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taken an instant disliking to him. He didn’t remember the incident, but the pain in Lucy’s eyes was real enough.
    Lucy gave a laugh. “Aye, no man would dance with me that sennight, not after the great Lord Dominic had passed judgement on me.”
    “Forgive me, I never meant to insult you. I was—”
    “Oh, aye, you never meant to insult me, I’ll grant you that. I overheard you speaking with your friends. You had not even the courage to say it directly.”
    He cursed inwardly. It would not have been the first time his glib tongue had the better of him, but he liked to think that he would not stoop so low as to insult a lady - not now he was older and wiser at least.
    “I was a young lad, I knew not what I was saying. Surely you would not hold my foolish behaviour against me still?”
    “Mayhap I would not if I thought your behaviour had improved at all these past years, but I’ve yet to see a difference. You are still the same arrogant, judgemental, shallow philanderer that you were back then.”
    “And yet you do not know me.”
    “I know you well enough. I have heard tales aplenty of your exploits.”
    He smirked. So she heeds what the gossips say…interesting. Edging closer, he bore down upon her. A faint flush appeared high on her cheeks but she remained firm, holding his gaze.
    “Ah, my exploits. And pray tell what have you heard?”
    “Enough to know that you would not think twice about playing with a woman’s heart—”
    “Your heart?”
    “You could not touch my heart, Lord Dominic,” she spat.
    “So ‘tis gossip that seals your opinion of me. And yet you despise me for my judgemental ways?”
    “Nay, I… well, what of your behaviour towards me? You can offer no excuse but that you were young. And I have yet to see aught to persuade me that you have changed.”
    “Then mayhap I shall have to work harder to persuade you.”
    “You could ne—”
    Swooping down, he cut her off with a kiss. Lucy squealed but before she could react he had her firmly in his embrace, his hands pressing determinedly into her back. God’s teeth, but she tasted good. Like honey and mead. A faint taste of wine sat on her tongue as he dipped into her mouth. He could stay here forever. She gasped and wriggled, and he tore himself reluctantly away.
    Trembling, she gaped at him. Dominic braced himself for the inevitable slap. Hell, he hadn’t meant to kiss her, but the sweet softness of her lips had practically begged him to, even as she threw insults at him.
    He kept his arms around her, unable to bring himself to release her.
    The fire built in her eyes and he waited. And then, instead of tearing herself away, she came up onto her tiptoes and flattened her lips to his.
    ~* * *~
    Lucy found her fingers curling around Dominic’s neck. Even as her mind screamed at her to stop, she pushed for more. Soft lips parted, his strong tongue invaded and she would have fallen into a boneless puddle on the floor had it not been for his hand burning into the small of her back.
    Just a little bit more…
    It was not like a handsome man would ever kiss her again. She teased him with her tongue and relished the sound of his strangled groan. His fingers pinched into her flesh, bold and strong and she allowed her hands to trail across his arms, fingering the flexing muscles underneath his shirt. Behind her closed lids, stars danced across her vision and as riot of sensations swept over her, a great ache opening up even as his tongue satisfied her own curious one.
    He wrenched himself from her arms abruptly and cold air assailed her as she snapped open her eyes.
    Oh God.
    Her father had Dominic pinned to the wall, his meaty fist grasping the cloth of his tunic as he glowered at him, his heavy jaw clenched with rage. Her mother stood beside them, feebly trying to persuade her husband to release Dominic.
    “Father, cease!” Lucy scurried over and placed herself on the other side of the pair.
    Dominic did not struggle and she suspected he