Kissing her was madness, but Kit couldn’t seem to help himself. Her lips were these perfectly plump, bow-shaped temptations just begging for his mouth. He’d been trying to resist her all night, since the moment he entered her room and saw her luscious hair spread out over her shoulders. Up until now, he’d been doing a fine job.

But then she’d been in pain, and the sight had wrecked him. He’d crumbled, rushing over to make her feel better. The more he touched her, however, the more he seemed to crave it. To need it. Then his reason departed the instant her big eyes met his, beseeching him not to leave.

Christ, he was a fool for those eyes.

He paused just before their lips met. “Or would you rather I left?”

She pulled on his hand, doing her best to bring him closer, so he gave up fighting it and pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her hard. This was different from their earlier explorations. Those had been lessons, a guided descent into vigorous kissing. Now she was on equal footing, giving as good as she got from the start, and the result set his insides ablaze. All the desire he’d been storing the last few days came out in this kiss, his tongue slipping into her mouth almost immediately, twining and stroking with hers.

His hand cupped the back of her head, holding her as he devoured her. Delicate fingers slid up his chest and over his jaw, exploring, and blood pooled in his groin in sweet pulses. God, he wanted her too badly. It was all he could think about lately, ever since she sucked on her finger in the kitchen.

She’s a virgin, not a mistress.

And yet his body hadn’t received the message, apparently, because his cock was already hard, pushing against his clothing in a desperate bid for friction. That would have to wait until he returned to his room, however. Kissing was as far as he could take this tonight.

So he continued, making the most of what he could. He changed the angle, deepened the kiss, loving the way she softened to accommodate him and bring him closer. Her mouth was wet and lush, her tongue slick and greedy. If only he could stretch out next to her, feel the length of her alongside every part of him. Wrap his arms around her, sink inside and just stay there for days.

She let go of his other hand and shifted to put her arms around his shoulders. His free hand drifted to her waist, then higher, where he caressed her ribs through a few layers of flimsy cloth. More wasn’t possible with Alice, but it didn’t stop him from wanting it, from contemplating sliding his hand under her dressing gown and finding her breast, tugging on her nipple.