William’s lips were as soft and warm as Brynn had imagined. His kiss was gentle. Tentative. An invitation rather than an assertion. She could feel him holding back, waiting for her response.

Pulling away just enough to search her face, he questioned her with his eyes.

She answered him by wriggling her arms free and placing both of her hands on his chest. She could feel each rise and fall of his breath through her palms and, deeper, his heart pounded as thunderously as her own. ...