Something Scandalous

“I won’t this time. But you must never let this happen again.” Caroline turned on her heels and walked away.

Will closed the door to his bedroom and untied his cravat. Finally, as the first pink rays of dawn stretched forth, the party was officially over. While he should be exhausted and want for nothing more than his bed, he had other things on his mind. He couldn’t forget the image of Elizabeth’s face as he forced himself to push her away this evening.

After kicking off his shoes, he removed his jacket and tossed it on the chair. His valet had retired hours ago at Will’s request. He stopped his movements and glanced at the door. Did he hear a soft footfall outside his room? Or was his mind playing tricks on him?

He strode to the door and flung it open only to find an empty hallway. Damn. The door across from his slowly opened, revealing Elizabeth in her ivory nightgown.

“Is everything all right?” she asked softly.

“I thought I heard something out here.” Will watched as a pink flush tinged her cheeks. Either she had been outside his room or she was just embarrassed at being seen in her nightclothes. He didn’t care. Seeing her standing with the dim candlelight behind her, he wanted her.

And he wanted her now.

Determined to be done with pretending they felt nothing toward each other, he shut his door and walked toward her. Her green eyes widened with each step he took.

“Will?”

“Step back into your room, Elizabeth.”

She blinked and then moved into her room without a word.

Will walked inside, shut, and then locked the door. He turned toward her, praying she wouldn’t turn him away. Unable to move, he stood with his back to the door, transfixed by her beauty.

She raced toward him and then kissed him soundly. “I didn’t have the courage to come to your room,” she said breathlessly. “I wanted to. I walked into the hall but I just couldn’t—”

He cut her off with a searing kiss. Denying his feelings for her for the past week had been hell. As he kissed her, he moved them back toward the bed. He had to get some control before he tossed her on the bed and plunged right into her.

She slowly drew away from his kiss. Staring into his eyes, she whispered, “I want to remove your clothes. I want to see you.”

So much for self-control tonight. “Yes,” he answered, and then stood still waiting for her sensual fingers to touch him.

She started with the buttons on his shirt. As each one popped through the hole, his heart beat a little faster. She reached down to pull his shirt from his breeches. He clenched his fists as her hand innocently brushed the bulge in his trousers.

Closing his eyes, he lifted his arms for her to tug the shirt over his head. She gasped slightly. He opened his eyes to find her staring at his chest. Tentatively, she skimmed her soft hand down his shoulders, down his chest and his stomach, until she reached the first button on his breeches. She stilled her hand for a moment as if uncertain she should continue.

He gave her a smile for encouragement. She pressed her lips together and released the first button. Quickly, all the buttons were undone and he tensed as she slipped his breeches down his legs.

“Oh, my,” she mumbled.

He shook his breeches and undergarments off his ankles and took a step back. “Well?”

Her gaze burned through him, igniting a fire that needed dousing immediately. “I want to touch you,” she whispered.

He grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest. “Then touch.”

As he stood there praying for control, her hand slowly brushed across his nipples. He released a small groan. Encouraged, she slid her hand down until she reached his erection.

“May I?”

“God, yes,” he answered, putting his hand over hers to show her how to touch him.

Her hand slowly stroked him until he knew he had to stop her.

“Elizabeth,” he said softly against her ear. “You need to stop what you’re doing.”

She pulled back. “Am I doing something wrong?”

“