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“Good faith?” There was an edge to his voice that she didn’t understand but she didn’t have time to ask as he spun her around and then pressed her back against the door. “Lift your skirt.”
She swallowed down a lump as her pulse beat wildly. “I thought my payment was a kiss?” But without meaning to, she began gathering her skirts in her hand, letting them shimmy up her legs.
“It is,” now there was a growl to his voice that she responded to in the most basic way. It was exciting and a pulse of need formed deep between her legs.
He lifted her skirt as well, skimming up her knee and then her thighs. Her breath came out in short gasps. “But what does that have to do with my—” She stopped when his fingers bru
shed her most intimate area. She moaned and her head fell back thudding against the door.
“You must try to be quiet my love,” he whispered close to her ear. “I will explain everything to you after but I want you to have options and, if we are caught, there will be none.”
What did he need to explain? She couldn’t think as his fingers began a rhythmic movement against her soft folds. He dipped down and before she could ask what he meant with his words, his head disappeared under the folds of her skirt.
His arm hooked under her knee and as he placed it on his shoulder, the soft press of his tongue touched her most intimate area.
A cry rent from her lips as she clutched at his head now completely covered by her layers of skirt and petticoat.
“Quiet,” he cautioned.
He repeated the movement and wonderful ache made her knees weak as she bit at her lip to keep from moaning. “I now…understand…the appeal…of a rake.” She managed to gasp between breaths.
He laughed and the vibration against her swollen flesh made her shudder with pleasure as she pressed closer. Never had she felt anything close to this. And as he moved faster, he inserted a finger deep inside her. “Will,” she murmured while she clung to his head, his shoulders. Her pleasure intensifying until she felt as though she might break apart.
But rather than ease back he increased the tempo and she ground against him looking for some sort of relief.
Just when she couldn’t stand another second, her insides convulsed and her pleasure broke in the most satisfying way. It was devastating and wonderful and it wiped her mind of every thought. She slowly floated down from that mind-numbing bliss.
Rose didn’t realize she’d been sinking to the floor, until Will pulled her skirts off his head and hooked his arms underneath her to carry her to a settee. Her head rested limply on his shoulder.
He kissed her forehead as he sat down with her in her lap. “I’m sorry to jump straight into this conversation, but I don’t know how much more time we have alone.”
Conversation? She blinked a few times to try and clear her head. “What is it?”
“I want,” he paused. “I want you to know the truth about me. All of it.”
That rid her mind of its haziness and she sat up in his lap. “The truth?”
“You deserve to know.” His face tightened. “You’ve been right about a great many things. I would never have allowed myself to be taken in by Highwater. It wasn’t an accident I was at the auction where your mother’s jewels were sold.
Cold fear washed over her as she tried to remain calm. “It wasn’t?”
“I am not a thief, Rose. Nor am I a destitute. I don’t have a gambling problem nor do I drink excessively. Well, occasionally, I suppose but that is beside the point.”
“What then?” She deliberately closed her mouth realizing it was parted in suspense.
He grimaced. “I am spy for the Prince Regent, or I was. I created that image of a degenerate earl to gain access to the more paltry side of high society. The auction where your jewels were sold, a set of rubies belonging to the Prinny himself were also for sale. I was there to track them and to make sure that the criminals responsible were brought to justice.”
Rose jumped from his lap. It wasn’t that she was angry or upset. Well she was a little of both. But it was as though she’d been struck by lightning as all the details clicked into place. How had she not realized sooner that he would have been working with the law not against it? “I am such a fool.”
“You’re not.” He stood too.
“It was all there. How could I not have seen it?” Her hands trembled as she clasped them together and she began pacing in front of him.
“No one saw it. Not even my parents when they were alive, not my closet friends, and some of them are quite intelligent. My mentor, the Earl of Coventry, didn’t know and he is one of the sharpest men I’ve ever known.”
She covered her mouth with her hands, shock rippling through her again. “Your parents didn’t know?”
“No one knew.” He stood too, taking a step toward her. His hands moved slowly out as though she were a frightened animal he hoped to calm. “Only you saw behind my mask. Rose, after this latest case, Prinny decided I should retire, I was going to fight to remain but more and more—” He stopped as the knob on the door rattled.
