He knew he should stop. This was wrong in so many ways. She and Guy might have their ongoing disagreements but by this time tomorrow, she would be his fiancée. James had to end this lunacy. But not yet.
Just a second longer. Just one more.
He finally managed to tear himself away, breaking the kiss. He stood, sucking in deep breaths. Ending the fierce embrace should have done the trick. But when he saw the glaze of passion in Leah’s eyes, James reached for her once more and began to trail hot kisses down her neck. He was no longer in control of himself.
It was only when Leah patted her hand hard on his shoulder and murmured “enough” that the spell was finally broken. Without her intervention, he would have happily kept going.
She withdrew from his embrace, leaving only a cold space between them. “Thank you. Hopefully, that should do it.”
Chapter Nine
There was an odd look on James’s face as Leah took a step back; it was a mixture of disappointment and confusion.
“Should do what?” he said.
She steeled herself, knowing her whole future depended on the outcome of what she was about to say.
“That kiss should have you immediately seeking out Guy and convincing him that he should cancel his meeting with my father tomorrow. No man wants to marry a girl who his best friend has just thoroughly kissed. A woman who is prepared to go into secluded rooms with other men for secret trysts is not the sort of woman a man asks to marry him.” She looked down, suddenly unable to meet James’s gaze.
She had expected resistance, or at the very least a moment or two of reluctance, but he had surprised her with his passionate response. As far as first kisses went, she doubted it could be beaten. He really did know how to make a woman’s toes curl. His lips were so soft and warm. The temptation to let him linger and play had been strong; the touch of his hands on her body had sent shivers down her spine.
It was sad to think that she would never know the touch of this man again. In another lifetime, she would have stayed in his arms and let the kiss continue. In that other life, she would be his. It would be easy to give him her all and know no regrets. James and his alluring brown eyes would be what she saw every morning when she woke.
But it was not to be, and that bitter knowledge made her mind refocus. It forced her to remember why she had lured James to this room. She blinked, and as much as she wished otherwise, her gaze drifted back to his lips.
Those same lips were now tightly held in a thin line. On his lovely, handsome face was the stark story of realization. He had been used.
“I see. And here was I being foolish enough to feel pity for you. It would appear that you and Guy are better suited than I thought. Your weapons of choice are, of course, different, but you are both playing the game to win.”
She shook her head slowly. His words of rebuke and regret stung. “No, James, you have it wrong. This is not a game. I am not playing at anything. I am fighting for my life.”
The last remnants of the pleasant and heady pleasure ofthatkiss evaporated. “Please. Go and tell Guy that I dragged you into a room and kissed you. His pride will ensure that he doesn’t tell anyone else, and I am certain that I can count on you to protect both your reputation and mine,” she said.
Leah was desperately grasping for the fast-dwindling hope she still had in getting James to make Guy Dannon break ties with her.
“And what of the kiss? Are you going to stand there and tell me that you felt nothing? Because I can assure you my heart is still pounding hard in my chest,” he replied.
He was right; it was better than anything she had expected. Not that she had gone into this encounter with any expectations other than seeking a way out of being with Guy.
Focus, Leah. You must focus on the outcome. Nothing else mattered.
“James, all I feel is fear. Fear that I will be bound to Guy for the rest of my life. I know he is your friend, but I cannot marry him. Please help me.”
James had to understand that as distasteful as her actions may seem, she was using him to save her future. When he finally nodded, she let a slow breath of relief escape her lips.
He understood.
“I shall speak to Guy and let him know that you lured me into this room and attempted to kiss me. But remember this, Leah. You and I kissed, and there was a hell of a lot more happening between us in that moment than you are prepared to admit.” He leaned in close to her. “Tell yourself all the lies you want, but we both know that you felt it too.”
Back in the ballroom, James discovered a less-than-happy Guy waiting.
After leaving the privacy of the study, Leah had headed off in the direction of the ladies retiring room. James, meanwhile, had found a footman bearing drinks and downed two large brandies in swift succession.
“Where the devil, have you been? And where is Leah? I thought the two of you were headed for the dance floor,” grumbled Guy. He looked behind James’s back as if expecting that the woman in question would suddenly appear.
James pointed toward the terrace doors. “You and I need to talk.”
Guy huffed. He was clearly in a bad mood. What James was about to tell him would only make matters worse.
