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thoughts behind his shining, silvery eyes.
    At least crinkles at the corners hinted at his delight and Althea smiled in return. A smile that vanished into a startled gasp as he sucked her index finger into his mouth. His tongue twirled around the tip. In her dreams, he lavished such attentions on her nipples. And tonight he would for real.

    Blood Red by Sharon Page ©2006 Advance Reader Copy www.SharonPage.com 20
    And heaven help her, she wanted it so desperately she felt she might burst.
    Then she flushed, knowing she must do something she hadn’t yet done.
    “Thank you,” Althea whispered, “for saving my father.” She had to whisper. Their meeting was illicit, forbidden, but also, the moment was magical, and she was afraid to shatter it.
    “Anything for you, love.” His lordship caressed her cheek and led her hand to his.
    She’d never touched a man this way, and it was beautiful, strangely sweet, to trace the high ridge of his cheekbone, to slide her fingers into his soft hair. Gathering courage, she laid her hand lightly against his face. Touching him helped her believe he was real. His skin was raw silk and his raspy stubble tickled her palm.
    His gaze burned into her. “And you, my beautiful warrior, were magnificent. Courageous.”
    “How did you send such power out of your—”
    “Ssh.”
    “No. I need to know. How did you escape imprisonment when your twin brother could not?
    What do you truly want?”
    “You. I truly want you.” He turned his face in her hand and touched his lips to her palm.
    Dabbed his tongue in the sensitive center.
    “Tonight we are just a man and a woman, love.”
    Althea’s legs weakened again. He caught her by her hips, supporting her. He splayed his hand over her lower back. Even through her flannel nightdress, his heat seared her.
    But just a woman or not, she needed to know. “What of Crenshaw, the servants, the other guests? How did you—”
    “I entered their minds and erased much of what they remembered. They believe your father had a severe stomach upset. Now, sweet, I am beginning to wish I could control your mind with the same ease.”
    “You can’t?”
    “If I could, love, we would have been naked, entwined, and screaming in ecstasy long ago.”
    A jolt of agony shot through Althea’s belly at his blunt words. It must have showed plainly on her face because he gave a triumphant grin.
    “You have the most tempting mouth, sweet. I imagine that every man you meet hungers to kiss you.”
    That startled her. She’d never received more than hurried, chaste pecks from men. Nothing that prepared her for his hot mouth on hers.
    He lifted her, just enough to allow his lips to slant sensuously over hers. He coaxed her mouth open, the way he did in his dreams. In her dreams, it was so shockingly intimate to kiss with her mouth wide. But the reality was even more scorching and sinful and perfect.
    His tongue slid in, filling her mouth with heat and pressure and taste.
    She loved it. She pushed forward. Stopped short.
    Fangs .
    She pulled back.
    The hurt in his eyes speared her heart.
    Impulsively, Althea arched up and slid her hands around his strong neck. She’d never done Blood Red by Sharon Page ©2006 Advance Reader Copy www.SharonPage.com 21
    this—never claimed a kiss, not even in her dreams. In the dreams, he always took her. She was always the one lured and seduced and possessed.
    She had no idea how to kiss.
    Pushing aside fear, she let hunger guide her. She moved her mouth over his, pressing hard, then softly, shifting as he did, savoring his mouth. The earl possessed a heat she’d never known, an intimate taste she couldn’t define.
    His tongue slid in again and tangled with hers. He kissed her until her wits whirled. Until she understood he would kiss her all night. He kissed her as he tugged the ribbon from her braid and threaded his fingers through her hair. Kissed her as he yanked open the belt of her wrapper and slid it off her shoulders. And kissed