The From Paris With Love And Regency Season Of Secrets Ultimate Collection. Кэрол Мортимер

normal people’s vocabulary didn’t usually include words like entail. And like it never occurred to him that she hadn’t gone to college. He treated her as if she possessed intelligence. That was potent.

      “Well, to the best of my knowledge, there’s a time limit. We have to get to know each other as quickly as possible before the bell rings. It’s designed so you can figure out if you’re compatible in a short period of time.”

      He cocked his head, lips pursed. “I already know I like you. Why do we need to have a speed date to figure that out?”

      She shook her head, gaze glued to his. A part of her wanted to take this instant attraction to its natural conclusion as fast as possible. But no smart girl jumped into the pool without at least some clue how deep it was.

      “Consider it part of the application process. There’s a spark here, and I’m curious to see what happens if we fan it.”

      His irises flared. “Just so I’m clear, how does the time limit factor in?”

      “Ask as many questions as you want, as fast as you can, and when the timer on my phone goes off, you’re going to kiss me.”

      His palm cupped her face, tilting it up to almost meet his. “What if we skip the timer and I kiss you right now?”

      “That’s no fun.” She firmly removed his hand from her chin, only to lose it to her hair as he threaded his fingers through the loose curls not caught up in her feather headpiece.

      His warm thumb rested in the hollow behind her ear, brushing it lightly. “Clearly you need a refresher on how good my lips feel on yours.”

      The shiver went deeper this time, and a nice little hum zipped along her skin, tightening all her erogenous zones into an ache she’d not experienced in a long time. Apparently the speed date was unnecessary to fan the spark.

      “Where’s your sense of adventure? Five minutes.”

      She pulled her phone from the clutch tied to a string at her waist and tapped up the timer. She set it on the stone ledge behind Matt, then locked onto the ice-blue of his eyes. Anticipation was one of her favorite parts, and she’d happily drag it out as long as she could.

      “I’ll go first,” he said. “How many times have you seduced a man on a balcony?”

      She couldn’t help but laugh. Was that what she was doing? “Never. I’m making all sorts of exceptions for you.”

      “How many times have you seduced a man period?”

      “Once or twice. I’m not one to apologize for having a healthy sex drive. Should I?”

      “Not to me. Maybe to all the other men down there who are missing out. Your turn.”

      “I’m naked. What do you do first?”

      “Fall down on my knees and weep with joy. Did you really mean to ask what I’d do second?”

      Oh, yeah, she really did like Matt. There was something to be said for a guy who could make her laugh with such regularity. “That is what I meant, and before you get all smart-alecky with me, go ahead and hit me with third, fourth and fifth.”

      “Did I buy you dinner first?”

      “Who cares? I’m naked or did you forget?”

      “Oh, no, my gorgeous little butterfly, I did not forget. I asked because I’m trying to get a solid picture in my head of the scene.”

      His hand pressed on her nape, oh-so-slightly, and her head fell back. His lips grazed the corner of her mouth, not quite touching, but close enough to send a frisson of sparkling heat all the way down to her core.

      Well, she hadn’t intended for this speed date to descend into foreplay, but okay. It was sizzling. And personal information, like their secret professions, or lack thereof in her case, wasn’t likely to come up.

      “Are you naked on a bed after I’ve undressed you?” he murmured against her jaw, breath fanning the uncovered part her of face and making her ache to turn into those lips to complete the connection. “Or naked in the shower and have no idea I’m about to join you? Naked, but asleep and I’m going to awaken you slowly?”

      Her lungs hitched. “Cheater. You’ve played this game before.”

      She felt his mouth turn up against her cheek. “Let’s assume I’m a quick study. Your answer? I believe that was three questions.”

      “It was?”

      Who was seducing whom here? And how far did she want this to go? Never had she contemplated such a dangerous liaison with a mysterious man she’d only just met but who touched her on so many levels.

      “Bed, shower or asleep? I must know in order to tell you what I plan to do. Or perhaps you’d prefer I show you?”

      Yes, yes she would. Except she couldn’t speak, as he slid an arm around her waist, drawing her taut against his warm body. She clutched his shoulders and they were amazing and strong underneath his jacket. “There’s no shower on this balcony.”

      “So true,” he murmured. “The alarm’s going off.”

      It wasn’t. She didn’t care.

      He covered her mouth with his and turned her into liquid mercury for the second time. The man was a master, hot and forceful, and her lips fell open under the divine pressure. He plunged in, tongue skimming against hers, deliciously rough and tasting of champagne.

      She moaned and changed the angle, inviting him deeper, urging him forward with small tugs of her hands against his shoulders. More, she needed more, needed to quench the thirst raging in her veins with this extremely arousing man.

      Judging by the full-fledged blaze between them, he felt the same. About her, not Eva. How great was that, to be with a man who hadn’t already made a bunch of snap judgments?

      “Touch me,” she commanded hoarsely, her damaged voice even more raw with desire.

      Almost hesitantly, he palmed her breast through the thick bodice of the dress, and she nearly growled in frustration. Forget that. She reached down and gathered up the hem of the ridiculously full skirt and tucked it under the sash at her waist. She guided his hand through the opening, straight to her bottom.

      It was his turn to groan as he flattened his palm against her bare cheek. “A thong? That is unbelievably sexy.”

      “Not nearly as sexy as your hand on it while I’m still fully dressed.” He explored the uncovered flesh and traced the strings into her crevice and back out again. Her knees almost buckled. “Don’t stop. Keep going.”

      He took her mouth again, ravenous and greedy, as his fingers nudged underneath the silk. Just far enough to steal her breath for a long second. Blatantly, she circled her pelvis, silently begging him to go deeper.

      Whether she’d planned to go this far or not, her body wasn’t holding back. She was about to come apart under his capable hands.

      Instead, he withdrew entirely and blew out a heavy breath, smoothing her skirts down with a confusing finality. “Angie, I have to confess something.”

      “You’re married.” Disappointment swamped her so quick and so fast she nearly convulsed. The ache, which had moments ago been a vortex of desire, cooled. She should have known.

      “No.” He shook his head in vehement denial. “I’m completely unattached. It’s just...I don’t...”

      “You’re not attracted to me.” But his impressive length had ground hard against her, evident even through the monstrosity of fabric at her waist.

      He swallowed hard. “How could you possibly think that? I’ve never been so turned on in my life. There’s this one small problem. I’ve never seduced a woman on a balcony, so I’m ah...unprepared.”

      Oh. “You don’t have a condom.”

      The