Rogue’s Kiss

Chapter Eight - Gardens by Starlight

Lilia found herself swaying as George broke the kiss. What was happening? How, why had he kissed her? She’d been kissed before, but it had never gone any further. It had never felt like that. Every point of her body that touched his was heightened. Where their knees, hips and chest brushed together. The fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck were raised, and she couldn’t blame it on the cold.

Her breath came in uneven motions, the air catching on her chest. Not only had kissing never felt like that before, but never before had she been tempted to allow such seductive behaviour to go any further. All she knew, is that she didn’t want his touch or his kiss to end.

He stared down at her, grinning and Lilia forced herself to straighten. Her little teasing remark fell from her lips and he laughed. She smiled before remembering why she was here in the first place, Grace. George was tied up with the Justice somehow. In a way he didn’t want the court to know about.

He reached for her hand and she took a slow step back. Confusion drew his brows together. Lilia forced a smile.

‘I can’t allow you to steal all the kisses you might like, Master Thade.’ She looked around the dark garden. The distant hum of music persisted. ‘Besides, it can be dangerous for a young woman to be alone in the darkness with a man.’

‘Scandalous you mean?’ He advanced a step and she retreated. Her heart thumped uncomfortably hard against her ribs.

‘Dangerous,’ she repeated and forced herself to meet his gaze. The star light was reflected in his features, ‘I lost a friend to darkness this year, I miss her more than you can imagine.’

‘You’re a Knight,’ he reached out once more and this time Lilia couldn’t find it within herself to move away.

‘So was she…’

His fingers traced the line of her cheek. His thumb rounded her jaw and carefully he tilted her head back so that he could look into her eyes once more.

‘I get the feeling you can take care of yourself,’ his gaze lingered on her lips.

Lilia sighed, she should be going. She should be running away but couldn’t get her feet to move. Betrayed by her body she closed her eyes. ‘I’m not…’ she murmured, ‘I’m not a Lady who gets tangled up in scandals,’ she protested. This was a kiss. It was bad enough that she was hiding in the gardens, kissing a man but what if he tried to take things further? What if she let him?

She felt his quiet laughter against her lips, ‘all evidence to the contrary,’ he bent to kiss her once more. Lilia planted her hands on his chest and pushed. Confused, he blinked and they stared at one another again.

‘I mean it,’ Lilia insisted. ‘I’ve never…I’ve never done this before.’

George tilted his head to the side, the stars reflected in his gaze seemed to shine all the brighter as he studied her, ‘run away from a ball?’ He was determined to persue her. Part of her wondered why, but she felt desired by the man. Wasn’t that enough? Was this the lust that people spoke of?

‘No…yes,’ her nose wrinkled. She looked to the side, hands dropping back to her sides. ‘I mean…’

George grinned, both hands landed gently on her shoulders. He turned her back to face him and bent to kiss her once more. This time, she didn’t refuse him. Instead, Lilia found herself clinging to the man. She rose onto her toes as he pulled her close. Their bodies pressed together she moaned as his hands dropped down her shoulders, skimming over her bare arms to her hips.

Could he tell that she hadn’t done this before? She had been kissed, once or twice but never like this. Never as if the other person had been trying to devour her. Never in a way that encouraged her to kiss back. Every part of her body tingled. Nervous butterflies spun in her middle. She felt hot, even in the night air her dress was uncomfortably warm and cumbersome. If he knew she was inexperienced, he didn’t seem to mind.

Lost in the kiss and the touch of his mouth to hers, Lilia was vaguely aware that he was nudging her to move. She retreated, obediently first one step and then another as he kept the distance closed between them. His legs almost between her own as they shifted.

He probed her mouth with his tongue and her lips parted. She could taste the whiskey he’d been drinking. The remnants made her mouth tingle. Before she knew what was happening he had walked her back to the stone wall. Pushed slowly against it, she groaned. Her hands looped around his neck as his own started a slow, skilful exploration of her body. This was so wrong, in so many ways but she couldn’t bring herself to stop.

Splayed fingers eased over her midriff then stroked down her back until she arched away from the rough stone behind. It was a good job she was holding onto him, she marvelled, as her legs wouldn’t hold her any longer. Passion had been lit and it was as though he read her mind. His hand followed the curve of her hip and curled around her behind. His fingers dug in, dragged her right leg up until her knee rubbed past his outer thigh. His inner thigh, and the heat of his erection pressed against her core and she swore she could’ve fainted.

‘George,’ she breathed his name and abruptly he broke the kiss. Panting, she lent her head back against the wall. The kiss was broken and he stared down into her gaze, his uneven breath stuttering against her cheek as he watched her, eyes narrowed with frustration.

‘I knew it,’ he growled and all the nervous butterflies of her inexperience turned leaden and dropped.

‘Knew what?’ She squeaked as he drew back a little, just enough that a sheet of parchment could pass between them. All ready she missed him, the autumn air feeling colder than it had in his absence.

‘You’re the thief,’ he accused.

Lilia blinked, stunned before she turned to run.

He caught her by the arm and pushed her back against the wall once more. Pinned, she stared into his eyes. She could try the move she had used before, but that would only confirm his suspicion.