What a Vulgar Viscount Needs (Romancing the Rake 5)

“And drinking.” He heard the laugh in her voice. “I can assure you, we hardly ever drink. It’s been an interesting week.”

He laughed too, sliding his other hand to her waist. She stopped. “You shouldn’t do that.”

“I shouldn’t.” She was absolutely right. “It goes against the one term I’ve already established.” And yet, he couldn’t help himself.

* * *

Cordelia wanted to turn and step into his arms. Truth be told, she wanted to accept his offer. But not with that term.

Somehow, making that decision made her feel better. She did want him, and she wanted her music. Was that wrong?

Wrong or right, having it both ways likely wasn’t possible. That was the fact. But they had ton

ight. Now. “So our first term is that should we marry, there is no intimacy.”

“Correct.”

She let out a trembling breath as she shook her head. “Because of your father.”

“Yes,” he answered, his voice dropping lower.

Her hand whispered up his arm. “Did he hurt you?”

He stepped back, retreating into the darkness, away from her, but his silence was her answer. “Talking about my past is not part of the bargain,” he finally said.

She didn’t move, allowing him to retreat. “All right. We’re not to touch. We’re not to share.”

He let out a long breath. “I’m proposing a business partnership, Cordelia.”

And so he was. And she knew that she didn’t wish to take it. But his kiss, that was a different matter entirely. “I changed my mind. When you touched my waist, I said you shouldn’t. I was wrong. You should.”

She heard him shift. Her own heart was hammering in her chest at his nearness. “I shouldn’t. It will cloud our agreement.”

She stepped closer to him then. Even if she couldn’t see him in the dark, she could feel him. She reached up allowing her fingers to slide down him like they were an instrument she wished to play. It was a bold move on her part and something she’d never done, but if she didn’t think and trusted her fingers, she’d likely know how to touch him. Her hands never failed her.

He didn’t hold her, but he didn’t withdraw either. There was so much she wished to say but she was afraid he’d retreat again and so she remained silent allowing her fingers to slide over the deep ridges of his muscles.

“Cordelia,” he warned, his voice tinged with desperation.

She moved in closer, her body only a whisper from his. “And if there was no ‘agreement?’”

He slid his hand to her waist and suddenly she was pressed to his front, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders. His breath blew light and warm across her cheek. “Are you turning me down?”

She swallowed, breathing in his scent. “I am.”

His hand stiffened at her waist. “Because I didn’t tell you about my father?”

“Because I was wrong yesterday.”

“Wrong about what?” Did his lips brush her cheek?

“It turns out that music may not be the most important thing in my life after all.” She stopped before she said more. It was too soon to admit her true feelings.

Then again, if they were ever going to move forward, one of them had to start sharing.

“You’ll give up your music career?” he whispered, his hand tightening at her back. “You can’t, Cordelia. You’re too good.”

“Thank you,” she breathed. “But I find that I want both music and romance.”