en try to win some blunt off me. I let the rumor live, encouraged it even. The lie seemed to take on a life of its own. I became the man who took innocents to his bed, seduced more widows than there probably were widows, and cheated men out of fortunes.
“Now, even if I wanted to improve my reputation, no one would believe the rumors about me weren’t true.” He looked over at her. “So, I do understand your situation more than you realized.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I had no idea.”
“I don’t want your pity.”
She took a sip of her whisky before looking over at him. “What do you want then?”
The seductive tone of her voice almost undid him. He wanted her. And he was tired of pretending he could stay away from her.
“I want the one innocent I can never have,” he whispered and then rose to stare down at the gaming room, away from her prying gaze.
Slender arms wrapped around him. “Who said you could not have her?”
He turned in her arms and moved her away from the windows. Staring down at her, he asked, “Is this just another thing to check off your list?”
Her cheeks colored scarlet.
“I think you should leave now.” He moved away from her before he felt the desire to kiss her again.
“Simon, you were not specifically on my list,” she said with a wry smile.
Simon? Now she decides to call him by his Christian name. “I suppose that is something,” he muttered. “Do you have a carriage tonight?”
She nodded. “I do.”
“Good. Riley will escort you to it.” Simon opened the door and shouted for Riley. “Goodnight, Miss Drake.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Kingsley.” She blinked as if holding back tears.
“What do you need, King?” Riley asked as he reached the top step.
“Get Miss Drake’s winnings and then escort her to her carriage.”
Riley nodded as he glanced back and forth between them. “Miss Drake, wait here until I retrieve your money.”
Simon looked over at her as she attempted to wipe away a tear without him noticing. Dammit! He closed the door while Riley fetched her money. The room felt far too confining with just the two of them in it.
“I should never have come here tonight.”
“Any night. You should stay away from Hell and me.”
“I thought I had. You were still supposed to be at Worth. If I’d know you were back in town, I would have gone straight home and missed the drink I wanted. I would never have come here.”
She wiped away another tear. Simon reached out and pulled her into his arms, exactly the wrong place for her. But he couldn’t seem to help himself. Whenever she was near, he wanted her in his arms, his lips on hers. Slowly, he lowered his head to hers and slanted his lips, touching her lips lightly. One taste of her, and he wanted more.
And evidently, so did she. Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body closer to him, deepening the kiss. He was lost to the sensation as her tongue breached his mouth and skimmed across his tongue. Never had he desired a woman as he did Emma.
He wanted to show her what lovemaking could be like with the right man. Except he wasn’t the right man, nor could he ever be. Nor did he want to be some item on a list she scratched off when completed. She deserved a gentleman who could give her respectability.
“Miss Drake, I am ready when you are,” Riley shouted from the hall.
They broke apart as if both suddenly realizing their mistake.
“Goodbye, Miss Drake.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Kingsley.”