that maybe his lofty world of wealth and affluence was a forlorn place, as well. Maybe he had no one to render sympathy, a pat on the back, a needed hug, either.
They were a sorry pair!
A clock chimed the hour of three. She sighed, hating that it was time to go, but relieved that the lateness would preclude her from making unwise choices. At home, with distance between them, she could regroup, could regain her equilibrium, while she came up with a way she could be in his company without demeaning or surrendering herself.
When she was with him, the man reduced her to a baser sort of individual, whose corporeal drives were unchecked, and she had to find a procedure whereby she could circumscribe her behavior.
You can do it!
she scolded.
“I must go.”
She removed herself from the security of his arms.Her bodice was moist from being pressed to his wet skin. The humid air had curled her hair more than usual. Tendrils had escaped from her combs to tickle her cheeks and neck, and he twirled a lengthy strand around his finger.
“It’s only three o’clock.”
He was genuinely displeased that she would leave, and the realization was dangerous and magnificent.
“I have other appointments.”
Her most crucial one was locating some food for her family’s supper. There wasn’t a single scrap left in the house.
“Cancel them,” he authoritatively decreed, and she smiled, thinking how grand it must be to be rich and idle.
“I can’t.”
“But I’m not ready for you to depart.”
He was astounded that she would go after he’d told her no. He was so selfish, had perpetually been coddled, and people jumped to obey whenever he snapped his fingers. The total subservience of those around him was most likely the reason he was so impossible.
“Well, Wakefield, you can’t have everything you want.”
“Yes I can.” He smiled, too, his eyes twinkling with merriment. “I’m a viscount, remember?”
Oh, yes, she remembered, all right. He was of the nobility, a peer of the realm, who dined with kings and queens, and he was so far above her that it was ludicrous for her to be mooning over him, and fantasizing over what could never be.
“Yes, you are, and you’re horridly spoiled.”
“I’ll be crushed if you don’t let me have my way.”
“You’ll get over it.”
“No I won’t.” He pouted, making her chuckle, thenhe sobered, kissing her, endeavoring to cajole away her inhibitions. “I want you to stay, so I can make love to you. All afternoon. All night.”
“Not even you could have that much stamina.”
“Would you care to bet?”
Oh, he was incorrigible! His invitation was so enticing, and a hairsbreadth from acquiescence, she was appalled by her foolishness. “You make me crazy to do things I oughtn’t.”
“You agreed that you would. In writing!”
The scoundrel had the audacity to toss their bargain back at her! “Yes, I did, and you’re a cad to remind me of it.”
“Being a cad is only one of my abominable habits.” He grinned, unrepentant. “Isn’t your word your bond, Emma Fitzgerald?”
“It is,” she grumbled.
The light banter ceased, and he grew serious, turning so that his elbows rested on the rim of the tub, their forearms folded together. “I want us to be lovers.”
“I know you do.”
“In the beginning, you were disposed, but now you’re scared. Why?”
Because you’re all I’ve ever wanted! All I’ve ever dreamed about!
She swallowed and said, “It’s so much more intense than I’d imagined it would be.”
“This connection between us”—he gestured back and forth, incapable of explicating what they both sensed—“it’s powerful.”
“Yes. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“Nor have I,” he claimed, and she speculated as to whether his disclosure was true, or if it was merely a flattery he successfully utilized to wheedle recalcitrant women into lifting their skirts.
He traced his thumb across her bottom lip. “I pushed you too
They were a sorry pair!
A clock chimed the hour of three. She sighed, hating that it was time to go, but relieved that the lateness would preclude her from making unwise choices. At home, with distance between them, she could regroup, could regain her equilibrium, while she came up with a way she could be in his company without demeaning or surrendering herself.
When she was with him, the man reduced her to a baser sort of individual, whose corporeal drives were unchecked, and she had to find a procedure whereby she could circumscribe her behavior.
You can do it!
she scolded.
“I must go.”
She removed herself from the security of his arms.Her bodice was moist from being pressed to his wet skin. The humid air had curled her hair more than usual. Tendrils had escaped from her combs to tickle her cheeks and neck, and he twirled a lengthy strand around his finger.
“It’s only three o’clock.”
He was genuinely displeased that she would leave, and the realization was dangerous and magnificent.
“I have other appointments.”
Her most crucial one was locating some food for her family’s supper. There wasn’t a single scrap left in the house.
“Cancel them,” he authoritatively decreed, and she smiled, thinking how grand it must be to be rich and idle.
“I can’t.”
“But I’m not ready for you to depart.”
He was astounded that she would go after he’d told her no. He was so selfish, had perpetually been coddled, and people jumped to obey whenever he snapped his fingers. The total subservience of those around him was most likely the reason he was so impossible.
“Well, Wakefield, you can’t have everything you want.”
“Yes I can.” He smiled, too, his eyes twinkling with merriment. “I’m a viscount, remember?”
Oh, yes, she remembered, all right. He was of the nobility, a peer of the realm, who dined with kings and queens, and he was so far above her that it was ludicrous for her to be mooning over him, and fantasizing over what could never be.
“Yes, you are, and you’re horridly spoiled.”
“I’ll be crushed if you don’t let me have my way.”
“You’ll get over it.”
“No I won’t.” He pouted, making her chuckle, thenhe sobered, kissing her, endeavoring to cajole away her inhibitions. “I want you to stay, so I can make love to you. All afternoon. All night.”
“Not even you could have that much stamina.”
“Would you care to bet?”
Oh, he was incorrigible! His invitation was so enticing, and a hairsbreadth from acquiescence, she was appalled by her foolishness. “You make me crazy to do things I oughtn’t.”
“You agreed that you would. In writing!”
The scoundrel had the audacity to toss their bargain back at her! “Yes, I did, and you’re a cad to remind me of it.”
“Being a cad is only one of my abominable habits.” He grinned, unrepentant. “Isn’t your word your bond, Emma Fitzgerald?”
“It is,” she grumbled.
The light banter ceased, and he grew serious, turning so that his elbows rested on the rim of the tub, their forearms folded together. “I want us to be lovers.”
“I know you do.”
“In the beginning, you were disposed, but now you’re scared. Why?”
Because you’re all I’ve ever wanted! All I’ve ever dreamed about!
She swallowed and said, “It’s so much more intense than I’d imagined it would be.”
“This connection between us”—he gestured back and forth, incapable of explicating what they both sensed—“it’s powerful.”
“Yes. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“Nor have I,” he claimed, and she speculated as to whether his disclosure was true, or if it was merely a flattery he successfully utilized to wheedle recalcitrant women into lifting their skirts.
He traced his thumb across her bottom lip. “I pushed you too
Similar Books
