Ten Ways to Ruin

He moved his lips over her jaw until he reached her ear. Tracing the shell of her ear, he felt her quiver. “Emma,” he whispered. “Let me unhook your dress.”

She moaned and pressed him away from her. “No. You did not wish to be an item I crossed off on my list.”

Sighing, he said, “You are right.”

With a coy smile, she walked to her seat as a knock hammered the door.

“Coffee’s here,” a feminine voice sounded from behind the door.

“Come in,” Emma replied before Simon had regained his composure.

Meg walked in with a smile and stopped when she spied Emma in the seat by the fire. “Where were you like this, King?”

“On the table is fine. Thank you, Meg.”

She nodded before placing the tray laden with coffee and biscuits on the table near Emma. “Would you like me to stay as a chaperone for the duchess’s sister,” she asked pointedly to Simon.

“Oh, there is no need for a chaperone,” Emma replied. “Mr. Kingsley is a perfect gentleman to his brother’s sister-in-law, are you not, Mr. Kingsley?”

Simon’s hands clenched tightly against Emma’s sarcasm. “Thank you, Meg. That will be all.”

Meg nodded and departed.

As the door closed, Simon said, “Do you think that was necessary?”

“Oh?” Emma reached for the coffee and then poured them both a cup. “I do believe Meg was a little surprised to find me here. Did you not tell her how I tried to seduce you only a few days ago?”

“Enough, Emma.” Simon took the proffered coffee.

She sipped her coffee, ignoring the biscuits on the tray.

“Why does Meg upset you so?” he asked gently. “There is no need. She is nothing to me.”

Her blue eyes flashed in anger. “And the fact that she means nothing to you makes everything better? I doubt she thought so little of your encounter.”

Simon chuckled at her naivety. “It most likely meant less to her than it did me. She thought she was doing a favor for me, relieving a bit of stress.”

Something changed in her demeanor as she placed her cup back on the tray. She rose and then paced the room in an agitated manner. “I am so dreadfully tired of being innocent. Of not know what you are speaking of when you refer to making love. Not understanding why I have these strange feelings for you. I don’t understand why I want to kiss you or do more than a kiss.”

Simon couldn’t abide by watching the frustration wash over her face. As she passed his seat, he yanked her down on his lap until her lips were only inches from his. Tamping down his desire, he whispered, “You are innocent because that is what a gentleman expects on his wedding night.”

“It’s not fair.” She drew her hand down his jaw. “I want to know what to anticipate. Why is it so wrong for a lady and yet not for a man?”

He clasped her wrist and brought the palm of her hand to his lips. “I don’t know, angel.”

He steeled himself from the temptation that she wrought. She only wanted him to complete some damned list. Besides, she was innocent and would wish for marriage. Emma Drake was far too good for a scoundrel like him. No matter how badly he wanted her.

She was forbidden fruit.

That, of course, had to be the answer because the other thought rolling through his mind was almost laughable. He was not falling in love with Emma Drake. The idea was outrageous.

Chapter 16

Emma shivered as his lips moved from her palm to her wrist. She’d never sat on a gentleman’s lap. Strange sensations coursed through her. She shouldn’t want him like this. He’d rejected her the other night when she tried to satisfy her curiosity. Pushing him away seemed like the proper thing to do.

Except, she no longer wanted to be proper.

Simon Kingsley was the perfect man to quell her curiosity. Being a rake, he would surely know how to make love to a woman. Being Harry’s brother, Simon would never speak of their deed to anyone. Simon was the perfect man to complete number nine.