Considering that it wasn't yet noon, Belle could only wonder as to the length of Persephone's route, but she didn't say a word as the older lady fluttered out the door.

"Not exactly the sternest of chaperones," John commented.

"No."

"Shall we retire to a parlor? I'm desperate to kiss you, and I'd rather not do it in the hall."

Belle blushed but led the way to a nearby drawing room.

John kicked the door shut and hauled her into his arms. "Chaperone-less for the entire day," he murmured between kisses. "Was ever a man so blessed?"

"Was ever a woman so blessed?" Belle countered.

"I think not. Come over here to the sofa so I can ply you with chocolates and flowers." He took her hand and pulled her along with him as he crossed the room.

Belle giggled softly as she let him lead her to the sofa. She had never seen him so lighthearted, so carefree. There was still a thin veil of sadness and hesitation in his eyes, but it was nothing compared to the haunted look she'd seen back in Oxfordshire. "The only person you're plying with those chocolates is yourself. You've already had three."

John sat and pulled her down next to him. "There is no point in bringing a lady an edible gift unless you like it, too. Here, have one. They're quite good." He picked up a sweet and held it in front of her mouth.

Belle smiled and bit away half of it, licking her lips with deliberate seductiveness as she chewed. "It's exquisite," she murmured.

"Yes, it is." He wasn't talking about chocolate.

Belle leaned forward for the rest of the candy and took it in her mouth, daringly licking his fingers as she did so. "A little bit melted on your skin," she said innocently.

"A little bit melted on your skin, too." He moved toward her and licked the corner of her mouth, sending shivers of desire right to the tips of her toes. Leaning forward, he ran his tongue along the soft edge of her upper lip. "I missed a bit here," he murmured. "And here." He moved to her lower lip, which he teased between his teeth.

Belle had quite forgotten how to breathe. "I think I like being courted," she whispered.

"Haven't you ever been before?" John took a little nip of her ear.

"Not like this."

"Good." He smiled possessively.

Belle arched her neck as he ran his lips along her tender skin. "I hope you haven't conducted any other courtships with this particular brand of, er, persuasion."

"Never," he promised.

"Good." Belle's smile was equally possessive. "But you know," she said, taking a quick gasp of air as his hand stole around and cupped her breast. "There is more to courting than flowers and chocolate."

"Mmm-hmm. There is kissing." He squeezed her breast through her dress, causing Belle to squeal with wonder.

"Of course," Belle sighed. "I wasn't forgetting that."

"I'll do my best to keep that at the forefront of your mind." John was busy figuring out the best way to free one of her perfect little breasts from the confines of her attire.

"That's fine. But you must remember, I won't let you forget that you owe me a poem."

"You're a stubborn wench, aren't you?" John finally decided that the best course of action was simply to push the dress down and thank God that the fashions of the day did not require endless streams of buttons.

"Not particularly." Belle laughed softly. "But I still want that poem."

John momentarily diverted her attention by carrying out his plans. He smiled and moaned with pure masculine pleasure as he looked down on her dusky nipple, puckered with desire. He licked his lips.

"John-you're not going to…?"

He nodded and did.

Belle felt all her limbs go weak, and she melted into the sofa, pulling John along with her. He worshipped her breast for a full minute and then moved on to the other one. Belle was helpless against his sensual onslaught and couldn't control the soft cries of desire escaping through her lips. "Say something," she finally moaned.

"Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?" he quoted. "Thou art-"

"Oh, please, John," Belle said, pulling his head off of her breast so that she could look into his laughing brown eyes. "If you're going to plagiarize, at least have the sense not to choose something so famous."

"If you don't stop talking this instant, Belle, I shall be moved to drastic action."

"Drastic action? Now that sounds interesting." She pulled his mouth back down onto hers and kissed him eagerly.

Just then they heard an agonizingly familiar voice coming from the hallway.

"What a ninny I am to forget a warm pair of gloves," Persephone said. "It's so nippy out."

Belle and John jumped away from each other instantly. When Belle was not hasty enough in righting her appearance, John took charge of the situation and yanked her dress back up, practically to her chin. As they frantically tried to remedy their mussed appearances, they heard the soft murmur of another voice, probably that of the servant to whom Persephone had been speaking.

"Isn't that kind of you?" Persephone said. "I'll just wait in the drawing room with Belle and her friend while you fetch them for me."

Belle had just managed to throw herself in a chair opposite the sofa when her chaperone entered. "Persephone, what a surprise."

Persephone leveled a rather shrewd look in her direction. For all her flittering about, she was no dullard. "I'm sure."

John stood politely at Persephone's entrance. "Would you like a chocolate?" he asked, holding the box out toward her.