In all her years of avoiding the clutching hands of her half brother’s friends, never had any attempted to woo her with words. Not a single one. The tactic surprised her, and very few things did. “Please let me go. It is very improper of me to sit in your lap.” Improper, but comfortable for all that.

He pursed his lips. “I’m not sure I can. Not without a toll.”

“A toll? To gain release from my own bed?”

His eyes glinted suddenly, a smile on his sensual mouth that left her heart trembling in her throat. His hands, so warm before, now seemed even warmer, almost hot through the material of her gown. “My sweet,” he said, “you aren’t in bed, but in my lap. Were you in bed, I’d demand much more than a kiss for your freedom.”

She frowned. “That is not fair.” And it wasn’t, not in any way.

“Life is rarely fair,” he retorted.

Kat couldn’t very well argue with him there. Life had already proven that. Blast it, it wasn’t fair if he was going to use logic. “I already gave you one kiss,” she pointed out reasonably.

“You didn’t kiss me—I kissed you.”

“That’s all you’ll get from me.”

“Really?” His lids lowered, and he regarded her with a sleepy, sexy look that quite stole her thoughts. “What a pity, for I enjoyed that kiss. More than I should have. Without a doubt, it was the most intriguing, most delicious kiss I’ve ever received.”

Despite Kat’s determination to appear unmoved, a tiny flicker of pride tickled through her. From the stranger’s manner and appearance, she was certain he was quite used to being kissed…in fact, there had been something of a master kisser in his manner and ability. And yet he’d been impressed with her efforts. She hadn’t even tried to impress him, either. She wondered what he’d think if she did try. He would be completely astounded and—

Kat blinked. St. George’s Dragon, but if she continued on this line of thought, she’d talk herself into kissing him again. And all without him saying another word!

Her gaze narrowed on the stranger and she noted that he was watching her expressions intently, a pleased smile on his lips as if he knew exactly where her thoughts were taking her. I’m playing right into his hands, blast it!

“Enough of this. I will give you until the count of three to free me.”

Amusement laced his blue eyes. “Or?”

“Or I will be forced to hurt you.”

He chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest. “Really? And how will you—”

“One.”

“Oh come now. All I want is a kiss. You’ve already given me one, what can be the harm in—”

“Two.”

He shook his head. “I vow, but you are a stubborn thing. Far more stubborn even than my sis—”