Deverell's Obsession: A Risqué Regency Romance by Sahara Kelly Page B

morning, in the sunlight so that he could see those places he was investigating, not just feel them.
    “You sighed,” she said.
    “Did I?”
    “Yes. Am I a problem for you?”
    “Not in the way you mean.” He kept his tone light.
    “In what way, then?” She turned slightly in his arm and looked up at him, her face so close to his.
    He surrendered. Gave up the battle and acknowledged his defeat. He was lost in the moment, drowning in her nearness and as hungry as he’d ever been for a taste of a woman.
    “ This is the way you are my problem, Léonie.”
    And he kissed her.
    At the beginning he kept it to a touch of his lips to hers, soft, gentle and more of an affectionate caress than anything else. But then she moaned, a tiny sound deep in her throat, and her hand came up to cup his cheek.
    She parted her lips and Dev tumbled into a vortex, his tongue delving into her mouth to duel with hers, their lips crushed, their bodies moving together with purposeful intent.
    It turned heated in less than a second, sensual a moment after and downright voluptuous within less than a minute.
    It would seem that Léonie was hungry as well. They couldn’t get enough of each other, turning this way and that, gasping for breath then returning to share those breaths, touching and stroking and clutching as the fire burned hot between them.
    Finally, Dev latched on to his last particle of sanity and pulled back.
    “God, Léonie…”
    She was panting, her lips ripe and swollen, her eyelids heavy and her cheeks flushed. “Dev, yes…”
    “No, love.” He eased away. “I dare not.”
    “Why?” She pouted and tugged at his robe. “We’re adults, Dev. I’m a widow. We both know there is something between us…”
    “That’s obvious.” He glanced ruefully at the blanket which now resembled a tent from Wellington’s field headquarters.
    Léonie, to his enormous surprise, let out a tiny giggle. “ Merde , Dev. It’s clear we both want the same thing…”
    He rolled his eyes and prayed for control. “Yes, we do. I want you. There, I said it. I’ve wanted you since I first looked at that damn portrait, and now you’re here in the flesh…well, my flesh is on fire right about now.”
    “Mmm.” She stroked her palm down the side of his neck to his chest.
    He caught her hand before it strayed any further. “But, Miss Léonie, you are a guest in my house. You are recovering from a savage attack and there is more of a mystery surrounding you than anyone could have expected.”
    It was her turn to sigh and she took her hand away from Dev’s warmth. He felt the loss.
    “I know, Dev. You’re a gentleman and it was wrong of me to tease you.”
    “I cannot ever take advantage of you. What kind of a man would I be if I did?”
    “Not the Dev I know,” she nodded. “Not the Dev I’m coming to regard as someone special in my life.” She looked up. “And not the Dev I very much would like to lie with.”
    He blinked. “Well that’s blunt speaking indeed.”
    “And why not?” She let him ease his arm out from beneath her head, and turned to look at him. “Why can a woman not tell a man she desires him? Can we not be honest? Are we supposed to lie like statues while we are being loved? Can we not love back?”
    “Er…”
    “I think I would enjoy your body and what it could do for mine.” She shifted her head in a little decisive nod. “I like kissing you. I like how kissing you made me feel. And because I trust you, I am telling you these things. Telling you that I want you in the same way you want me. I have to tell you because I can’t show you physical evidence.” She gestured to the blanket. “You have the edge on me in that regard.”
    “It’s not an edge I’m enjoying very much.”
    She laughed. “I should say I’m sorry. But since we’re being honest tonight, I’m not in the least sorry. I’m glad I arouse you, Dev. I’m glad you arouse me. Because in this moment, I know we’re alive, and we’re