One Night Scandal

He rolled her onto her back and pressed his body on top of her. “And is it safe for more than once in a night?”

“I believe it is,” she replied with a grin.

“Thank God.” He brushed his tongue over her pebbled nipple.

“But, Nicholas, I should be leaving.”

“Hmm,” he said, suckling her. He raised his head and stared down at her. “I believe we have a few more minutes.”

Unable to look away or deny him anything, she nodded. “I think you might be right.”

And as his head returned to her breasts, she was certain that just this one night might be far more than her heart could survive.

Chapter 7

The roll of thunder rippled through her house, rattling the windows. Never a fan of thunderstorms, she wrapped her arms around Nicholas. Hearing his heartbeat in her ear calmed her irrational fears.

“It’s just a small storm,” he whispered in her ear.

“I know. Just not one of my favorite things.” Sophie smiled against his chest. “Although, I don’t mind so much with you here.”

“I’ll keep you safe, Sophie.”

She wondered if that was possible. Almost every night for the past week they’d met i

n her house and made glorious love. Many of those nights, they would talk until the pink rays of dawn slowly crossed the sky. They wouldn’t be able to keep this up much longer. Gossip was bound to happen.

Sophie almost laughed at that excuse. She paid her servants extremely well not to speak of her private affairs. But she might need to use it as a reason to keep Nicholas away. Already, her heart was becoming involved when she had made a promise that love would not come between them. A promise she forced him to make.

How would it look if she suddenly decided she loved him?

The more time she spent in his company, the more her heart ached for him. She would have to end things soon. But not quite yet.

“Sophie,” he whispered.

She lifted her head up and stared down into his amber eyes. “Yes?”

He moved his thumb across her lower lip. “Elizabeth has invited me to the opera tomorrow night. There will be an extra seat in their box. Would you care to join me?”

She blew out a long breath. She might be able to keep the gossip down in her own house, but never at the opera house.

Before she could answer, he added, “You would sit with Elizabeth while I sit behind with Kendal. There would be nothing improper about it.”

“She asked me if I wished to attend with her yesterday. However, she never mentioned that you would be joining us.” Now Sophie had to rethink her attendance. Oh, how she wanted to go. But could she? “Improper or not, it will only cause talk.”

“I do not care.”

“I do,” she replied. “My business depends on how I comport myself. Being seen with you would make people think we are lovers.”

“We are,” he said with a sensual grin. “Elizabeth will tell everyone that you attended as her guest and I as Kendal’s guest.”

Sophie frowned as she tried to think of another way to dissuade him. The only problem was she didn’t want to discourage him. She rarely went to the opera except when accompanying one of her friends. Most of those times she had gone with Elizabeth before her marriage so perhaps no one would think improperly of Sophie being there with them. Or maybe she was strictly telling herself this just to have more time with him.

“I suppose as long as I arrive with Elizabeth and her husband it would be all right.”

He kissed her lightly. “Excellent.”

“This might cause some talk.”