Yes.”