Elizabeth Boyle by Brazen Trilogy

thinking he looked more like he had been going to a funeral.
    His lack of respect for their marriage annoyed her once again. Especially now that she found herself regretting what might have been between them.
    She chided herself for even caring. After all, he was the one who had pressed their union, all in the name of his damned lineage.
    She’d taken so many risks as the Brazen Angel, but none quite like this. She could hear Emma’s dire warnings, but they faded against her rising anger at his obvious disdain for their marriage. She wanted nothing more than to desert him a second time, but not until he truly would miss her.
    “It’s not enough for me to know what you want,” she said. “It works better if you can admit it yourself.”
    He met her challenge. “And if I told you what I wanted, would you give it to me?”
    She swung her hips saucily. “I suppose I would have no choice.” Moving closer, she reached out with one finger and trailed a slow path along his jaw.
    “The choice would always be yours to make.” His arms pulled her close, his mouth swept down toward hers. The searing kiss that followed sealed her reply, as if he knew what her body had already decided.
    She tried to breathe, but there was no time. His lips encircled hers, daring them to open under his assault. When his tongue parried forward, his arms encircling her tighter, a blazing circle of passion whisked away any protests.
    In that hasty moment she felt as if he’d stripped her of her mask, bared her to his sight, as if he sought to see to her very soul.
    How had she ever thought herself experienced?
    Gently, his hands ran over the length of her bare arms, as if he had all night to explore her body—in potent contrast to the urgency of his kiss, which demanded her immediate surrender and release.
    The anger she’d felt at him blended with her passion for him, bringing an urgency to her response. His kiss teased her, challenged her to answer him. Beneath his eager touch her senses awakened, tingling and carrying their message downward to her very core.
    His lips left her mouth and began trailing sweet kisses down the nape of her neck. He swept aside the remaining tatters of her bodice and chemise. The sweet pleasure of it frightened her as much as she welcomed the cool air it brought to her fevered skin.
    Giles couldn’t pull himself away from the incredible woman in his arms. He had never meant for this to happen, to fall into her sensual trap. Her flirtation seemed so harmless when she’d brought her lips to his.
    He knew she didn’t sleep with her victims, at least she hadn’t with Monty. And since he wasn’t about to share a glass with her, what other tricks could her sweet lips engage in?
    And now those lips whispered suggestions to him, begging him to continue his exploration of her soft, silken flesh.
    “Please,” she murmured, as his fingers curled around her taut nipple, her body arching into his. She sighed and melted under his touch.
    And as much as it seemed he was controlling the situation, he now knew they had both lost control. He’d never felt like this for a woman, as if he had to possess her.
    Wild, daring, brazen. He wanted this woman, even when he knew that one night would never be enough.
    And yet this shouldn’t be happening.
    Her hand skimmed up his thigh until it reached his male hardness. Almost reverently, she began to stroke him through his pants.
    He tried telling himself this was no more than a test to see how far she’d carry out her deception. Now the only thing being tested was his restraint. And it was spinning wildly out of control under her shameless touch.
    He brought his mouth back to hers, seeking to gain mastery over her. She kissed him back, matching him with fire and passion, as if they’d been destined to spend this evening exploring each other’s secret desires.
    Pulling back, he stared at her. Her eyes glowed beneath her mask in acknowledgment of the need they shared. There could be