Alex pushed her back, his eyes laughing down at her. “Did you say something?”

“Yes,” she said. “Yes, yes, I will marry you.”

“Ahhhh,” Alex said, seizing her again. “Now you are my betrothed. Do you know what that means?”

Charlotte shivered. Was he thinking of doing something here? Here, in her mother’s Chinese Salon? His lips were tracing a pattern down her neck that made her feel short of breath. Meanwhile his hands slid from her neck down her back, making her body instinctively bend toward his. Their knees knocked together awkwardly and Charlotte giggled.

Alex gave her a mock glare. “I’ll tell you right now that a good wife never laughs at her husband!” he growled.

Charlotte felt light, giddy with happiness, emboldened by his dancing eyes. She put her slender hands against his cheeks and slowly drew them down, over the strong brown column of his neck, down his hard chest, just as she had during the fireworks.

“I like everything you’ve taught me so far,” she said wickedly.

“Oh yes, my lady?” Alex whispered back. His eyes shone with mischief. “And how low will you go?”

Charlotte snatched her hands away, giggling furiously.

“My turn!” Alex announced. He put his large brown hands on her cheeks. His palms almost covered her whole face, they were so large. And they felt intriguingly hard. Charlotte turned her head slightly and kissed the edge of his hand.

“No fair distracting me,” said her betrothed sternly. His fingers ran delicately over her face, pausing at her mouth. One rough finger traced the outline of her generous lower lip. Charlotte suddenly opened her mouth and small teeth bit down on his finger. Alex grinned. He stopped grinning when a warm tongue touched the tip.

“You taste like honey,” said Charlotte, staring at him, her eyes bemused.

Alex smiled and pulled his finger from her mouth, quickly bending his head down and replacing his finger with his tongue. Charlotte gasped. Two tongues met, at first discreetly questioning, but then Alex’s kiss changed. His mouth settled over hers with intent, demanding, forcing her mouth wider open. His tongue took on a wicked rhythm, coercing, mastering her. Charlotte found herself clinging helplessly to his shirt front, her head thrown back, completely vulnerable to Alex’s onslaught. Her heart was beating like a wild bird’s and she had instinctively closed her eyes … until his mouth withdrew. Then her eyes flew open. He was grinning at her.