The Earl's Return (Marriage Mart Mayhem) by Callie Hutton Page A

there.”
    “Where?”
    Redgrave pointed. “See the four small stars that look like a box?”
    “No.”
    He leaned in closer and raised his arm. “Look here. See the four stars?”
    Trying earnestly to see what he pointed to, she was distracted by his nearness, the scent of bergamot and brandy coming from him. He turned to see if she was looking in the correct place, and she turned toward him at the same time. Their lips were mere inches from each other. Her heart began to pound, and a tingling started in her lower belly.
    His eyes not leaving her face, Redgrave’s arm slowly moved down, his hand cupping her cheek. Her breathing hitched, and she swallowed. His head descended, and he lowered his eyelids. Mary closed her eyes and felt the first touch of his lips on hers. Soft, warm, moist. He brushed his lips back and forth before resting on her mouth where he nipped her lips, then settled into a slow, drugging kiss.
    This was nothing like she’d ever experienced before. Her only knowledge of kisses had come from Claremont before he’d tried to force himself on her, leaving her shaking and angry. She quickly pushed that memory to the back of her mind, enjoying the feel of Redgrave. He was surprisingly gentle, yet the pressure of his mouth stirred her to kiss him back with reckless abandon. Raising his mouth from hers, he gazed into her eyes. He ran one knuckle down her cheek. “Need I apologize?”
    Unable to speak, she merely shook her head.
    “Good. Because I wasn’t finished.” This time his kiss was urgent and exploratory. He teased her lips with his tongue, then swooped in as she gasped. Tentatively, she joined him in a dance of tongues. Her thoughts scattered as feelings very new to her swept her away on a cloud of passion. Her body came alive, her nipples hardened under her gown, and a slight dampness gathered between her legs. Yes, this was markedly different.
    He moved her head into another position that allowed him to take the kiss deeper. She succumbed to the deliciousness of his skill. All her senses were focused on Redgrave and the sensations he drew from her. If there were sounds in the garden, she never heard them, so absorbed was she in his nearness as he drew her closer to his body.
    When his hand wandered from her face to her neck, then her collarbone before resting on her breast, alarms went off in her head. For a moment she sat very still as he fondled her, running his thumb over her nipple.
    Wrenching herself away, she pushed at his shoulder and panted. “Stop.”
    Taking a deep breath, he ran his palm down his face. “I am sorry. Not very gentlemanly of me. Please accept my apology.”
    Still trying to get her breathing under control, she edged back until he grabbed her arms. “Careful. You are about to fall off the bench.”
    What had she been thinking? Nothing could ever exist between her and this man. Or her and any man, for that matter. Although Claremont’s kisses had never moved her like this, she knew full well where the deliciousness of kisses and touches led. Pain and humiliation. Never again would she make that mistake. The vulgar name Claremont had called her when she’d fought off his advances and used her knee to stop him had stayed with her for months, leaving her to wonder if the entire episode had been her fault. The final blow had come when he’d told her the only reason he had attempted to seduce her—as he had called it—was for her dowry.
    She hopped up and smoothed her skirts. “I am returning to the house now.”
    Redgrave stood and tucked a curl behind her ear, wincing when she pulled her head back. “Go on ahead. It will not look proper if we return together.”
    Now that she had her senses back, she was mortified at what she’d allowed him to do. Thankfully, no one had come outside to look for either one of them. And Mother! What would she say had she caught them? Nothing that she wanted to hear, that was sure. How could she be so foolish again and with