He needed to act. Her expression was quickly changing from one of desire to one of discomfiture before his eyes, probably because he’d not yet responded to her whispered confirmation. Judith pulled away from him and started to hurry toward their suite again.

Blast, he was a bumbling idiot. “Wait,” he called after her.

She stopped a few paces away from him, staring at her feet. Piers moved in front of her and lifted her chin, resting his hand against the rapid pounding on the side of her neck. Still, she looked away.

“ Judith?”

Once more, her tongue shot out over her smooth lower lip, and he was lost. His once bothersome erection was now raging to life, fighting against the flap of his pants for freedom. Piers gave in and buried both hands in the loose knot of her hair, pulling that luscious, heart-shaped mouth up to his.

Her clear, blue eyes shot up to him, filled with both anxiety and desire, when their lips touched. Christ, it was going to be difficult to restrain himself, but he couldn’t hurt her. He wouldn’t hurt her.

Not again.

Piers tilted her head, deepening the kiss. Cautiously, he traced the joining of her lips with his tongue, delving ever closer. The sweet hint of her sherry was enough to leave him intoxicated and desperate for her. Finally, Judith parted her lips on a sigh, her body falling closer to him until her stomach was pressed against his pulsing length. He needed no further encouragement.

He moved his hands down, sliding over the intricate fastenings on the back of her gown until he reached her firm bottom. Judith inhaled sharply when he molded his hands against her curves, pressing against her and lifting her high enough they could be joined, if not for their clothing.