But when Theo managed to retrieve his tongue and lips from where I was nipping at them, the analytical part of my mind pointed out that I had just been necking with a man who only the day before had kidnapped and assaulted me.

Oddly enough, that seemed to fade into unimportance in the face of what must surely be the world's best kisser.

"Sweet mother earth," I swore when he stepped back, releasing me.

"Salus invenitur," he said at the same time, his black eyes mirroring my surprise.

"What was that?" I asked, ignoring the giggles of three teenaged girls as they skirted us.

"A kiss. I think." Theo looked just as disconcerted by the experience as I felt. His expression changed to one of annoyance, though. He looked upward for a moment, then frowned at me. "Stop that."

"I would like to point out that you are the one who kissed me, not vice versa."

He raised one ebony eyebrow. "Really? So that wasn't you trying to suck my tongue out of my head?"

"I kissed you back. I did not initiate the kiss. If your tongue gets sucked out of your head, it's no fault of mine," I said righteously, straightening my shoulders and ordering my knees to stop melting at the memory of the kiss.

Theo walked next to me as I continued up the hill toward the pub, taking my hand again in what was no doubt a precautionary move to keep me from bolting. The fact that escaping him had slid down my top ten lists of things to accomplish in the next half hour was neither here nor there. "I would like to think the responsibility and praise for a kiss lies with both participants, not just one. Will you please stop that? It is getting annoying."