Page 45 of To Protect

She sat up. Roland licked his lips again, as if enjoying the taste of her that lingered there.

“Have you ever experienced release, Amalia?”

“I . . . do not believe so.”

That seemed to please him. “That is unexpected.” Without warning, he pulled her ankles so that Amalia sat on the edge of the bed. Cupping both cheeks, he looked into her eyes. “I am going to bring you pleasure each and every time we are alone together.”

“Can I do the same to you?”

He groaned. “You’ve already brought me pleasure this eve, Amalia.”

“But not”—she held her own hands over his—“in the same way as you.”

“In time,” he said. “Tonight is for kisses only.”

With that, he kissed her then, this time on the lips. It continued for what felt like a short time but also an eternity. When Roland did pull away, Amalia immediately felt the loss.

“So this is courting, is it?”

“I would not know. ’Tis my first time.”

“Hmm. Well, Gareth courted Evelina, and I do not believe he did that to her.”

“Did you like it?”

“Very much.”

“Good. I’m pleased you invited me here this eve.”

“I am pleased too,” she said, the understatement not lost on either of them.

“’Tis only the start, Amalia.”

“I look forward to what is next.”

“Do you?” he asked, cheekily. “Then perhaps I should show you.”