Excerpt of Seducing Charlotte by Diana Quincy

He marveled at the way the sun illuminated the clear blue in her eyes. "I won't bother to dissemble, Miss Livingston." Taking hold of her hand, he pulled Charlotte around the massive tree trunk, out of the sight of the rest of the guests. "I hope to steal another kiss. Actually, I have thought of little else since our last one. Will you allow it?"

She flushed, her gaze floating beyond him. "Really, Camryn, if you ask for permission, it hardly qualifies as stealing a kiss."

Blood raced to his vitals when it registered she'd just told him to take what he wanted. Shaking his head, he wondered what is was about this woman that made him desperate to touch her again. It had been an agonizing week since he'd last felt her lips beneath his. Now, finally offered the opportunity, he greedily grasped it.

Cupping Charlotte's cheeks, he marveled at their satiny softness before lowering his face to hers, kissing one side of her succulent mouth and then the other. Then he intensified his actions, pressing down on her lips, bidding her to open them to him as she had once before.

When she did, he kissed her as deeply as he had ever kissed a woman. He licked and plunged his tongue deeper, greedy to taste more, losing himself in her subtle floral scent. She tasted of lemonade, a woman's softness, and unlimited possibility.

Her untutored tongue ventured to taste him as well, provoking a delighted sound of surprise from him. The wondering hum that sounded from the back of her throat made his body quicken in a rush of heat.

Awareness gradually filtered back to him, reminding Cam of their surroundings. He pulled away with great reluctance, his blood at a boil, and forced himself to take a step back lest he pull Charlotte to the grass and make love to her right there with other guests nearby.

She stood frozen in place with her eyes still closed, red circles burned into the high arches of her cheeks. After a moment, as if in a daze, her lids fluttered open. He easily recognized the hazy arousal in those unfocused blue depths for they mirrored his own.

They stood facing one another for a moment, bodies apart, but gazes interlocked. She blinked. "When I said you had a clever tongue, I really had no idea."