Page 67 of Vanquishing the Viscount

Fortunately, Emma encountered no one as she tiptoed down the hallway, clad only in her nightgown and a paisley shawl. Her way was illuminated by the lamps dotted along the corridors with their wicks turned down low.

She didn’t bother to tap on James’s door. She just let herself in and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.

There was a rustle from the bed. Suddenly she found herself in a steely embrace that clamped her arms to her sides. Then he touched her hair, and she felt his body relax.

“Emma?” James whispered.

“Who else?” she queried as he stepped back, holding her at arm’s length. “I’d hate to think you were expecting some other woman to invade your room in the dead of night.”

“You wouldn’t be the first,” he said, and she could almost taste his wicked grin.

“I’m shocked!” she replied, running her hands over the firm muscle of his forearms, tamping down her sharp jealousy that she wasn’t the first to be so bold with him.

Until she made out the shape of him in the thin moonlight that filtered through the drapes.

It was pretty clear he was naked.

The shutters were open, allowing a soft breeze to waft the curtains and tease the ends of her hair.

“Shocked? Yes, there have been one or two widows who taught me a great deal. But none of them touched my heart. You have something no other woman has ever had, or could ever hope for—not even Belinda Carslake. You’ve taught me the true meaning of love. My heart is yours and yours alone. Forever.”

Joy, like golden light from a thousand stars, flooded through her at his words. This was exactly what she’d so fervently hoped for. He still loved her, even after the pain she’d subjected him to.

But still, she had to ask, “Not even Miss Carslake? You were ready to propose to her.”

“Thank heaven you rescued me from that, however inadvertently. It was a foolish infatuation. I’ve forgotten her already.”

“Thank heaven,” Emma echoed. This man had the pick of the entire ton, yet he’d fallen for her—he wanted only her.

“And I’ve forgotten Elias Hartley,” she whispered.

“Hmm?”

“Oh, nothing,” she replied, grinning to herself. She was happier than she could express in words. But maybe there was another way.

James reached out and stroked her hair. “Silky and so, so soft,” he murmured.

He was close enough for her to touch his body…but did she dare? She slid her hands up to his biceps and stroked his shoulders. “Smooth but hard, and so, so strong,” she teased.

Chuckling, he ran his fingers through her hair and smoothed his hands over her shoulders. “Emma, you must go back to your room,” he said, but his voice was more a caress than a command.

So soon? But he loved her, and she wanted to find out more about what that meant. She shook her head. “No. I want to talk.”

“It’s the middle of the night, you’re in my room wearing only your nightgown, and I’m wearing nothing. Two reputations hang in the balance here. I care not a fig for mine, but yours is very important to me. You must go before we’re caught.”

“But I need you to ask me something.” She moved toward him again and laid a trembling hand on either side of his trim waist. He felt…wonderful. And the urge to look down, and explore lower, was almost irresistible.

With a groan, he leaned forward, nuzzling at her neck, and his hands fastened around her waist, pressing her closer. “Temptress,” he said huskily. “What are you doing to me?”

“I’ve been trying to get close to you all day, but you were constantly surrounded. What’s this?”

While she was speaking, her hands had started an exploration all on their own and discovered a patch of shiny skin on his back.

“Saber cut. And before you ask, I was not running away from the fight. I’d just turned to face another assailant when this coward struck me in the back. The wound has healed well—it just itches sometimes.”

“I’m sure George could find you an ointment for that,” she offered as she slid her hands over the hard muscle of James’s back and up to his shoulder blades. His body was fascinating, magnetic, mysterious…and she wanted it to be hers alone.

But there was still something that needed to be settled.