Losing patience, he opened it. In what could only be considered beautifully elegant handwriting was a warning about a possible prank by none other than Lady Rose, who was being inspired byThe Merry Wives of Windsor. It was a Shakespeare play he knew well, and if he wasn’t mistaken, a cold river, a beating, and embarrassment were just a few mishaps visited upon the main character.
Understanding dawned. Lady Sophie had been trying to warm him. Despite her would-be kindness, he now found himself in a very dangerous situation, possibly more dangerous than a prank played upon him by Harewood’s sister. “You shouldn’t be in here.”
Her frown deepened as she looked pointedly at the note in his hand.
He looked at it as well. Had he missed something? He read it again. “I don’t understand.”
Her shoulders sagged as if she were defeated. “I left the note so wewouldn’tbe in this situation.”
Her voice was softer than butterfly wings, and it took a moment for her words to register. When they did, he barely kept from groaning. His actions had once again placed her in a precarious position. Again, he was to blame.
“Damn.”
Chapter Eight
Sophie sucked inher breath at Lord Tamworth’s curse. “That was uncalled for.” She stilled, surprised she’d voiced her thoughts. She couldn’t well take her words back, so she waited for his response.
“I beg your forgiveness. It seems that I must do so every time I see you.” That sentence ended on a growl, which was hardly contrite.
For some reason, his frustration irritated her. Where was her unending patience? Then again, he was the one who continued to do the unthinkable, so heshouldapologize. “And is that my fault somehow?”
He blinked before sighing. “No, indeed it isn’t. I don’t understand why, but I’m continually making things difficult for you. I promise it is not intentional. I didn’t mean for your mask to come undone, nor did I expect Lord Durham to shove me into you.”
She thought about Ellie, who would cross her arms over her bountiful chest at such a recitation. Since Sophie wasn’t so well endowed, she clasped her hands before her, keeping her mouth closed despite the unusual need to argue.
When she didn’t respond, he continued. “None of that was my fault, but nor was it yours. We are simply victims of fate, but that is not an excuse. I do, humbly, beg your forgiveness for revealing your beautiful face before you wished to and for sliding into you on the lake.”
He thought her beautiful? It must be because there were no otherwomen in the room. “I accept your apology.”
His chest expanded, revealing more of his bare torso in the V of his shirt. Quickly, she looked away, only to notice an open trunk next to a small table that revealed a piece of clothing. The table had a bottle on it. Behind that was an end table with books on it, and next to that was the bed. She was in his bedroom! While she’d known that, she hadn’t fully realized the implications until that very moment.
Images fromThe Illustrated Pleasures of Seductionflashed through her mind, filling her with memories of his kisses. “I need to go.” She turned around, fully intending to walk out the door.
“Wait.” He grabbed her hand and spun her back like a slingshot. She found herself bumping into him, but instead of falling back, he wrapped his arm around her, pressing her to him.
Startled, she snapped her gaze to meet his warm brown one. She felt his chest expand against her own as he took a deep breath before his eyes moved to her mouth. Nervous, she licked her lips even as the memories of his kisses surfaced.
“May I kiss you?”
His question surprised her, actually disappointed her, because she wanted him to, but it was hardly proper. She tried to reply, but the word “no” stuck in her throat, and before she could think clearly, she nodded.
Her gaze moved to his mouth, and as it drew closer, she found herself tightly gripping his clothing as if afraid he’d stop.
But he didn’t. His mouth covered hers gently before he slipped his tongue between her lips and explored leisurely.
As before, her limbs felt weak, but her heart beat rapidly and she pressed herself closer, as a feeling of wanting bloomed inside of her. Hesitantly, she moved her tongue into his mouth. He captured it with his own, intensifying the kiss until her breathing became impossible…and still she wanted more.
His hand on her back lowered to cup her behind, and as he pulledher pelvis against his, she felt a hard ridge above her mons. The images in the book burst upon her as heat started deep inside her. She wanted him as a woman wanted a man, and the realization stunned her. She didn’t even know him.
But she couldn’t bring herself to break the kiss. It may be the last kiss she would ever know. She wanted more than the kiss. She wantedallthe book had shown her.
As if he’d read her thoughts, he moved his mouth from her own to her neck, bending her back as he licked and nipped his way down to the very swell of her breast, revealed above her neckline. The need to take off her dress caught her by surprise. She couldn’t. She tried to speak, but barely got out a syllable. “Tam…”
Though her voice was barely a whisper, he stilled as if frozen by a winter blast. Then, reluctantly, he pressed a final kiss upon her chest before lifting his head to look at her. “I want more of you, but I will not take what is not mine to have.”
Gently, he lifted her straight and slowly released her.
Despite his care, she lost her balance and grabbed his arm, her cheeks heating with embarrassment over her stumble. She should be embarrassed by her behavior, but once again, around him, she felt more like Rosalind and had no intention of apologizing for her actions. Instead, she released his arm. “I need to go.”
