Free Secrets of a Wedding Night by Valerie Bowman

dangerous to him too.
    She drew a shaky breath.
    “My compliments on your finesse,” she whispered.
    He eyed her carefully. His voice was soft. “What do you mean by that?”
    She pressed a palm to her hot cheek. “You, trying to seduce me. A very good start, actually. Wh … what do you intend to do next?”
    Devon raised an eyebrow slightly, and the quirk of his firm lips made Lily press her legs together tightly. “Well, that’s an interesting question, isn’t it? But I never give away my hand.”
    And just like that, his arrogant demeanor was back. The wall between them erected again.
    Disappointment surged through her. Had it really been a game to him? Had he felt nothing when he’d kissed her?
    She pasted a smile on her lips, steeling herself against showing how deeply he’d affected her. She was trembling again. “Come now, Colton, you must be ready to spill your secrets.”
    “Spill my secrets? Hmm. Perhaps I should write a pamphlet.”
    There went his brow again. And just as easily, she was wanting him all over again. Even knowing it was all a game to him, she couldn’t help but wonder just what it would be like to be with him.
    He walked around her then, in a circle, giving Lily the impression he was a panther stalking his prey. He towered over her, examining her. Confusion warred with desire in her chest. Only Colton could make her feel like this. God knew, her husband never had. She’d never felt this quickening of her pulse, this increase in her breathing, this tingle in her midsection.
    Colton finished his perusal, and Lily expelled her breath.
    “Hmmm. If I were seducing you, I would encourage you to drink,” Colton said at last, stopping behind her, leaning down and whispering into her ear. The tiny hairs on her neck stood up as his warm breath murmured past. She squeezed her reticule, hoping he wouldn’t notice her shaking hands.
    “I don’t drink,” she informed him, swallowing convulsively.
    “Yes, we’ve established that. I’m sorry to hear it. You really should try it. It calms the mind. Takes the edge off.” He leaned in close and whispered right next to her ear. “Lowers inhibitions.”
    Lily closed her eyes. Suddenly, lowered inhibitions sounded oh, so tempting.
    “What would you do next?” she asked, breathless.
    Colton stepped in front of her and pushed a curl away from her cheek with his finger, which he allowed to linger near her mouth. He lifted the finger and traced it along her cheekbone. His rough thumb dragged along her bottom lip while his eyes captured and held hers.
    She squeezed her eyes shut this time. Could he see the gooseflesh that had popped out on her neck and shoulders? Oh, she hoped not.
    “And then?” she asked through parted, wet lips.
    “I would offer you a seat.” He pulled her hand, taking her along with him toward a nearby stone bench. Colton sat first and pulled Lily onto his lap. Pretty, whisper-pink April flowers cascaded out of a box behind them and nodded on Lily’s shoulders. The moonlit garden with its shadowy nooks and twinkling candles suddenly seemed nothing if not exceedingly romantic. And full of promise.
    Wrapped in his warm embrace, Lily wanted to melt. “Then what?” she asked, her heart pounding a heady rhythm in her chest. “What’s your secret?”
    She could hear his smile. That lazy, sensuous smile. His head was behind her, his voice sliding huskily into her ear. His fingers moved boldly over her scalp. Another wayward curl came loose from her chignon and he wrapped it around his finger. Lily closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his hardness beneath her.
    His voice surrounded her. “Then I would tell you”—his mouth brushed against her ear—“it’s high time we return to the house.”
    Lily shivered as if a cold breeze swept by. “What?” she asked, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice. “Why?”
    He leaned in close again. The delicious tickle of his warm breath against her neck sent hot flashes