Free An Indecent Proposition by Emma Wildes Page B

certainly sheltered. He murmured, “Why wait? We could talk more comfortably.”
    “Talk?”
    “Among other things.”
    Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink.
    In bed, he meant. Though he usually didn’t particularly want to talk in that environment, he was willing to do so if it made her more at ease. He didn’t train virgins—not ever. Raised as a ducal heir, he’d been taught about the pitfalls of lost innocence from the time he was old enough to understand the concept—but he was getting the feeling she was as close to one as he might ever come until he married. It was evident that despite her composure she was very nervous, yet also aware of him as a man. It heightened his interest to a surprising degree.
    Nicholas stood and moved to take her hand, pulling her gently to her feet. He gazed down at her upturned face and focused on her mouth. “I think you’re very beautiful, Lady Wynn.”
    Gray eyes glimmered, her tone hushed as she replied, “You would say that, of course.”
    “Not if I don’t mean it.” He was sincere. Charming women into his bed did not include false compliments. He didn’t need coercion, and if she thought he did, she was more innocent than he imagined. Surely someone of her exquisite beauty had been given enough poetic tributes to her looks to last a lifetime. “Since it isn’t the first time you’ve heard it, why not trust my sincerity?”
    Very lightly, he touched her hair, just a brush of the backs of his fingers over those vibrant silky strands. The color reminded him of fall, rich brown with glints of red. A few loose tendrils framed her oval face and teased the slender ivory column of her neck. The warm color suited her, despite her reputation for being chilly and distant.
    He’d be willing to place another reckless wager that she wasn’t actually cold in any way. Her husband had obviously been an oaf in the bedroom, but it was going to be Nicholas’s pleasure to show her the benefits of mutual physical joy between a man and a woman.
    Caroline gave him a quixotic smile. “I barely know you, Nicholas.”
    He liked his name on her lips. “Surely you realized that before you sent me the note. What better way to become acquainted?”
    Whatever reply she might have made was silenced as he lowered his head and took her mouth. His hands went to her slim waist, his clasp firm but not insistent as he very softly molded their mouths together. When it came to women, his instincts were well honed. He’d already sensed persuasion was going to be more effective than impetuous passion. There were plenty of ladies who liked to be swept away, who wanted their lover to not only possess but dominate them, but he had known Caroline wasn’t one of them before he even touched her.
    She tasted sweet, and felt incredible in his arms, her pliant breasts just touching his chest, but when he brushed his tongue into her mouth, she jerked in what could only have been surprise.
    What the bloody hell?
    For a moment he paused, arrested by a startling realization.
    That a woman who had been married had never been kissed in an intimate way was impossible, but he could feel her tentative response to the exploration of his tongue, as if she had very little idea what to do.
    That was an interesting facet to this country tryst. Nicholas continued, keeping the kiss undemanding, but subtly urging her closer so their bodies touched more fully. Normally he would have found that particular degree of inexperience off-putting, but—maybe it was the unique situation, maybe it was her compelling beauty, or maybe it was just how she seemed to fit perfectly in his arms; he wasn’t sure—he found he was more intrigued than ever.
    He murmured against her lips, “Can I once again invite you inside?”
    By now she was nestled against his growing erection, so there was no mistaking what his suggestion entailed. But then again, wasn’t that why she was there? Caroline nodded. Nicholas stepped away, took her hand,