Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell Page B

body. “You accuse him of a hanging offense.”
    He noticed she didn’t deny what he said. “I accuse him of nothing. I just observe that if you find pleasure with women, your association with Lord Peregrine becomes understandable.”
    â€œI associate with Lord Peregrine because he’s kind and he cares for me.” She didn’t add the obvious rider— unlike present company. “The details aren’t your concern, my lord.”
    â€œI’m your acknowledged lover. Of course it’s my concern.”
    â€œAcknowledged if not actual.” She bristled. “Perhaps you take the most famous courtesan as your mistress in the cities you visit because you too hide something.”
    A bark of laughter escaped him. Nobody had dared to question his masculinity before. “Nice try, Olivia. You know as well as I do that I like women. One woman in particular, however prickly and difficult.”
    The tension didn’t leach from her tall body, and her voice was urgent. “My lord, please promise you’ll say nothing of your suspicions. I’ll do anything to protect Perry. Anything.”
    The words sent a surge of resentment through him. “I’m not going to blackmail you into yielding, Olivia,” he bit out. “I wouldn’t even if I needed to—and I don’t. Now come here.”
    â€œYou won’t say anything?”
    Her voice was still strained as she stepped closer with obvious reluctance. Good God, what did she expect him to do? Threaten to expose her friend’s illegal predilections unless she pretended to passion in his bed? She must know after last night she couldn’t deceive him.
    â€œHis secret is safe.” With ill grace, he returned his attention to her hair. “You have my word.”
    Mixed with his fading irritation was thundering relief. He had the answer he wanted. Olivia didn’t hanker after her ownsex. And he’d been right about her relationship with Montjoy. No doubt she and Lord Peregrine lived in that overdecorated house like brother and sister. Idly, he wondered how they’d formed the close, almost familial bond.
    Her hair tumbled in shining profusion about her slender shoulders. He shut his eyes and leaned in, breathing deeply of her scent. When he opened his eyes, he was close enough to see her pupils had dilated, almost swallowing the sherry-colored irises. Her breath came faster through parted lips and her cheeks were flushed.
    She exhibited every sign of desire. Was it all false? Surely not. She knew counterfeit arousal wouldn’t fool him.
    He bent forward. Fleetingly, he tasted her breath on his lips. Fresh. Essence of Olivia. The air of heaven. She seemed caught in the spell. Erith’s heartbeat stalled in a strange suspended moment. Then she blinked and pulled out of reach. His gut contracted with sharp regret.
    By God, she’d kiss him one day. Willingly. Endlessly. Passionately.
    It was a sin against nature that a woman this vibrant and beautiful had never experienced full sexual pleasure. Any sexual pleasure at all.
    â€œI’m at your disposal, my lord.” Her voice was husky. “How would you like me to act?”
    He moved behind her and brushed aside the heavy tumble of silky hair. With practiced fingers he unfastened her dress. “I don’t want you to act at all.”
    â€œYou know what I mean.”
    She lifted her hair out of his way. The scene was almost domestic. His fingers began to work on the laces of her stays then tugged at the tapes holding her petticoat. It fell to the floor, revealing white stockings and pretty pink satin slippers with ribbons that tied around her trim ankles. The firm pale globes of her bottom pressed against her transparent shift. He resisted the impulse to shape that superb rounded flesh.
    He placed a kiss on her bare shoulder, revealed under the sagging gown. “Olivia, do what you feel.”
    â€œI feel nothing,”