Sitting ducks?
Her comment hit a nerve.
Did she think he wanted to play the rational investigator? Did she think he enjoyed being the pragmatic one? No, he wanted to throw caution to the wind. Take risks. Dance with danger.
He braced his hands on the bookshelf above her head, locking her in his masculine prison, pressing his body closer than he had ever dared before. “Being vigilant doesn’t make me a damn duck.”
Miss Atwood laughed nervously, her hot breath breezing across his cheek. Oh, she was so achingly close. “Your promise to my father has made you too cautious. This matter calls for a little recklessness. It calls for the devil-may-care attitude you display in the ballroom.”
Oh, so she wanted reckless.
“I’m the ton’s most scandalous rogue. I can be irresponsible.” Indeed, his ropes of restraint were already frayed. A hint of encouragement from Miss Atwood would snap the bindings in two. “Don’t taunt me about being impulsive when we’re locked in a dark room. Not when I’m as randy as the devil. Not when I’m fighting against taking what I so desperately crave.”
Long lashes fluttered against her porcelain skin. “But you don’t find me attractive in that way.”
Damn, how could an intelligent woman be so blind?
“Madam, I find everything about you so damnably appealing.” He moved closer until those magnificent breasts were squashed against his waistcoat. He was already harder than he’d been in his life. Mother of all saints. If he didn’t kiss her now, he might die. “If you don’t say no, Miss Atwood, I’m going to devour your mouth. I’m going to plunder you senseless.”
She stared at his lips as her breath grew short and shallow.
“Say it, Sybil. Say no. Say it now before we enter into something neither of us—”
She pressed her mouth to his in a soft, sweet kiss. So innocent. So sensual. A rush of euphoria robbed him of rational thought. The rehearsed skills needed to seduce a woman abandoned him, too.
This was something new.
Something exquisite.
Something precious.
Abruptly, she broke contact and pressed her fingers to her lips in shock. “Forgive me. Heavens. My insatiable curiosity got the better of me.”
“Is that all it was—a quest for knowledge? If all you want is an education, I’m afraid I cannot oblige.”
Silence ensued, though it did nothing to dampen his ardour.
“I can’t seem to control these strange feelings when I’m in your company.” She struggled to hold his gaze. “I don’t know what it means, but I wanted to feel your mouth on mine.”
; He wasn’t sure what it meant either, but it didn’t stop him saying, “Would you care to feel my mouth on yours again?” She replied by leaning forward and tilting her chin, but he tapped his finger on her lips. “It’s my turn to kiss you.”
When she nodded, he pinned her to the bookcase, let her feel the power of his body as he angled his head to feast. He rocked against her as he coaxed her lips apart and slipped his tongue slowly into her wet mouth.
Holy mother Mary.
The smell of roses filled his head. She tasted of innocence mingled with hidden secrets and untamed passion. Her powerful essence penetrated his steely composure, seeping into his body to stir Lucifer’s lust. A ravenous hunger surfaced. He tried to maintain control—tried to drink with care—but he had no defence against her potent allure. Not when she arched her back and moaned into his mouth. Not when her hands snaked inside his coat and clutched his hips.
Passion’s fire blazed.
Retreat proved impossible.
He needed to strip her naked. He needed to indulge every wild and wicked fantasy. He needed to stroke her sex and cradle her as she shuddered and cried his name.
Before he knew what was happening, they were writhing against the bookcase with reckless abandon. They couldn’t open their mouths wide enough to feed the flames, couldn’t taste each other deeply enough to ease the heavy ache.
The bookcase shook. Volumes fell to the floor with a thud. Their ragged pants filled the air as they clawed at each other’s clothes. He stole under her gown and gripped her thigh. The need to push deep into her body left his cock throbbing. He wanted to touch her, fuck her, love her.