mood was catching so she grinned back. “No one except maybe Borgia. He’s the only one who has paid me any mind. I’ve no idea what he wants.”
“Don’t you?” His dark eyes became even darker and his hands roamed up and down her sides. He slid a finger up her wide sleeves to her elbows causing goose bumps all over her body.
Could a woman faint from a man’s touch? From his breath on her face? From wondering what might happen next?
Mouth dry, she whispered, “But he already has the most beautiful women in Rome.”
“No. He doesn’t have you.” His lips moved in closer as if ready for a kiss.
She almost backed away but stopped. Today she’d all but offered her virginity to Borgia so as to save the Carvajal family and hers. Certainly, compared to that, a kiss was nothing. Not knowing what to expect she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his.
That’s it? A bit disappointed, she drew back.
His eyes crinkled on the sides and the corners of his lips curled up. “Would you like me to kiss you back?”
“I’m not sure. That was hardly something to write poetry about.”
He tucked a finger under her chin. “That wasn’t a kiss. That’s why.”
No doubt her face showed a bit of disappointment. Her first kiss should’ve been one of the most magical moments of her life. “Our lips pressed together, so I believe that it signifies.”
“You’re too amusing. It doesn’t signify. One must do it correctly.” The black centers of his eyes enlarged and he moved his face in closer to hers.
“There are rules?” She touched a fingertip to his soft lips.
“Indeed there are.” His head lowered, a dark lock fell over one eye, and his breath warmed her face.
“Is there a book? Perhaps I should read—”
In one swift move, he locked her chin in his fingers and covered her lips with his mouth. His other arm tugged her tightly into his chest. With heart beating as wildly as hers, he devoured her, repeatedly nipping and caressing.
When he thrust his tongue into her mouth, the delight was beyond compare. A moan escaped from her and then a similar sound from him. Slow and wonderful heat built up until her whole body tingled. Not fully aware, she reached around the back of his head and dug her fingertips into his scalp, capturing him.
His tongue played in and out of her willing mouth, fervor growing. Suddenly, he groaned as if in great pain, pushed her away, and gasped.
“Scusami.” He stared at her, eyes wide as if in shock.
“Please don’t stop. It was wonderful. Truly delightful. I had no idea...Can we do more while we wait?”
Shaking his head, he went to his knees, stood, and helped her up. No small feat in the tiny space.
Her heart saddened. Perhaps he felt nothing? “I still didn’t do it right, did I?”
He cursed under his breath with brows creased, then peered out the hole into the vestibule of the church. “It’ll be dark soon. We should go.”
“Are you angry with me, Signore Carvajal?” What an odd man. One minute he was full of lust, the next moment, he pushed her away.
“I’m angry with myself. And under the circumstances, you should call me Bernardo.”
“You’re angry because we kissed? That hardly seems justified.” She’d hoped to learn more of what he offered her.
“No, Aurelia. For doing it so well. No more discussion on the subject. It’s time to go. Can you climb?”
“Certainly, I can.” With a huff, she led him up onto the roof of the small church.
The next step was much more challenging, requiring her to lift her skirts and get a running start. She jumped to the next roof, then swung down from an iron bar and dropped into the alley below.
In a moment, he was beside her, muttering and cursing that she shouldn’t be so damn good at this. Then, as if lovers, he tucked her under an arm and traversed the dangerous streets of Rome with his sword drawn.
When they emerged, bright torches lit the streets of finer homes, and he knocked on