CHAPTER 16
Once everyone had left them, Hetty rounded on Miles. “I am so terribly sorry, I don’t know why I said that. You don’t have to marry me. I just couldn’t see Rose getting her claws into you. I feel…”
Miles knew that they needed to talk things through. And that while he hadn’t wanted to marry, the thought of marriage to Hetty didn’t see so bad at all.
He wanted to know what it would be like to lay beside her at night and for Hetty’s face to be the first thing he saw in the morning. He wanted to kiss her, more than he had ever wanted anything. And so, as she rambled on about how sorry she was, he gave in to his temptation.
Capturing her lips mid-sentence, Miles felt a jolt of excitement when their lips touched. It was electric, the moment so spontaneous and unlike him that he wanted to laugh out loud.
Hetty’s lips were firm and petal soft, she felt perfect in his arms and he cursed himself for not kissing her ages ago. Her lips were slightly parted, tempting him to take this even further.
Hetty felt her heart fly out of her chest, Miles Warner was actually kissing her! His lips were demanding a response and even though this was her first kiss, Hetty kissed him back with innocent enthusiasm.
When he licked her bottom lip, Hetty gasped in surprise. She knew from her Bluebell meetings that men liked to kiss with their tongues. But she had never expected to like it.
A dark luxurious feeling was swirling in her stomach. And when he slipped his tongue into her mouth, Hetty felt her knees weaken.
Moaning into their kiss, Hetty clutched Miles, as the kiss seemed to overtake them. She wanted to touch him, be with him, a hunger that she had never known before had been awakened.
Miles knew that he was rapidly losing control of this kiss. Hetty set his desires on fire, and he wanted to find the nearest bed, desk or wall to complete what he had started.
But she was new at this and deserved more than a quick tup in the shadows.
He broke their kiss with a few soft kisses, gentling their passion and calming the raging as best as he could.
Her eyes were glazed and her lips swollen. She was so completely lovely.
“I shan’t apologize for this, we are engaged after all.”
Hetty blinked to clear her eyes, he was joking, wasn’t he? She looked at him closely and saw the humor in his eyes.
“I cannot believe you are making light of the situation,” Hetty breathed out a laugh.
Miles caught her close against his chest, “Is it honestly that bad? Can you not imagine marrying me?”
Hetty relished the feeling of being trapped against his firm chest. “You don’t wish to marry me,” she muttered against his chest. “I am the one who blurted it out.”
Miles laughed, the sound reverberating out of his chest. “I must admit, I was surprised.”
Hetty groaned miserably.
“I do not think that you understand, Hetty.”
She looked up into his eyes, “Understand what, exactly?”
“I have never been happier to have someone save me. I was in a terrible fix of my own stupid doing. I knew that something was off with Miss Darlington, but I was trying to be the gentleman. If you hadn’t interfered, I would be engaged to the harpy by now.”
“Now you are engaged to this harpy,” Hetty whispered.
“You are not a harpy, nor are you anything like that awful woman. I am truly pleased. I feel somewhat euphoric.”
Hetty pushed out of his arms, “We can stay engaged for a time and then I will cry off and you will be free. I have no wish to force myself upon you.”
Miles hot gaze fell upon her, “I will not have my fiancé doubting my devotion to her. I have no wish to free.”
Hetty frowned, “You are only being noble, Miles. And I do appreciate it, honestly, I do. But I know that this wasn’t your intention tonight.”
Miles caught her arm, “You think that you trapped me, don’t you?”
Hetty nodded miserably.
“Henrietta, would you make me a deal? Would you allow our engagement to stand while we get to know each other better? If you still do not wish to marry me in a few weeks, I will let you go.”
Hetty thought about it, “I will agree to that, Miles. But I don’t think that anything will change in that time.”
Miles grinned rakishly, “I shall have my work cut out for me. But for now,” he pulled her into him and kissed her hard on the lips, “I will enjoy the wooing of my future bride.”