Page 36 of The Seduction of an English Scoundrel

“At least it shall appear we were all in here together,” Grayson said, shaking his head. He motioned to a dark passageway off to the right. “Ah, that looks like a place conducive to a passionate moment, doesn’t it?”

“I’m sure I wouldn’t know.”

“No?” he teased.

She frowned as she trailed his tall figure down a narrow corridor that gave quite unexpectedly into a series of deep scallop-shaped bubbling pools.

He turned, studying her face intently for several moments. “What are you thinking, Jane?” he asked in a low, compelling voice.

She sighed. The humid seclusion must have gone to her head, because before she could stop herself, she said, “No young man has ever lured me to such a place. Never.”

He smiled slowly, his eyes meeting hers. “I do not believe you. One or two must have tried.”

Her face felt warm. Her dress was clinging damply to her body from the moist vapors. She felt a flush work its way to the surface of her skin. “No, actually. No one ever tried.”

“Then allow me,” he said, holding out his hand, plumes of steam rising around his powerful frame. “Come here.”

Her heartbeat quickened at that imperious command. To her amazement she felt herself moving toward him, obeying his dark velvety voice.

“What do you want?” she whispered, holding her breath.

“To further your education.” He bent his head down to hers, his blond hair brushing her cheek. “Since there are obvious deficits, I shall take a moment to provide you with the experience lacking in your background.”

“What a gentlemanly thing to do.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” he said, his eyes flickering over her like a spark.

She felt the heat of his gaze burn to her bones. “I’m sure this isn’t . . . wise.”

He ran his forefinger down the side of her jaw, raising shivers on her skin. “There is a time to be wise, and a time to be wicked. Which do you suppose it is?”

His heavy-lidded blue eyes made her feel weak, made her heart quicken. “I think . . . I . . .”

A wanton flame kindled in the depths of his eyes. For the life of her she could not break away from his gaze. His silken voice lulled her. “Be a little wicked just once, Jane. Just for a moment.”

He drew her quivering body into his arms. His head lowered to hers. Before his firm mouth even touched hers, she felt utterly disoriented, giddy, like a child’s spinning top. He leaned into her, his breath a teasing caress at the hollow of her throat. Hellfire, she thought distantly, arching her spine. The flames of the tempter, and I am walking willingly straight into his white-hot heart.

His tongue traced the contours of her mouth with a sensual finesse that made her toes curl in her silk pumps. When he gently drew her bottom lip between his sharp white teeth, her legs almost gave way. A tremor of longing shuddered deep inside her. His tongue delved into her mouth, and she moaned. She could feel his heart pounding in powerful echoes through his linen shirt. The heat of his hard torso lit a fire in her belly, and spread in burning circles.

So this was what had made Nigel and his governess defy the world. This was what made sensible women turn insensible and unwise.

“Well,” he murmured, his voice thick and seductive, “I had no idea how good you were at wickedness.”

“As if I led the way, you demon.”

He laughed helplessly, his hands tightening around her. She was too shrewd for her own good, he thought. Or for his. She would never believe that he had not meant to do this. “Say the word and I shall stop,” he whispered in her ear.

“Not . . . not yet.”

“Not yet?” he asked, teasing her. “Does my prim little pigeon harbor passion somewhere deep inside? Show me, Jane. Share your secrets with me.”

He groaned and nudged her back against the wall, pinning her wrists to the wall with his forearms. Her mouth tasted sweetly of strawberries. Her skin burned with the sensual heat of a woman aroused, and he found himself wondering when, if ever, he had been forced to exert such restraint over the rake in him who plotted seduction, who craved release from the sexual tension that tightened his body into a coil. He was amazed at the painful ache she stirred in him.

This was embarrassing. Here he was trying to rescue her reputation while stealing kisses from her on the sly. Some hero he was turning out to be. But . . .

But she did something to him. He hadn’t decided quite what it was. She wrapped his senses up in knots. He couldn’t help himself.

“I want to devour you,” he whispered.