She lifted her pale eyebrows, regarding him seriously. “Why? What kind of danger are you?”
“I’m the worst kind of danger!” he declared. Unable to resist, he cupped her soft cheek firmly in his palm and planted a kiss on her lips. He ignored her frantic struggles, enjoying her soft inexperience as he sucked gently on her lips, tasting her innocence.
He leaned back slightly and gazed at her startled expression. The sensual curve of her lips, parted slightly with surprise, belied the innocence of her large eyes. The curious, childlike expression seemed out of place on this face which belonged to the body of a woman. Her cheeks, flushed crimson, were evidence of her inexperience, and Blake found her naïvety both charming and refreshing.
She didn’t even slap him, which is what he would have expected. At the moment she was trying very hard to look grown up, her head held erect, chin slightly raised.
For a fleeting moment he considered following his own suggestion and stealing her away. But a woman was the last thing he needed in his life, and it would hardly be fair to her. Blake had nothing but danger to offer. She read something in his expression and frowned. He grinned at her confusion.
“Perhaps you are a woman,” he murmured appreciatively.
With what he knew was both a discerning and thoroughly masculine appraisal, his eyes flicked to the bonnet that refused to contain her flowing tresses, then swept slowly down to the patchy smock which obscured what he firmly believed was a delicious, shapely body. His dark eyes bored through the ragged layers of her clothing, allowing his knowledge of women to complete the picture. Apparently satisfied, he smiled and his eyes returned to hers.
The flush in her cheeks rose again, this time in anger. “You, sir, are a vile beast and a conceited devil, believing you may take liberties with me!” He recognised the panic in her eyes as it dawned on her that she was totally alone with a man she didn’t know. The pulse beating at the side of her neck beat faster. She touched her lip tentatively, then shook her head in disbelief. “How dare you presume you can kiss me? You are rude, ungentlemanly—”
Oh, she was delightful. His shoulders shook as he laughed. “Would you care to add more to your list?” he asked. “I have not been scolded like this since I was a boy. I’m finding the experience rather invigorating.”
“Arrogant, bold … and outrageous!” she added, crossing her arms with finality.
He couldn’t help himself. The urge to tease her was too strong. “So I take it I’m to your satisfaction,” he said.
The girl opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, at a loss. She took a deep breath and blew it out again, trying to wriggle free of his arms. “You, sir, are behaving reprehensibly. This is most improper!”
“May I remind you, my fair maid, that you willingly engaged in my company. You had a choice to decline my offer for a ride.”