Page 18 of Dare to Risk it All

“Oh,” she said, nodding, as if that cleared everything up. “Well, Mama and Papa have always been very frank with us about sex and things other girls don’t get taught about. So, although I’ve done nothing, I’m not the least bit ignorant. I realise I ought not to speak so freely, though. It’s always getting me into trouble, but as you’re far more troublesome than I am, I didn’t think it would matter.”

Raphe closed his eyes and groaned.

“Does this mean you won’t kiss me again?” she asked, sounding so crestfallen he could not help but laugh.

“You outrageous chit,” he exclaimed. “You make my head spin, wondering what appalling thing you’ll say next.”

“You like it, though,” she said, with far too much perspicacity.

He nodded, desire burning again at the soft tone of her voice, and at the knowledge that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

“I like you,” he said, his voice low. “I like you far too much for your own good.”

“I trust you,” she said, her pale green eyes holding his gaze, guileless and hiding nothing.

“You’re a fool.”

The words were angry, on the surface at least. Her trust in him was unsettling, reminding him of the man he’d once thought he was, but she only smiled and shook her head.

“No, I’m not, and you’re only fooling yourself, Raphe, because I see you, and I know you won’t hurt me.”

Her words did something to him, hitting him square in the solar plexus and sending him reeling. Too many emotions exploded at once, confusing him, making him want things he could not afford to have. He didn’t like the way it made him feel, unbalanced and exposed, making him too aware of how unsuitable he was. Resentment rose inside him, and he wanted to prove her wrong, to show her how bloody stupid she was for putting her faith in a man like him, because he could never be good enough for her. His past behaviour had marked him as the worst kind of man, and everyone knew it. More than that, he simply wanted her, with a desire deeper and hotter than anything he had ever experienced before. He yearned to claim her, to mark her as his in some wildly primitive way that he did not understand. Though his behaviour in recent times might contradict it, he had always considered himself civilised. He did not feel civilised now. Far from it. Though he was stone cold sober, he did not think he had ever been so out of control as he felt right now.

He reached for her, his hand going to the back of her neck and pulling her in for a kiss that was far from tender. The weight of his body pressed her back down to the rug, and she surrendered to him, her arms going about his neck. Raphe deepened the kiss, and she sighed, allowing him to plunder as he wished. His hands moved over her, restless, frustrated by far too many layers of clothing. He needed to feel her skin beneath his touch. Frantically, he tugged at her skirts, pulling up yards of material as those inciting red ribbons fluttered nervously and the lace of pristine white petticoats billowed around them. Finally, he fought his way beneath to a shapely silk clad leg. His hand coasted higher, and higher still, and the breath rushed out of him as he felt the warm satin of her bare thigh. She shivered beneath him as he exposed her skin to the chill air and he pulled back, watching her face as he explored beneath her skirts. A flush coloured her cheeks, her lips rosy pink from his kisses. She was breathing hard, her breasts rising and falling rapidly behind the cage of her corset. He wanted to free them, to feast upon them, but he had no patience for hooks and buttons now. If he didn’t feel her, taste her, he would lose his damn mind.

She gasped as he found the little thatch of curls between her thighs and stroked, trailing his fingers back and forth. Her eyes were dark, and he saw her passionate nature glinting in her gaze. She was not afraid, only curious, wanting. Wanting him. There was a devil inside her, just as there was in him. She would not play coy, would not hide it from him or pretend it was not there. That was why the attraction was so fierce. Like was drawn to like.

Raphe continued his languid exploration, parting the soft folds and stroking deeper, more intimately. Her breathing hitched, her hips canting up towards his touch, seeking more, and he thought he might go mad from wanting her. He found the delicate pearl of flesh that would bring her the most pleasure and stroked. Greer gave a soft cry of surprise.

“Like that, do you?” he asked, aware he too was breathless, mesmerised by her, enchanted by her uninhibited response to his touch.

She blushed, but gave a slight nod. He carried on, circling the little bud gently before moving lower and finding the hottest, most private part of her and dipping one finger inside. He moaned at the feel of her, tight and wet.

“I want to kiss you here,” he said urgently, and though she had warned him she was not the least bit ignorant, her response still shocked him.

“Yes,” she said, the word exploding from her, though her cheeks blazed now. “Oh, yes, please.”

Christ. He was going to die. She would kill him. If Rothborn didn’t get to him first. He froze at the thought of Lord Rothborn, at his promise to him.

“Raphe.” Greer was staring at him, her eyes impossibly dark, moving impatiently beneath his hand which had stilled. “Raphe, please….”

He was standing on a precipice, about to tumble over and uncertain whether he gave a damn, when the sound of men’s voices reached them.

“Bloody hell,” he cursed, snatching his hands from her and tugging down her skirts. “The workmen are back.”

How could he have been so stupid, so reckless? What in God’s name had he been thinking? He’d known they would be back and he… he’d been about to…. What if he’d not hesitated? Raphe went hot and cold at the idea of what the men might have discovered them doing. He tugged her to her feet and snatched up her bonnet.

“Come on,” he urged, pulling her behind him as they crept to the edge of the cottage. Peering around the corner, he watched the men arrive with a cart loaded with fresh wood and tools for the next stage of the restoration. He turned back to Greer. “I’ll go around the other way and get them inside the building on some pretext. Once they’re in the cottage, you run. You hear me?”

She nodded at once, and Raphe saw that she was pale, as well she might be. They’d been reckless and idiotic and he… he was…. Well, there would be enough time for recriminations once she was safely away from him. Perhaps now she’d think twice before coming after him again. He could only hope so, for it was clear he was depraved beyond saving. Raphe went to leave her, to go around and distract the men so she could leave, but she grabbed hold of his hand.

“Raphe.”

He turned, staring down at her.

“It wasn’t your fault, and I don’t regret it,” she whispered, before tugging his head down and giving him a swift kiss.

Raphe let out an exasperated sigh. “Little fool.”