hindsight, it was a terrible mistake on his part. Green pools of excitement sparkled back at him, hitting him straight in the gut and aiming for his heart.
“ To your first drink of champagne.”
Abigail smiled shyly. “And to my first experience sneaking off at a ball with a known rake. I do hope it went unnoticed. I should hate to be named in that dreadful Mrs. Peabody column like some people I associate with.”
“ Touché.” He laughed. Unable to keep himself from grinning ear to ear, Phillip watched her with amusement. Who knew that an innocent toast would bring a young lady so much joy? Or maybe it was the excitement of sneaking off at Almack’s. Regardless, he couldn’t tear his gaze away.
She tilted her head back to drink the last of the contents in her glass, giving him a glorious view of her neck and throat. He wanted to reach out, to touch her smooth skin, to kiss that vulnerable neck. Was it possible that this girl was more seductive when she wasn’t attempting to seduce him or ruin herself?
His hands trembled as he downed the contents of his glass.
“ The bubbles tickle my tongue.”
Phillip began choking. Abigail hit him on the back. “Are you ill, my lord?”
“ Fine.” He coughed. “Just fine.” Taking into account her compromising position, his restraint was extraordinary. “I believe that’s enough champagne for now. Don’t want to bring you back to Sebastian completely foxed.”
“ I’m sorry,” she blurted.
“ For…drinking champagne?” Phillip took the empty glass from her shaking hands. “Abby, what the devil do you have to be sorry for?”
“ I didn’t mean to kiss you. I mean, I meant to kiss you, both times. I was just trying…oh, never mind. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m sorry, Rawlings, truly. Will you ever forgive me for being so wanton? For trying to deceive you? I truly couldn’t stand for it, if you thought me selfish and immoral, even though I know I have been of late.”
Phillip selfishly desired to order her to be wanton, but only in his presence. He also desired nothing more than to kick himself for making her feel so ashamed after their kiss. Yes, he had been angry, but not as much at her as at himself for behaving so badly.
He reached out, grabbing the blasted piece of hair that seemed to constantly go against the grain. To be spitefully where it was not allowed to be. Very much like Abigail. Perfectly imperfect. Irritating and invigorating. “You have nothing to apologize for, save the fact that you should never throw yourself at men like me.”
“ I don’t. I mean, I will not, and I haven’t done any such thing.” Abigail’s lip trembled. Why did the action give the appearance that she was upset?
“ Come here.” Phillip pulled her into his chest and felt her relax. Inhaling the scent of her hair was not one of his wiser moments, but he couldn’t seem to help himself as her scent enveloped him. Heavens, she was desirable. She pushed away slightly and brushed a kiss across his cheek.
“ Thank you, Rawlings. I promise to be on my best behavior and make you proud.”
If it were possible for a person’s heart to break in two, Phillip’s would have. The earnest look and fiery determination ignited his passion. It was one thing for her to feel rejected and angry with him. But quite another for the girl to aim to make him proud. Him. Of all people. And as usual, when a moment of clarity hits, one of stupidity surely has to follow.
So Phillip Crawford, Eighth Earl of Rawlings, did one of the stupidest things he’d ever done in his life.
He kissed her.
Her innocent lips, soft billowy pillows of pure feminine beauty, were immobile, but it didn’t matter, because Phillip was doing the teaching, the caressing, and the only thing he’d been yearning to do for days.
The kiss was soft, not urgent, more of a question than the answer. When he released her, he looked into her green eyes and was dumbfounded when he saw them well with
“ To your first drink of champagne.”
Abigail smiled shyly. “And to my first experience sneaking off at a ball with a known rake. I do hope it went unnoticed. I should hate to be named in that dreadful Mrs. Peabody column like some people I associate with.”
“ Touché.” He laughed. Unable to keep himself from grinning ear to ear, Phillip watched her with amusement. Who knew that an innocent toast would bring a young lady so much joy? Or maybe it was the excitement of sneaking off at Almack’s. Regardless, he couldn’t tear his gaze away.
She tilted her head back to drink the last of the contents in her glass, giving him a glorious view of her neck and throat. He wanted to reach out, to touch her smooth skin, to kiss that vulnerable neck. Was it possible that this girl was more seductive when she wasn’t attempting to seduce him or ruin herself?
His hands trembled as he downed the contents of his glass.
“ The bubbles tickle my tongue.”
Phillip began choking. Abigail hit him on the back. “Are you ill, my lord?”
“ Fine.” He coughed. “Just fine.” Taking into account her compromising position, his restraint was extraordinary. “I believe that’s enough champagne for now. Don’t want to bring you back to Sebastian completely foxed.”
“ I’m sorry,” she blurted.
“ For…drinking champagne?” Phillip took the empty glass from her shaking hands. “Abby, what the devil do you have to be sorry for?”
“ I didn’t mean to kiss you. I mean, I meant to kiss you, both times. I was just trying…oh, never mind. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m sorry, Rawlings, truly. Will you ever forgive me for being so wanton? For trying to deceive you? I truly couldn’t stand for it, if you thought me selfish and immoral, even though I know I have been of late.”
Phillip selfishly desired to order her to be wanton, but only in his presence. He also desired nothing more than to kick himself for making her feel so ashamed after their kiss. Yes, he had been angry, but not as much at her as at himself for behaving so badly.
He reached out, grabbing the blasted piece of hair that seemed to constantly go against the grain. To be spitefully where it was not allowed to be. Very much like Abigail. Perfectly imperfect. Irritating and invigorating. “You have nothing to apologize for, save the fact that you should never throw yourself at men like me.”
“ I don’t. I mean, I will not, and I haven’t done any such thing.” Abigail’s lip trembled. Why did the action give the appearance that she was upset?
“ Come here.” Phillip pulled her into his chest and felt her relax. Inhaling the scent of her hair was not one of his wiser moments, but he couldn’t seem to help himself as her scent enveloped him. Heavens, she was desirable. She pushed away slightly and brushed a kiss across his cheek.
“ Thank you, Rawlings. I promise to be on my best behavior and make you proud.”
If it were possible for a person’s heart to break in two, Phillip’s would have. The earnest look and fiery determination ignited his passion. It was one thing for her to feel rejected and angry with him. But quite another for the girl to aim to make him proud. Him. Of all people. And as usual, when a moment of clarity hits, one of stupidity surely has to follow.
So Phillip Crawford, Eighth Earl of Rawlings, did one of the stupidest things he’d ever done in his life.
He kissed her.
Her innocent lips, soft billowy pillows of pure feminine beauty, were immobile, but it didn’t matter, because Phillip was doing the teaching, the caressing, and the only thing he’d been yearning to do for days.
The kiss was soft, not urgent, more of a question than the answer. When he released her, he looked into her green eyes and was dumbfounded when he saw them well with
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