Amelia discovered herself intrigued despite the fact that she had never been fond of studies.

"A rather odd belief."

"Ah, perhaps you would prefer the ancient Samarians, who thought the moon a young, handsome bull with long horns whom they named Sin."

"Sin." Her eyes suddenly twinkled with humor. "Somehow that seems a rather appropriate name."

"Indeed." His fingers moved to trace the line of her brow, sending a shock of sensations through her body. "Nights such as this lead to all sorts of wicked thoughts."

Wicked. Amelia shivered, feeling oddly unlike herself in the darkened garden. Perhaps it was the moonlight. Or the delicious scent of roses. Or perhaps this was simply a moment out of time, she thought dizzily. Whatever the reason, she desperately longed to shrug aside her heavy burdens and responsibilities. Just for now she wanted to be a young, beautiful maiden with nothing to concern her but a very desirable flirtation with a handsome gentleman.

With a deliberate coyness she peered at him from beneath her heavy lashes.

"You intrigue me, sir. What possible wicked thoughts could a gentleman such as you possess?"

His breath rasped through the air at her deliberately provoking manner, but his expression never altered.

"Thoughts best forgotten, my dear."

"Why?"

"You do enjoy playing with fire, do you not?" he murmured, his fingers moving to outline the full curve of her lips.

"At times, I suppose." Lost in the unfamiliar fever that seared her blood, Amelia shifted close enough to j feel his body through the thin lawn of her gown. "Do you prefer the more cautious paths?"

He gave a choked groan deep in his throat, his fingers convulsively cupping her cheek. "They are considerably safer."

"But often dull."

"And peaceful."

She gazed into the eyes that had turned to a misty smoke. "Surely as a scholar you desire some stimulation to keep your wits sharp?"

His features remained composed, but Amelia could; sense the rapid, uneven beat of his heart.

He might desire to be indifferent but his body was swiftly betraying him.

"It depends entirely upon the stimulation," he muttered. "My wits do not feel particularly sharp at the moment."

Her smile was filled with a feminine mystery as old as time. Oh no, at this moment she was not boring, responsible Amelia Hadwell at all.

"Perhaps you should blame it upon the moon."

"The moon does indeed possess its share of blame." His gaze lowered to where his fingers continued to brush over her lips. "But not all, I think."

"I have no ancient powers."

His expression became wry. "You are mistaken. Your powers are the most ancient of all."

A faint frown touched her brow as she sensed the rigid control that wrapped about his inner passions.

"Powers you are quite determined to resist, are you not?"

He drew in a deep, uneven breath, an unmistakable flare of pain darkening his eyes.

"It seems the wisest course."

"Why?"

"There is still a demon haunting the neighborhood. As long as there is danger then I must remain vigilant." His hand tightened upon her cheek, his expression somber. "It is very important, Amelia."

"Yes, I know," she agreed softly, even as her mind shied from recalling such unpleasantness.

There would be time enough for such worries tomorrow.

Clearly sensing her dangerous mood, Sebastian shifted uneasily. "You should return to bed."

Her fingers tightened upon his arm. "I am not tired. I feel... I do not know, as if my blood is on fire."

A fine shiver raced through him. A shiver echoed within herself.

"Moon madness," he whispered.

"Perhaps the moon does have its share of blame, but not all," she softly echoed his own words.

"Amelia," he moaned in agonized tones.

Emboldened by the undeniable desire smoldering In his eyes, Amelia leaned even closer to his welcome strength. Moon madness or not, she was not yet prepared for this interlude to end.

"Do you desire to kiss me?"

Sebastian stiffened, and for a horrified moment she thought she might have disgusted him with her forward behavior. He was no doubt a gentleman unaccustomed to such giddy recklessness.

Then he shifted so he could frame her face with his hands. liven in the moonlight she could easily detect the strain upon his countenance.

"You can have no notion," he breathed.

Her heart fluttered. "Then why do you not?"

"As I said, it is not wise."

Her own hands rose to cover his fingers still cupping her face. The tingling excitement in the air could not be denied.

"For the moment I do not wish to be wise. The moon is shining, the roses are blooming, and I am an aging spinster who has never been kissed."

"Hardly a spinster," he growled.

"I am three-and-twenty, near enough to be put upon the shelf."

"Absurd." His gaze stroked over her countenance, lingering for a long moment upon the unsteady line of her mouth. She could feel the taut control that hardened his body. "You are young and beautiful and utterly enchanting. If you desire to be kissed I do not doubt that gentlemen will be beating a path to your door."

Amelia could not stop her short, almost bitter laugh. "You know little of gentlemen if you believe they are interested in a maiden who has firmly turned her back upon society and devotes most of her attention to a brother most would consider mad."

Sebastian frowned, as if displeased with the stark truth she had accepted long ago.

"A gentleman of sense would surely rejoice at being well rid of society and delighted by your unwavering loyalty. Do not sell yourself short, my dear."

She realized that he was simply attempting to make her feel better. It was his nature. But at the moment she did not want sympathy or vague reassurances.

"Obviously I have yet to meet a gentleman of sense," she retorted in low tones.

Sebastian sucked in a deep breath, his head lowering until his forehead touched her own.

"Oh, Amelia, you are surely destined to shatter my peaceful existence."

He was so wondrously close. Near enough to make her entire body quiver with longing.

Amelia could resist temptation no longer. She wanted to know how it felt to be held in this man's arms and kissed by those lips that she had thought of far too often over the past few days.

Perhaps she was too reckless and impulsive, but she was quite certain that unless she did something desperate, Sebastian's rigid self-control would remain intact until the end of time.

Not giving herself time for second thoughts, Amelia lifted her hands until she could plunge her fingers into the thick silk of his hair. At the same moment she tilted her head so she could press her lips softly to his own.

At first the pure shock of pleasure that raced through her overrode every other sensation. The garden, the night, the world itself disappeared as giddy delight seared through her body. This was what a kiss was supposed to be, she thought dreamily. The heat, the racing excitement, and the dangerous stirrings deep within her.

Then, slowly, she realized that Sebastian was no longer holding himself stiffly in shock, but instead his arms had encircled her waist and he was fiercely returning her kiss.

With a moan of heady enjoyment, she leaned against the hard muscles of his chest, her hands running through the length of his hair. She could feel his shudders as he hungrily returned her kiss, and the rising tide of desire was sharply echoed within her.

She had hoped that the kiss would ease the frustration that was plaguing her, but oddly, it only seemed to fuel the restless need. She wanted to be closer, to run her hands over the hard planes of his body and to feel his fingers against her bare skin. She yearned to drown in the flood of sensations that clouded her mind and tormented her body.

It was the knowledge that her thoughts were becoming increasingly wicked that caused Amelia at last to reluctantly pull back.

"Oh," she breathed unsteadily.

His lips twitched at her obvious shock, but the silver eyes remained dark with barely suppressed desire.

"Is that all you have to say?"

Her hands moved to clutch his shoulders. It was that or sinking to the damp ground.

"It was very ... enlightening."

Sebastian's own hands lightly trailed up and down her spine, seemingly unaware of the distracting sparks he was setting off.

"I am uncertain if that is good or bad."

"I am uncertain as well."

He was caught off guard by her blunt honesty, "Amelia, what is it?"

Sensing his growing concern, she managed a small smile. "You spoke of danger, but I did not realize pre-cisely how potent a mere kiss could be."

She half expected him to laugh at her innocent amazement. Or even to reveal a faint smugness at his ability to stir her with such ease.

Instead, his expression was heartbreakingly tender as he gazed deep into her wide eyes.

"Nor did I."

She regarded him with a faint frown. "But you have kissed before."

His hand shifted to lightly stroke her cheek. "Ah, but I have not kissed you before." He drew in a deep breath. "Now I must firmly insist that you return to your bed while I am still able to allow you to go alone."