“Don’t answer. I don’t want to know.” Worth tugged once more and Aurora balanced in the air for a moment, ribbon still twisted about her ankle as she tried to kick herself free before the bit of silk snapped, sending her flying into him.
He flew backward, wrapping his arms deftly around Aurora’s body and twisting so that he would take most of the impact as they hit the grass.
So lovely of Worth. Truly. Considering.
He landed flat on his back with a whoosh, Aurora sprawled haphazardly atop his broad chest. “Get off, Aurora. You’re heavier than you look.”
“I’m not,” she replied.
Worth wasn’t bulky with muscle like her brothers Jordan or Malcolm, but lean and sculpted, much like the statue just a few feet away. Aurora’s fingers stretched carefully across the span of his shoulders, watching the way the blue of his eyes darkened. Cool air brushed across her ankles and calves because her skirts were bunched around her legs and his.
Aurora did not slide off him.
She came up on her elbows, studying Worth. There was a tiny bit of gray at one temple. The lines radiating from the corners of his eyes. The full, sensual lips and strong jaw, the latter dusted with bits of gold hair. He had a tiny freckle on his left cheek. How interesting. She’d never noticed the freckle before.
“Worth,” she said. “I think I should kiss you.”
His eyes widened in horror. “No, you absolutely should not. The rum punch has made you nonsensical. You’ve no idea what you’re saying. Now get up.”
Aurora didn’t move an inch. A thick, pulsing hardness pressed up at her through the layers of fabric between them. And those lovely, delicious sensations, the tightening of her nipplesalong with the humming warmth coursing through her blood hadn’t abated in the least.
She slowly twisted her hips, sliding deliberately over the ridge caught between her thighs, fascinated at the sounds Worth made as his eyes fluttered shut for a moment.
“Stop that,” he growled. “This instant.” He made another noise as if he were in pain.
“Your eyes are very blue, Worth.” She tilted her head, observing him.
“I’m aware,” he snapped, appearing more flustered than Aurora had ever seen him. Worth’s composure never slipped. He grabbed hold of her shoulders but didn’t toss her off.
She rocked against him once more, this time with more pressure.
“Dear God, please stop.”
This was incredibly encouraging. Worth was unsettled. Somewhat pained. Best of all, he wasn’t regarding Aurora as if she were a spoiled child. Not any longer.
“You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I disagree.” Aurora knew exactly what she was doing. About to satisfy a great deal of her curiosity as to what it would feel like to kiss Worth. Have his arms around her as she’d often dreamt. Possibly she could encourage him to take liberties.
Aurora leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, marveling at the softness. Worth tasted of wine and the hint of a cheroot. Her tongue tentatively touched just the edge of his lip, licking gently at the edge.
“Jesus,” he cursed under his breath.
“Kiss me back,” she whispered, cupping his beautiful face between her hands.
“You are not yourself, Aurora. You’ve had champagne and rum punch. I can’t even believe you were able to stumble about.”
“I told you I had a high tolerance for such things. And I am not foxed,” she answered brazenly, nipping at his bottom lip, sucking gently at the flesh. The butcher’s son, in Spittal, had taught her that. While Jordan was inside discussing his pigs, she’d been in the alley behind the shop being kissed. That was the first time Aurora thought she might be…wanton.
“Where in god’s name did you learn to do that?” The words were shaky.
“Don’t you like it?”
“I didn’t say that.” Indecision flickered in his eyes a moment before a soft groan of resignation came from him. Worth lifted his head, fixing his mouth more firmly to hers and took control. His arms wrapped around Aurora and pulled her tightly against the hard lines of his body. A big hand cupped her bottom, caressing one plump cheek as the other cupped the back of her head.
Oh.
Aurora’s mouth was taken. There was no other word for it. Previous kisses by gentlemen other than Worth had been tame. Polite. But not this expert ravaging of her lips and mouth displaying a hunger Aurora hadn’t anticipated. His tongue twisted about hers, exploring every corner of her mouth with such mastery, she was soon reduced to nothing more than a bit of burning ash. A whimper came from inside her chest, entire body aching for Worth.
