Page 55 of Once Upon a Midnight Dream

He grazed a finger over her cheek, the contours and planes of his beloved face taut with suppressed desire.

“Will you let me, Lilly? Let us share this one moment? Mayhap, the only one we shall ever have?”

She should say no and pull away from his embrace.

It is what an upright, moral woman would do without hesitation. Without regret or recrimination.

What Lilly should do and what she wanted to do wrestled for domination, but the outcome was predetermined.

Because Zander was right.

The contents of the letter would likely leave her floundering in a jumble and, by all that was holy, at least she would have his splendid kiss to remember him.

For the kiss would be splendid. Spectacular. Glorious.

How could it not?

“Yes, Zander.”

Was that breathless, sultry voice hers?

“Kiss me.”

Still in the dining room

A satisfied groan throttled its way up Zander’s throat as he captured Lilly’s mouth in a searing kiss. He honestly did not know what he would have done if she had refused.

The joining of his and Lilly’s mouths was everything he had dreamed it would be and more.

So much more.

His pent-up desire threatened to ignite them into a blazing conflagration. And by God, he would willingly burn to cinders for the opportunity to hold her and taste her mouth. To say with his caresses and lips what he dared not voice.

Lord, was there ever such a magnificent woman?

She had become so beautiful and cherished to him; he hardly noticed the light smattering of pox scars on her face.

Though it was unwise, and someone could interrupt them at any moment, he pressed her nearer, one hand between her shoulder blades, and the other at the small of her back.

Twining her arms around his neck, she molded her soft, sweet lips and luscious body to his, giving as much as she took. Though obviously a novice at kissing, she eagerly explored his mouth, mimicking his movements. Her little sighs as she pressed into him almost drove him over the edge—past the point of retreat.

Somewhere in the house, a longcase clock chimed twice.

Careful. Caution.

This was madness.

He must stop.

For Lilly’s sake and his.

Dredging up every ounce of his self-control, Zander lifted his mouth from hers and set her away from him.

Her lips, moist and full, glowed cherry-red from his fervent kisses.

She appeared so ravishing and alluring, so muddled and bemused that he fisted his hands to keep from hauling her back into his arms and finishing what he had started—to hell with decorum and the servants’ delicate sensibilities.

But Zander was a gentleman.