Page 28 of Tempting Her Viscount

Chapter Eleven

Celia stood staring out her window as she had for the last quarter hour.

It hadn’t taken long for her to realize that not speaking of it would never do. Of course, she and Kit would have to settle things between them. They’d just need to make sure no one else found out. Especially Graham.

She’d wanted an adventure and now her night of recklessness had led her to this place where she’d had sex with her brother’s best friend. Of all the men in all the world, how had he ended up in that room—in that bed—with her?

She’d requested someone tall, blond and green-eyed and Lady Harrington had delivered Celia’s every desire.

It just happened that Celia’s every desire had been Kit.

A few more minutes had passed by, but Celia was no closer to figuring out what to do now. How would she get Kit alone to speak to him without alerting her brother?

Her door swung open. She assumed it would be Gray coming to check on her—though he normally knocked first. She turned to remind him what happened when he forgot to knock and how the last time he’d wished to have his eyes burned out. But it wasn’t her brother who’d barged in.

“What are you doing in here?” she asked looking about the room as if someone was going to jump out from behind the drapes and force them into marriage.

He didn’t answer, instead he strode to the door connecting her maid’s chambers to hers and locked the door. Nettie was still out on an errand and wouldn’t disturb Celia since she thought she was resting.

“I think we should talk about what happened,” he said in a steady voice that unnerved her. How could he sound so casual when just days ago they’d seen each other naked?

Not just naked but crying out in passion.

Perhaps this was how it was when one had numerous partners. She would have to learn how to face her lovers if ever she wanted to have more of them.

She closed her eyes briefly wishing away her blush and faced him.

“Talk?” She held in a groan. She agreed that was what needed to happen to clear the air, but at the same time it was the very thing she didn’t want to do.

It wouldn’t help preserve her most perfect memory to drudge it up and view it through the filter of Kit’s commentary.

“Please no. I’m sure from your perspective our time together was quickly forgotten as any other liaison, while for me—in my limited experience—it was perfect. I’d beg you not ruin it or make jokes.” She didn’t mind begging. This was too important.

He smiled and rested his hand on her shoulder. It soothed and excited her.

“No doubt you think I have vast knowledge of such things. Gray and our friends have shared more than we ought over the years in your presence. But while my carnal wisdom far exceeds yours, it is not as substantial as everyone has assumed. Even still, whether my experiences boast hundreds of women or the mere twelve that would actually be true, I can promise you this; our night together was just as perfect for me.”

She looked at him, her gaze narrowed as she searched for proof he was appeasing her. She knew him well enough to know when he was teasing.

“Do you mean it?” she pushed and watched again.

“I do. If you recall, it was I who suggested we continue our acquaintance at the masquerade. Why would I do such a thing with a poor lover?”

This was reasonable, but still she doubted his words.

“I’m to believe a bumbling virgin somehow appealed to a man who’s slept with eleven other more experienced women?”

“I hope you will believe it, for it’s the truth. I know our relationship to date has been mostly jokes and flirting, but please know I have never had a more amazing night than the one I spent with you.”

He was being sincere. He would have given up by now if not. Kit wasn’t patient enough to keep going with a ruse once he was had.

She swallowed and stepped closer. “Please don’t think I’m looking for compliments if I ask, but why? What made me different from any of the others?”

He smiled and also took a step closer. “Mostly it was the way you touched me. The comfort between us to be free with one another. I had thought it was the masks, as you said they gave us the freedom to be uninhibited, but now I think on some level, I must have felt connected to you so deeply because it was you.”

As explanations went, that was possibly the worst. She would have preferred being alluring or mysterious. But comfortable?

“Very well, it’s good I wasn’t pressing for compliments. To think I remind you of your favorite chair. Comfortable.” She rolled her eyes. “Thank you for your visit and explanation. Please go now.”