How to Entice an Enchantress by Karen Hawkins Page B

been discussing Homer and Bach?
    And was it good that he was now noticing it? Or was it a sign that he should leave well enough alone before this relationship became complicated and difficult and too painful to bear?
    In the midst of his thoughts his hands went to her waist, and without consciously making the decision, Kirk yanked Dahlia to him and kissed her.

Six
    From the Diary of the Duchess of Roxburghe
    Something happened between Lord Kirk and Miss Balfour last night after dinner. What, I do not know, for neither of them will admit a thing—which is frustrating, to say the least. I feel quite slighted that neither will confide in me.
    But I’m not the only one who has noticed the change between these two. Although deeply involved in a new novel written by that wretched Maria Clerey (who seems to have nothing to do but pen novel after novel after novel until I could scream), even Charlotte has noticed that Kirk and Miss Balfour look at each other differently.
    I find this most promising.
    I think.
    Oh, I do wish someone would talk to me!
    *   *   *
    The second his lips touched Dahlia’s, Kirk was lost. She fit into his arms as if made to be there, her lips soft and pliant under his. God, but she was delicious, ripeand plump and ready to be tasted. Instantly his cock hardened and, with a moan, he pulled her closer.
    She rose up on her toes, flung her arms about his neck, and—to his utter surprise—smashed her lips against his, placing all of her weight on his neck.
    Pain stabbed his knee and lip at one and the same time. He released her and staggered as he yelled, one hand grabbing his throbbing knee, the other covering his bruised mouth. Damn it all! He limped out of her reach, glaring at her.
    Her face flooded with color, her eyes wide.
    He pulled his hand from his mouth, noting the blood dotting his fingers. “What in the hell was that?”
    Dahlia had to gasp to keep from weeping. She clasped her hands together, her heart slowing to a sick thud. “I—I—” She didn’t know what to say. Blood seeped from his bottom lip, and he was limping, too, grimacing when his weight rested on his leg. Good God, I’ve almost killed the man. “Your lip is bleeding.”
    “Of course it’s bleeding,” he snapped. “You jammed your mouth against mine as if you were a starving hermit and I was a sugar cake. Blast it, woman, who taught you to kiss?”
    Dahlia’s face felt as if it might burst into flames. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” In the thousands of times she’d imagined her first kiss, she’d never once worried about injuring her partner. Fighting rising tears, she managed to gulp out, “I don’t know how that happened. I just . . . reacted.”
    He touched his lip gingerly. “You’ve split my lip.You didn’t do my knee any favors, either. Good God, what were you trying to do?”
    “That’s— I wasn’t— I—I—I—” She covered her face and turned away.
    Kirk saw her face an instant before she turned, his irritation fleeing before the tears that spiked her long lashes. “Dahlia, don’t—”
    “No! I—I didn’t want to kiss you, anyway!”
    His sense of irony made him shake his head. “I find that hard to believe.”
    “ Oh! ” She grasped her skirts and whirled toward the salon.
    “Dahlia, don’t—” He grabbed her arm and held her in place. “Please. Just listen. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
    “You didn’t. The kiss—even talking to you—has been a mistake.” She jerked her arm free, her cheeks stained with a deep blush. “I’m returning to the salon.”
    Kirk caught her arm again. “No.”
    She sent a pointed look at the place where his hand encircled her arm.
    He ground his teeth and released her. “Dahlia, please. Be reasonable—”
    “ Reasonable? Since when have I been anything else? You’re the one who is overreacting!”
    “Me? I’m not the one stomping my foot.”
    “That’s only because you can’t, or it would hurt your