Page 28 of How to Best a Marquess

Because he couldn’t stop thinking about her. “Do you ever recall our kiss?”

She paled a shade, bringing the freckles on her nose to higher contrast. Damn if he didn’t find it charming.

“I said it was a mistake and to forget what occurred,” she said.

“Forget it? Impossible. I’ve thought of little else.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “You cannot confront me and accuse me of having a secret amorous affair with the club’s head guard and then talk about our shared kiss like you want to repeat it. You had more romantic flair years ago.”

He wanted to haul her to his chest and show her just how much flair he had, how much he wanted to kiss and lick her until she cried out in pleasure. She was driving him to distraction. Perhaps that was her game? It had been five years. She was a lovely woman in her prime. She might not have been intimate with Brooks, but what if she wasn’t innocent and had taken other lovers?

He couldn’t blame her, yet…yet the idea of any other male touching her made his gut clench.

“Rest assured if I were trying to seduce you, you would know it.”

She leaned away from the table, the simple movement smooth and enticing. The sliver of skin at her collarbone was like fine porcelain, and he wanted to press his lips against the sensitive pulse at her neck to taste the tantalizing skin.

She met his gaze, her blue eyes watchful, and he wondered if she had the slightest inkling of his thoughts. “Hmm. What else do you want then? To kiss me again?”

He did. Desperately. But he also knew she was challenging him, and he wouldn’t fall for her ploy. If he said yes, if he made the slightest move, she’d refuse him in a heartbeat.

No, he’d bide his time. Slowly entice her and bring out the burning sweetness that seemed captive within her.

“If you’re finished with me, you should leave,” she said.

He wasn’t finished with her. Not even close. But he nodded and stepped aside. “As you wish.”

He caught her sidelong look. The slightest hesitation and the parting of her lips. She was surprised he hadn’t tried to stop her, to kiss her again.

Good. If he was in torment, it was only fair that she suffered, too.