“I can’t make a decision so quickly,” she said.
“Of course you can,” he whispered near her ear. He ran his tongue along the outer shell of her ear until she shivered. “Tell me.”
Make the right decision, he willed her. Turn me down. I don’t deserve the pleasure your body will bring.
“I don’t know!”
“Yes, you do.” He rubbed his thumbs across her breasts until her nipples tightened. He was certain she would back down. She didn’t want to make the same mistakes as her sister. “Your body knows.”
“Just give me a few minutes,” she begged
Braden slowly moved away from the sweet heat of her body. “Very well, I am a fair man. You have until dinner, but no longer. I want your answer then. If you choose me, we will have plans for the evening. If not, you will be locked in your room until morning.”
“I understand,” she said quietly.
“Good.”
“What would our plans be if I decide on you?”
“A gaming hell. I have an urge to gamble. As my mistress, you will go wherever I desire. Even if that means attending a ball or party. Every person will know you are my mistress and the men will dream about what we do in bed.”
She pressed her lips together as her face went pallid. “I understand. But back to this evening. What gaming hell did you place on visiting?”
“The Red Door.”
Her face lit up. “The Red Door?”
Oh hell, what had he done? Why would she have an interest in the place? She couldn’t have heard about Jonathon’s scuffle last night. Lady Eldridge. Emily might have told Tia about it. Damn. “It was just a thought. I may actually try a different place tonight.”
Seeing her crestfallen face, he knew he was right. She had heard the news.
“Middleton, may I ask you something?”
“I’m quite certain I should say no, but go ahead.”
“I was very foxed last ni
ght and while I remember some of the embarrassing things I did, the one thing I can’t completely remember was the kiss we shared. Before I make my decision, I would like a kiss.” She cleared her throat. “A real kiss.”
“A real kiss?”
“Yes. Like last night.”
He couldn’t do this. Kissing her again was madness He’d never be able to resist her. Was there some way he could kiss her that would repel her? He had never been taught how to disgust a woman.
“Make your decision,” she said, almost as forcefully as he had to her.
“Very well.”
She walked into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her breasts pushed against his chest, sending blood to a part of him that he needed to control. He lowered his head and kissed her softly. Even such an innocent kiss was enough to make him hard. There was no way of resisting her when he wanted her naked body wrapped around his.
Instead, he decided on another tactic: passion. He moved them back a few steps until he had her pressed between the wall and his body. Then he slid his tongue across her full lips until she opened for him. The sensation of her tongue on his sent a primal longing through him. Pressing his hips against her, he heard her moan as she realized how badly he wanted her.
He had to keep some amount of control, but just enough to realize when she became frightened of the passion he was stoking in her. A low moan erupted from her as he moved his thumbs across her breasts. God, he’d give anything to see those beautiful orbs again. He could feel her start to retreat and knew the timing was about right.
She trembled in his arms when he wouldn’t release her. He pressed his body to her once more, showing her his strength and desire. Finally, her arms pushed against his chest and he knew she had reached her limit.
Now she would go home and leave him to find his brother.