“Yes, right after you kissed me last night,” he added for good measure.
She shook her head slowly. “I didn’t kiss you. You kissed me. And I’m quite certain I did not invite you to dinner.”
He pursed his lips. “Indeed? That is not the way I remember it. I suppose I shall have to return to my brother’s house and see if Cook can find something cold for me to eat.”
“That is nonsense.” She moved toward the door. “Roberts, tell Mrs. Williams that there shall be two for dinner tonight.”
“Yes, my lady.”
She turned around with a slight smile. “The next time you are hungry you only need to ask, not make up lies about invitations to dinner and me kissing you.”
He crossed the room until he was only inches away. “But, my dear, you did kiss me. I am quite certain of that.” He leaned in next to her ear until he felt her quiver. “I definitely remember you kissing me and your tongue brushing against mine until I wanted to die from the pleasure of it.”
“That is not at all how I remember last night,” she whispered, staring up at him. Her blue eyes shimmered with mischief.
“Do I need to remind you?” He moved even closer until their lips were a breath away from each other. “I would be happy to jostle your memory.”
Her lips parted slightly inviting him to kiss her. Unable to stop himself, he closed the distance between them. Her lips tasted sweet like warm chocolate on a cold morning. But when her mouth opened, the sensation of her tongue on his was pure sin. He wanted to plunge deep inside her warmth, watch as she reached her climax, and then gaze into her eyes as he found his fulfillment. Lust filled his mind as he brought her hips against his. He slanted his lips over hers again and again. Drowning in the flood of desire, he wanted nothing more than to lay her on the settee and make love to her all night.
A rap at the door split them apart. Jack stepped behind the settee so no one would notice just how much he desired the countess. She quickly straightened her dress and opened the door.
“Yes, Roberts?”
“The Duke of Worthington is here to see you, my lady,” he replied, with a quick smirk toward Jack.
Somehow, he would need to get on Roberts’ good side for his plan to succeed, but he could not address that now. Knowing the duke was about to enter the room, he had to think about cold things, wretched things, anything to get his damned cock under control.
“Show him in,” Lady Stanhope replied, far too sweetly for his taste.
He tilted his head in a questioning manner to her but she only shrugged as if she had no idea why the duke was here at this hour. He quickly returned his thoughts to winter as his shaft slowly came back under his control.
As the duke entered the room, he stopped short, seeing Jack behind the sofa. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It is no interruption, indeed, Your Grace. In fact, now that you both are here you must join me for dinner. I shall take no excuses from either of you.” She rose and walked to the hall to confirm the dinner plans with Roberts.
Jack walked to the closest chair and prayed the duke wouldn’t see the slight bulge still tenting his trousers. Damn embarrassing was what this was. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d reacted to a woman in such a swift manner. Just seeing her was enough to get his blood pulsing through his veins.
“What brings you here tonight, Raynerson?” the duke asked as he took the chair closer to the sofa.
What excuse could he come up with? “I came to invite the countess to the opera tomorrow night. And you?” Damnation, he hated th
e opera but it was the first thing that came to his mind other than saying he was here to seduce her.
The duke pursed his lips in blatant disapproval. “As did I.”
“Well now, then I shall just have to settle on one of you for tomorrow,” she said as sauntered back into the room with a bright smile
“I suppose whoever is the better dinner companion shall win,” Jack commented.
“I believe that shall determine it,” she agreed.
The duke nodded his consent. “My dear, have you finished the last book I lent you?”
“Not quite yet. With Emma’s come out, I have been kept quite busy. Did you need it returned already?”
“Of course not, I was hoping for your opinion on it, that is all.” The duke glanced over at Jack as if trying to determine how to include him in the conversation. “How is your sister-in-law doing, Raynerson?”
“Having a difficult time of it, I’m afraid. Neville said it is far worse than the previous babes.”