Desperately Seeking Suzanna Read Online Free PDF Page B

process. “Are you wed to anyone?”
    “Never. Your question is too simple, Suzanna. Now it’s my turn.” He rounded the corner of the bed and sat on the corner facing her. “I’ve never seen you here before. Who did you come with to this ball?”
    “The Fairlyns, your new neighbors. You, too, ask a question that’s too simple, and now you only have one left.”
    “Ah, that was shameful, wasn’t it?” He leaned back to lie across the bed beside her, his hands laced behind his head.
    “Terribly so. This is your game after all.” She chuckled as she looked across at him. “And now it’s my turn.” She put a hand to her mask to ensure it was still present.
    There were plenty of questions she could ask him. She could ask his thoughts on her paintings, what he enjoyed most in life, or even his goals for where he wanted his life to go. Yet the only question that came to her lips was, “May I touch you?” Blast it all, had she said that aloud? She clamped her lips shut, afraid of what would come out next.
    He said nothing but his eyes became alert as he looked at her. With slow motions, as if he was afraid he would frighten her, he rolled to his side and propped himself up on one forearm above her. She was shaking. This had been the worst and best idea she’d ever had. She released her arm from behind her head and fell to her back, the soft bed cradling her as she looked up into his heated green eyes. She had asked to touch him, yet her mouth seemed to be more brazen than her hands. She didn’t know what to say or do. The silence seemed to stretch between them.
    “It is my game. And you asked so sweetly. Go on, then.”
    When she waited another moment, he moved his hand across her stomach and lifted her hand, guiding it to his chest. His skin was warm. She stretched her fingers across his tense muscles, feeling them jump beneath her touch. His heart was beating at a rapid pace deep within his chest.
    His hand fell away to land on her hip as she danced her fingers down to his stomach. He sat completely still except for the hand at her hip. Every time she moved her hand lower on his stomach, his grip tightened on her before loosening again. Until she did what she longed to do and ran the backs of her fingers across the hair where it disappeared into his breeches. His hand grasped for more of her side as he let out a choked breath.
    Had she done something wrong?
    She looked up into his face to see his eyes had grown dark. His lips were close. What would he taste like? What would his lips feel like against hers? Neither one of them dared to move for a second. Should she say something? Her mind raced for a subject; however, the only thing on her mind was Holden. His lips just beyond her reach. The warmth of his body close to hers. His hand resting low on her hip.
    “I suppose it’s my turn.”
    “Yes.”
    His mouth descended on hers in a gentle kiss—the kind she’d dreamed about. Soft and seeking, yet not overpowering. But as he pulled back a fraction she felt a sense of loss, even disappointment. Was this all there was between ladies and gentlemen? What was the fuss about? Then he shifted closer. His lips covered hers once more, but this time was different. This time he seemed to be demanding a response from her.
    Her hand slipped around his side to his back, pulling him closer still. She was distracted for a moment by the hardness now pressed into her thigh, but was pulled back into the kiss as his tongue slipped past her teeth to tangle with her tongue. The taste of strawberries that still filled her mouth melted with the warm male spice of him to create a delicious concoction that she could not get enough of. She mimicked his actions and tasted him. A guttural, almost animal-like sound came from deep in his throat as he moved over her.
    He thrust one muscular thigh between hers, causing her to whimper and grasp at his back. The kiss deepened between them still. His hand came up to cup her breast, and she