“Three.”
She burst out laughing. “You just said two!”
“Right, but it just occurred to me that I also saved you,” Jack said with a smug grin. “Not only did I win, but we’re standing under mistletoe, and I just saved your life.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Three kisses.”
“Saved my life?” she said in disbelief. “Had I known you would have demanded payment, I would have crawled on my hands and knees!”
Jack made a face. “Cease teasing me, woman. What I wouldn’t do to see you on your—”
She slapped her hand over his mouth. “Don’t make me add another way to kill you in my little book.”
He smiled against her fingertips, her very bare, cold fingertips, then slowly removed her hand and kissed the open palm. “Oh, I think you should. It amuses me greatly when you pretend you would rather kill me than kiss me, when we both know…” He leaned in so his mouth nearly brushed hers. “…you’ve been thinking about it for the past ten minutes. They say anticipation is the best part.”
“Oh, it is,” she said with fake sweetness. “For the kissing almost always falls flat.”
“Who the devil have you been kissing?”
“Frogs.” She smirked.
“Damn it.” He lifted her into his arms, she wrapped her legs around his waist; he steadied her against the icy wall as his mouth descended towards her warm neck. “I’m not a frog.”
“Then what, pray tell, are you?” She arched into his body. “A prince?”
He pulled back, his eyes searching hers. “I should think you’d know by now. I’m yours. I’ve always been yours.”
And then, he kissed her.
CHAPTER SIX
SARA SHOULD HAVE helped herself.
She should have slapped him in his perfect face.
She should have done a lot of things. Instead, she kissed him back, her hands giving his cravat a greedy tug as she jerked him forward until his masculine warmth crowded against her.
With a groan, he deepened the kiss, pressing his palms flat against hers, pining her against ice — his mouth was like fire, hot, aggressive, its tiny flames licking and swirling until she had no choice but to give in — to allow herself to be burned alive by his heat.
It seemed it was Jackson Mayford’s turn to set her on fire.
And it was so much better than she remembered.
He rocked his body against hers, greedily suckling her lower lip as he rained kisses down her neck, with one free hand keeping her steady while the other dipped into her bodice, the chill from his fingertips caused a sizzle of awareness to spread down her legs.
And then.
As luck would have it.
A throat, once again, cleared.
Jackson didn’t drop her this time, simply pulled back and barked out, “A little busy.” And kept kissing her! The arrogance! The… absolute… She answered him kiss for kiss, their mouths bruising under the desperate pleasure.
“Ahem.”
With a curse, Jack pulled back. “What?”
“What are your intentions?” Lucas Mayford, Earl of Ashbury did not sound pleased. Then again, he never sounded pleased when he caught Jack and Sara doing something they should not be doing.
But this was different.
Because as much as she wanted to run away for fear he would break her heart all over again…
She was on fire.
For him.
And if she would burn.
She would do it holding his hand.
By his side.
For as long as he’d allow it.
“Funny, I could have sworn I was just making my intentions known until I was rudely interrupted.” Jack smirked wickedly at his brother, earning a thunderous look and then the earl’s lips twitched into what looked to be a suppressed smile.
“Well then.” The earl nodded. “Best let you get on with it. I’ll distract Mother.”
“Thank God you’re in love and see reason,” Jack muttered.
“Yes well, it is Christmas.” Lucas smiled at Sara. “While kissing under mistletoe is encouraged with one’s soon-to-be-betrothed, I will be forced to put my foot down if I hear the creaky footsteps of this one sneaking into your bed chamber.”
“Damn it, I forgot about the third stair.” Jack snapped his fingers.
“And the seventh.” Sara nodded. “We mustn’t forget about the seventh.”
“The banister!” Jack said as though his brother did not even exist. “I believe we can manage it if we are very quiet.”
“I’m standing right here,” Lucas announced in a bored tone. “Good God, it’s as if the world’s worst hellions decided to join forces.” His face paled. “This may not be a good union.”