Sinfully Yours (Hellions of High Street 2)

“Reading is all very well, Miss Sloane. But if you wish to capture the real essence of animal attraction between a man and a woman in your novels, you ought to experience it in the flesh.”

“I don’t need to actually load and fire a cannon to comprehend what it must feel like, Lord Davenport,” she countered. “I can do research and read first-hand accounts—”

Her voice cut off as he hooked a finger in the “V” of her gown’s neckline. “Trust me, certain details get lost in the translation.” Probing a little deeper beneath the fabric, Devlin drew a caress along the top edge of her corset.

She let out a little gasp.

“You see, certain sensations are not easy to describe in words.” Delving past the lacy trim, his teasing finger dipped into the narrow gap between her breasts. “They require a skilled writer who understands the nuances of language.”

Her skin began to quiver as the beat of her heart turned into a pulsing thud, thud, thud.

That she responded to his touch sent a surge of savage satisfaction through his body.

Oh yes, I am evil and wicked.

“Now pay attention,” he whispered. “If a man were truly bold, he might even attempt…”

Anna pulled away and made another skittish retreat. She was now backed up against the far wall.

“You seem to have run out of room to maneuver.” Devlin grinned as he closed the gap between them. “Now, I wonder—what would Emmalina do?”

Anna swallowed hard, mesmerized for a moment by the fire-bright gleam of his amber eyes. This must be how a helpless fawn felt when coming face to face with a prowling panther in the dead of night, she thought.

But I am not a helpless fawn.

“If you recall from The Orphan’s Revenge, Emmalina knows some very underhanded and effective ways for dealing with aggressive men.”

“Ouch,” murmured Devlin. And yet, like an arrogant beast, supremely sure of his superior strength, he came a little closer. “You wouldn’t dare.”

She shifted her knee. “That’s exactly the wrong thing to say to an intrepid female who has been forced by Cruel Fate to learn how to defend her honor.”

Devlin began to laugh.

Anna tried to scowl, but instead her lips twitched upward. “Really, sir, this is absurd.”

He seemed to be staring at the tiny pulsepoint beneath her jaw. She felt her blood begin to thrum and her heart kick up to an even faster beat.

“Is it?” he asked, lowering his mouth to within a hair’s breadth of her throat.

Thump, thump. Her flesh began to tingle as heat spread from the pulsing point and spiraled downward.

“By the by, you have a very lovely neck. Its arch is as graceful as that of a regal swan.”

Her breath seemed to stick in her lungs for just an instant. “D-do you always attempt to seduce your women by comparing them to birds?”

“That depends.” Devlin touched the tip of his tongue to the throbbing spot and let out a soft chuckle on feeling her shiver.

“O-on

w-what?”

“On the woman, of course.” He licked again. And again.

“You shouldn’t be doing this.” Anna drew in a shuddering breath. “I shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Consider it research.” He raised his head, and she was instantly aware of the loss of his warmth. “As I said, it’s important to apply the same meticulous attention to detail that you show toward inanimate objects—like pistols—to your hero and heroine.”

“Are you really criticizing my love scenes?”