To Wed A Viscount by Adrienne Basso Page B

overly surprised. More and more he had begun to suspect that Neville might have abused his privileges as Faith’s fiance, for his brother had not been known for either his morality nor generosity of spirit.
    â€™Tis settled, Griffin thought with grim determination. The matter that he had wondered and fretted over was now inevitable. Neville had ruined her, yet it was Griffin’s responsibility to set it all to rights. Just like this bloody title. Neither sought after nor welcomed, but assumed because there is no other recourse.
    Griffin eyed Faith speculatively. She did not look like a woman who would elicit unbridled passion, but he had long ago learned never to be hasty when judging a female.
    His mouth tightened. If he was going to spend the rest of his life sleeping and waking beside her, he might as well make certain of one more thing.
    Griffin shifted swiftly from his large chair to join her on the cozy love seat. She seemed startled, but her expression did not alter until he wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close.
    Faith’s eyes widened and her lips parted with surprise just as he bent his head and kissed her. It was a full, deep kiss, filled with passion and mystery. He felt her hesitate and stiffen, yet she did not retreat.
    Griffin backed off a hair’s breadth, letting her make the choice. He could feel the warmth of her breath mingling with his own as she made her decision; then a smile of pure male satisfaction crossed his face as she arched up to once again meet his lips.
    He kissed her again. Boldly, he caressed her lips, gliding along the tender flesh with his tongue. She opened her mouth to him and he pressed closer, tasting her fully, his questing tongue twirling seductively with hers.
    It seemed like it had been a very long time since he had kissed a woman so completely. Griffin succumbed to his baser instincts and thoroughly indulged himself, repeatedly kissing Faith deeply, hungrily, until they were both nearly breathless.
    She strained against him, and their kisses became more heated, more urgent. He felt his body draw up tight with pleasure. Her honest excitement stirred a restless yearning deep inside that both surprised and delighted him.
    Faith’s kiss held back no hesitant passion, none of the shy ignorance one would expect from a virginal maid. She did not appear overly experienced, and he surmised her skill in arousing him so quickly was due less to her carnal knowledge and more to her naturally passionate nature.
    Griffin moaned low in his throat. Faith reached up with one of her hands and cupped his face, as if she feared he would pull away. Her obvious need quickened his own desire with startling intensity.
    He buried his fingers in her silky scalp, disturbing the tightly coiled chignon so thoroughly that her hair fell through his fingers and spilled down her back. It felt like warm silk.
    His hand slid lower, cupping her breast fully. His palm seemed to burn as his fingers traced the surprising fullness. She moaned in a soft, low voice and pushed herself closer. Her hands reached out, sliding past his lapels and twined in his hair.
    Griffin thought about lowering the bodice of her gown and covering her breasts with his hands, stroking her nipples until they stiffened. He fantasized about lifting her skirts and searching out her feminine secrets, pleasuring her with deep, slow strokes, bringing her to the very edge again and again until she was nearly mindless.
    He doubted she would object. She did not appear frightened or surprised by his sexual advance. Indeed, his aggressiveness seemed to fuel her own passion. Heady thoughts, indeed.
    With far more regret than he ever believed possible, Griffin pulled away from Faith. He took a deep breath, then a second, drawing inward to collect himself. The band of regret that had tightened his chest when he realized he must marry her started to ease.
    It seemed an odd belief for a confirmed womanizer, but Griffin believed