AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I reckon we should offer a welcome dinner for him to reacquaint himself with society.”
As if he hadn’t been welcome enough yesterday, she thought grimly. Nevertheless, among a wife’s duties were the social activities in her home. Her husband called for a welcome dinner and her place should be to organise it.
“I will make the necessary arrangements, then.”
“Good!” The pheasant seemed to be to his taste, if his concentration on it was anything to go by.
The rest of the dinner ran smoothly enough. Afterwards, Lord Crompton went to his study, as usual and she took refuge in the library. A couple of hours passed without sign of the devil and she retired to bed. Emotionally strained, she slept immediately.
Philip sat in a shady corner of his club, the best scotch in his hand. His friends had invited him to go to Madame Noir’s, famous for her beautiful girls. He refused though. The idea of such a place at that moment only made him feel sick.
Nonetheless, his imagination got the best of him and made his brain run in circles. He pictured the witch sitting at dinner with John, talking and smiling at him. Dinner over, his uncle would take her hand, both would retire to her chambers, where she’d disclose all her delightful person, and they would… Bloody hell! Bloody damned hell!
Oh, but he knew what he would do to her. What they would do together. He’d lay her in his bed and take her luscious mouth and… He had to stop these lascivious thoughts. Totally. Painfully. He downed half the whisky.
Moreover, he had to move out from Crompton house. If things continued this way, he’d go mad. How could a woman make this impression on him in such a short time? The damned witch! He gulped the rest of the amber drink.
Well, he’d have to go to sleep sooner or later. Preferably, before he got too drunk and lost control. He stood and headed to Crompton house.
He entered a dark, silent house. They had retired early after all, he thought vexed. It was barely eleven. He climbed up the marble stairs. His rooms were in the opposite wing from his uncle’s. He stopped at the top and listened. Not a sound. He went to his room before his feet misled him!
Selene awoke to steps on the stairs, heavy and masculine. Her body immediately alert. The steps ceased at the top for a couple of seconds, as if searching. They recommenced distancing to the other wing. The devil back for sure. She wrung the bed cover hard in her palms for fear that her body would follow erratically the steps. She willed her heart to slow down, turned to the other side and tried to sleep.
Chapter 3
“A welcome dinner?”
She stood ramrod straight, at a safe distance from him. Lamentably, this morning, she met him at the top stair on his way to breakfast. She thought to inform him, so she wouldn’t have to go looking for him just to talk about that. It would be stupid to address him for more than the essential.
He strode closer. Closer than necessary. Smelling of fresh bath, his sleek black hair humid, he looked like a fallen angel. His soap had no fragrance, which made her sense his natural manly smell. In her mind, she’d bend to his broad chest and smell him further. She held herself, though.
“I think there’s no need of that.”
She had to lift her head to meet his clove-coloured eyes. Big mistake. They bore into her with such intensity, that they caught her off balance.
“Well, John wishes it, so I reckon we will do it anyway.” She silenced. He kept looking down at her.
“What about you? What do you wish?” Her ears absorbed his silky rich velvet voice, huskier than usual and heat shot through her.
Oh, there were a number of things she wished, the first being for him to leave this house and give her back her lost peace. The little peace she could reserve to herself at least.
“You don’t want to know.” Defiantly, she lifted her chin. He responded with a sardonic look and a lopsided scornful smile.
She was wrong. He’d like to know everything about her. Her wishes, her desires, her dreams and where she wanted him to kiss her.
He breathed a laugh, coarse as his body seemed to be going out of control. Again.
“I don’t want to be near you as much as you don’t want me here.” When did he become a good liar? Being near her was so intoxicating that he couldn’t get enough. “But I won’t let my uncle alone, so you can turn his head!”
Her deep-green eyes shot fierce ire at him. She had such flaming fire in her! Would she be this fiery elsewhere too? When had his thoughts become so undisciplined, bloody hell!
“You must be the most despicable man on the planet!” She hissed hotly.
He forced himself to smile unpleasantly. “I’ll take this as praise.”
Her hands lifted to her slender waist, emphasising her hourglass figure. His eyes travelled down her body and she flushed furiously.
“Which leads to the conclusion you have little to be praised!” With that, she turned and strode angrily to her chamber.
