"Good night, Mr. Fairfax," she said in a shaky voice. Steven laughed and tossed his hat onto a settee to pull her against him. Her heart raced and heat climbed from her stomach to her chest at the intimacy of their contact--Emma could feel his rocklike masculinity pressing against the soft flesh of her thigh. "Mr. Fairfax," she protested. "I must insist--" Her words were smothered by the warm, moist conquest of his mouth. His tongue teased the corners of her lips, and when they opened for him, he consumed her. Emma whimpered and sagged slightly in surrender, as he plundered her sweetness. By the time the kiss ended, the room was spinning so that she could barely stand, and Steven deposited her in a nearby chair. "See you Saturday, Miss Emma," he said with a low chuckle. "Go to perdition, Mr. Fairfax," Emma replied breathlessly, not daring to meet his eyes. But she knew she'd go on the picnic with him, and so did he. Chloe"