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she wanted for more than just one kiss.
    But he didn’t have to make his next move. Instead of pushing him away, instead of bolting from his arms and running as far from him as humanly possible, Jane lifted a trembling hand and brushed a lock of hair from his forehead.
    “Wesley?” she whispered.
    It was said as a question and he shut his eyes. He couldn’t resist. “I’m going to kiss you again, Jane.”
    His voice was harsh with long pent up desire and he let his eyes come open in time to see surprise flash across her face. But it wasn’t unpleasant surprise.
    And that was enough.
    He dipped his head and took her lips again. Only this time, he didn’t concentrate on that shocked voice inside him that pointed out, yet again, that he and Jane were kissing. Instead, he felt the moment. It was one he’d been waiting for a long time without even realizing it.
    Jane’s hands moved up from their fisted position against his chest, winding around his neck where she clung tight, as if she were trusting him to keep her in place, to keep her safe. It was something he wasn’t sure he could do, not when her mouth was so hot on his. And especially not when, with a little groan, she began to kiss him back in earnest. Her reaction was timid at first, but she was a quick study and soon her mouth and tongue collided with his with a need as heavy and deep as his own.
    While he kept one hand at the small of her back, Wesley’s other hand moved. He slipped his fingers along the curve of her side, stroking the silky line of her gown with a feather light touch. He moved higher, his hand seeking, his body seeking until he found the swell of her breast. With a shiver, he cupped the globe.
    Jane let out a gasp, but she didn’t pull away from the kiss that was growing so hot Wesley was surprised he wasn’t burned by the touch. He tested the weight of her breast. Small but perfect, the nipple already hard to the touch beneath the thin fabric of her gown’s bodice. She was so responsive, despite their surroundings, despite her surprise, despite everything. He couldn’t help but wonder about her surrender if he was free to take this seduction further.
    Like to his carriage. His home. His bed.
    The thought was almost too much.
    “Jane?”
    A female voice in the distance cut off those dangerous thoughts and yanked Wesley back to reality. He pulled away from Jane’s lips and realized, with a mixture of arousal and horror, just what a position they were in. He had her pinned against the house, just barely out of sight of whoever it was that was looking for them, Jane’s breast was in his hand and her chin was lifted, trembling as she waited for another kiss.
    With difficulty, Wesley managed to back away, removing his offending hand just as Felicity came around the corner and called out her friend’s name a second time.
    “Jane? Ja-”
    Felicity stopped dead in her tracks and her mouth dropped open. Wesley turned to face the other woman just a moment too late. For her part, Jane hadn’t seemed to realize they’d been interrupted at all. Her eyes were still shut, her body quivering as she leaned against the wall.
    “Jane,” Wesley snapped beneath his breath.
    Her eyes flew open at his voice and she looked at Felicity and nearly went down on her backside. Clearly, she realized what her friend had seen as much as he did.
    A very compromising position. And not the kind they had hoped to orchestrate with their deception. On the contrary, it was the sort that could ruin Jane’s reputation permanently. The kind that could send she and Wesley to the alter.
    The idea gave him a very brief, rather terrifying thrill.
    Except that if Jane was to become his wife because of this, it would be a marriage of force… not one she desired. And those were not terms he could live with.
    “Felicity,” Jane faltered as she stumbled toward her friend. “We were just-I was only-”
    Jane’s gaze darted to him, held there for a moment and then high color