Free Never Wager Against Love by Maureen Driscoll Page A

mind.”
    That stopped her from replying.  But only for a moment.  “Do
you really think I have a superior mind?”
    His answer was immediate and straightforward.  “Absolutely. 
It is quite impressive.”
    Vanessa was inordinately pleased with the compliment.  “I
must say, I did not think you would be attracted to my mind.”
    “What part of you did you think I would admire?”
    “I choose not to answer that.  And, yes, I will do it.”
    “You’re going to have to be more specific,” said Arthur,
“lest I get my hopes up too high.”
    “I will give you one kiss.  Only one.”
    “Excellent, will you come over here or shall I join you?”
    “Neither,” said Vanessa, as she set her cloak aside.  “We
shall meet in the middle, as all good negotiators do.” 
    She angled her knees to one side, then leaned forward. 
Arthur looked for a moment like he’d prefer to hold out for more opportune
circumstances, but then he angled his knees to the side and leaned forward to
meet her.  Just as his lips were about to touch hers, he said “Don’t think of
us as negotiators.”
    “I thought you said negotiation was at the heart of all
human interaction.”
    “You’ll soon learn that I spout a great deal of nonsense.”
    “I have already deduced that,” she said, then laughed at his
look of mock outrage.  “How shall I think of us?” she asked, as her breath
tickled his lips.
    “Partners,” he said as he gently brought his lips down onto
hers.
    It was meant to be the lightest of kisses, just to pique her
interest.  It was still Arthur’s intention to distance himself from her.  Never
mind that his resolve never lasted longer than a few moments in her presence. 
This was light flirtation, nothing more.  And it was a simple, rather sweet
kiss.  Lips touched, time slowed, then they pulled away.
    It was the kiss after that which sent a jolt through both of
them.  Just as he was about to lean back in his seat, she reached out and
gently placed her hands on his shoulders.  It may even have been an involuntary
reflex.  But once he felt that touch, it was if they’d been pushed together by
a force greater than either of them.  He returned to her lips and this time he
kissed the seam until she opened.  His tongue mated with hers.  He explored the
sweet warmth of her mouth.  He drew her closer to him until they were on the
edge of their seats.    His right hand curved around her waist, as his left
found its way to her beautiful hair.  She wore it in a low chignon and he
luxuriated in the feel of softest silk.
    Her hands were far from idle.  One was now at the nape of
his neck and the fingertips of the other were resting lightly on his leg.  It
took all the control Arthur possessed to resist pulling her hand up to his
cock.  The light pressure was torturing him, but their first time shouldn’t be
in a carriage.  Ideally, it should be in his large, comfortable bed in
Kellington Manor in the country.  He could never take a mistress there, of
course.  But it was the proper setting for a wife.  And he and Vanessa would
make the most of it.  He longed to take her standing up on the balcony in the
moonlight, then go for a swim in the lake afterward.  Vanessa would enjoy the
estate.  Lizzie was already fond of her and perhaps they could all go for hikes
together.
    Arthur abruptly broke the kiss.  How had he ended up
fantasizing about family hikes with Vanessa?  Something was seriously off
kilter with his thinking.  Perhaps his long bout of celibacy had damaged his
brain.  God knew it left the rest of him aching.  Which would also explain why
two kisses had him out of breath and hard as the blasted Larsen broadsword.
    One look at Vanessa proved she’d reacted just as strongly as
he had.  Her pupils were enlarged and most of her hair had escaped its bun to
curl gracefully about her neck.  For one long, glorious moment she looked like
she was about to kiss him again, when suddenly she