She rolled her eyes, a gesture that would normally have annoyed him had it been any other woman. However, she made it look rather endearing. Rather adorable.
Ah, confound it. There was something very wrong with him.
And no, it hadn’t started with the kiss. That much ought to be noted—as well as this burning pulse in his chest. To begin with, it wasn’t something thatstarted. It was something that had developed with time. With every shared smile, every inappropriate flirtatious comment, every dance with stolen touches.
It should have surprised the hell out of him that she hadn’t run for the hills, but this, this was his little bold temptress. Then again, it was also a wonder he hadn’t succumbed to kissing her sooner. Only in as much that kissing was a line neither of them had ever crossed until today.
And Dare knew all about crossing the lines.
The first time was the most thrilling. Sometimes the hardest. Sometimes the most anxious. But once crossed, every single time after that it became a little easier and a little easier. Until there were no more lines to cross, and black and white blurred into shades of gray.
“What’s with that look?” she suddenly asked. “Is it your turn to feel sour? It’s just a jacket.” She smoothed her hands over the black material. “It’s pretty and feels nice.” So long as she liked it. “I already feel tons better.”
He smiled at that. “Well then, whenever you feel moody or sad, whichever, you can just think about my kiss.”
“Are you saying I should think about you forever? Why Dare, what a scoundrel you are.”
Forever? Wouldn’tthatfeel pretty and nice? “Did I not do you a service today by cheering you up?”
“Then I should thank you for this service?”
No. “How about doing me a service? Something I can draw from whenever I feel restless. Then I shall forever think about you, too.”
Intrigue lit her gaze. “And what would this service entail? Shall it be a kiss, too? One of a different kind, perhaps? Or shall a compliment do?”
A kiss of a different kind. Little Dare twitched. “Please don’t compliment me.” She arched a brow. What could he say? “I’ve heard them all before.”
“Is that the arrogance or confidence of a rake?”
“A mere observation.”
A light snort. “Red and blue feathers suit you.”
Dare cocked his head. “Thank... you?”Wait a minute...“A bird joke? Truly? Is that even a compliment?” His eyes narrowed. “It sounds more like you’re calling me a peacock.”
“Peacocks don’t have red feathers.” She lowered her head until her nose touched his jacket and inhaled deeply. “You smell nice.”
Lord, what wasthat? Had his jaded heart just stuttered?
He cleared his throat. “What else?”
“You want more?” She laughed and traced a finger over his jacket. Saucy temptress. “Your chest feels hard and nice.”
Other parts of his body were becoming hard. Dare swallowed. How could such a simple compliment cause such a big reaction? If he weren’t careful, he’d want to hunt down these compliments from her every day.
“Another.”
She smiled, and that finger that was tracing his jacket lifted to trail over her lower lip. “Your kisses are nice, too.”
Christ Almighty. “More.”
She lifted her chin. “No.”
Dare blinked, his whole body flaring in denial. “No?”
“Your turn. Compliment me.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Your compliments are dangerous.”
