Page 33 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

Throsby turned them, moving her with him, and her back landed against a papered wall. He leaned away only long enough to shut the door to the hall and lock it. Then his hands were cupping her face again, and his lips were setting her senses ablaze.

She held on to his coat but quickly decided it was in her way. She shoved it back from his shoulders, and Throsby helpfully shrugged it off, letting it fall to the floor.

She put her hands on the sleeves of his upper arms, covered in fine white linen, and discovered him more muscled than she expected and blazing hot under her fingers.

She reached immediately for the buttons of his waistcoat.

Throsby suddenly covered her hands, stopping her assault on his clothing.

Daisy opened her eyes slowly and looked at him. Passion blazed in his eyes, but then that expression slowly dimmed. Their kisses ended, and Throsby sighed, pressing his head against hers. “This will not do, Miss Ellis,” he warned.

Daisy would have staggered but for his arms closing about her and pulling her tight against him.

He caught up one hand and kissed her knuckles. “I must go.”

She gaped at him. “Now?”

“Now. Before it’s too late to stop.”

Her eyes widened. She did not want him to leave. She wanted more of the feelings he stirred inside her. He’d fooled her into thinking he was a chaste man, but he could be so very wicked if given half a chance.

Something held him back. Something about her. About them being together and kissing. He was lovely and passionate, but passion always comes with a price.

She spread her hands over his heaving chest, realizing that despite his words, he was as affected by their kisses as she was.

It was remarkable, his restraint, though. She would have gone along with anything he suggested just to keep him close, had he dared ask for more.

One of them was thinking about the future, and it hadn’t been Daisy. But then, hadn’t Throsby always cared about her reputation above all else? Some things about him hadn’t changed one bit, and she was oddly relieved by that.

She patted his chest. “All right. You can go.”

Throsby snorted a laugh. “Why, thank you, Miss Ellis.”

Daisy caught his chin in her hand and drew him back down for another, softer kiss.

When their lips parted again, he said, “Can I call on you again? Or will you be attending a ball soon? I have a few invitations, but I will only accept if I know you will be there to enliven the evening.”

Daisy tried not to show her excitement over his interest in attending the same balls again. He hated them. “You may indeed call on me here anytime, or speak with me at the Sanderson ball. Who knows…I might even allow you to kiss me there.”

Throsby kissed her hard then, drew her arms up over her head, and held them pinned against the wall.

Then suddenly he was gone, and she opened her eyes to find him standing at the doorway with his coat clutched in his fist, shaking his head. “What have I said about encouraging scoundrels to take liberties?”

“You’re hardly a scoundrel, Throsby,” she assured him, leaning against the wall because her legs were trembling and her hands itched to drag him back.

He growled and took a menacing step in her direction, but that thrilled rather than frightened her.

“I must be doing something wrong if you think I’m not one by now. Should I display my interest in seduction again?”

She gaped. He really would seduce her if given the chance. Daisy’s lady parts quivered at the exciting thought of what might happen if she spent a night in his arms, in his old bed or hers. But then caution prodded her to behave, and she held out her hands to ward him off. “Better not rush our affair.”

His brow rose high. “Our affair?”

“Indeed,” she agreed, thrilled by that fact. “But you better go home now, my lord.”

He nodded, and it was clear he approved of her decision to kick him out before things went too far.

He bowed deeply. “Until next we meet, Miss Ellis.”