Daniel. His eyes widened and he licked his lips. I raised the corner of my mouth and bowed slightly. Daniel walked up to me and smiled, causing my knees to shake. For a moment, it felt as if the earth was moving and I fought to stand upright.
He took a step closer to me as his eyes moved about my face. When they landed on my lips, I instinctively licked them. His eyes were ablaze with fire. I took a step back as he took another step forward. My breathing increased as I felt something I’d never felt before.
Desire.
Want.
Need.
“Good evening … um … Daniel.”
Daniel took another step toward me. “I prefer for you to call me, Danny.”
I could no longer take a step back, for I was pressed up against a stone wall as I watched Daniel moving closer to me. His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Did you enjoy your conversation with Mitchel?” he asked, his voice sounding strained.
Swallowing hard, I squeezed my legs together. The pulsing in the pit of my stomach was unlike anything I had ever experienced. My mouth was dry as cotton. “Who?” I asked.
A breeze swept between us, blowing my long, soft curls around. Daniel reached over and placed a curl between his fingers. He smiled as he gazed into my eyes. “I am glad to see he did not leave an impression on you.” He leaned closer. “This may be too forthcoming, but I’ve been watching you all evening. Your beauty takes my breath away, Sophia.”
My chest rose and fell with each breath I took. I closed my eyes and longed for more of him. Nelly had shared stories with me of stolen moments she had with Richard, her betrothed. The things she told me would cause a desire to blossom and I would place my hand in my drawers at night, touching myself to feel the way she described. Nothing ever happened. I would only end up more frustrated.
I placed my hands on Daniel’s chest. I could feel his heart beating. Did he desire me as much as I desired him?
Searching my face, Daniel whispered, “Tell me your desire, Sophia.”
Inhaling a deep breath, I looked into his blue eyes. The only word that would escape from my lips was the one thing I desired more than anything.
“Danny…”
When he closed his eyes, I began to panic. The way I was behaving. No man would ever respect this type of behavior. My eyes filled with tears. “You must surely think of me as…”
His eyes opened quickly and he placed his finger on my lips. “Never, Sophia. Never say such a thing. You’re smile was all I could see in my dreams last night. Your lips are all I have desired to taste since I awoke this morning. Your skin is all I have wanted to touch since you walked into the parlor this evening.”
Oh. My.
I smiled as I whispered, “Kiss me to fulfill your desire of taste. Touch me to ease your want … and mine.”
His smile widened as he placed his hands on the sides of my face. The moment he touched me, my body tingled from head to toe. Yes. This is the feeling Nelly spoke of. This is what I have longed for.
Danny slowly moved closer, never taking his eyes from my lips. When he stopped in front of me, he closed his eyes, as did I. The feel of his lips brushing gently across mine caused me to moan. I had kissed a boy before. I had kissed plenty of boys. I had never kissed a man who brought every single one of my senses to life.
I felt his tongue seeking entrance to my mouth. I slowly opened, and when our tongues met, I tasted him. It was a taste I would never be able to describe. Danny’s hand moved to the nape of my neck and he pulled my body to him. I felt his hard desire pressed into my stomach. Wrapping my arms around him, I pulled him closer to me. Our kiss turned passionate, needy, and full of raw desire.
I pulled back from his lips. “Touch me, please.”
His eyes searched mine as he smiled. “My darling…”
Reaching down, I lifted my gown as I reached between my legs and moaned when I felt the wetness. I wanted to push my fingers inside but Danny grabbed my hand and lifted it above my head as he pushed me against the stone wall. The raw brut behavior did something to me as I gasped. “Oh God,” I whispered. “More.”
Danny’s eyes widened and soon I was rewarded with the feel of his fingertips moving closer to my pulsing sex. I began to pant. No man had ever touched me there. No man had ever made my body throb with desire. This … this was the touch of a man who knew how to please a woman. “Danny, I have never—” I
panted between breaths.
His lips pressed against the skin on the side of my neck. “Sophia, promise me you will voice to me if I hurt you.”
I nodded my head frantically. “Yes. Yes, I will.”