Selina rested her head against Colin’s bare chest and wondered how exactly she had ended up in bed with him again. The whole point of moving out was to get some distance from the distracting man. Instead, she’d just spent the most incredible hour in bed with him ever.
She closed her eyes and shivered. She’d had no idea a woman could climax that many times.
With his strong arms around her, she felt sated and safe. She suddenly couldn’t remember why she wanted to get away from him. Then it came back—the reality that this was nothing but a fantasy. That he was a duke and she was . . . nobody.
“Selina? Are you here?”
Her eyes opened wide. What was Mia doing here today? She lifted her head and stared into twinkling sapphire blue eyes. Pressing her finger to his lips, she put her lips against his ear. “Do not say a word.”
He nodded with a smile.
“Mia, stay out there. I’m just changing and then I’ll be out. Start the fire for me so we can have tea.” That would keep her busy and hopefully making enough noise so that she wouldn’t hear them.
“All right.”
Selina jumped out of bed and gathered her things. “Help me,” she whispered.
Colin laughed softly. “Come here.”
He helped her with her stays and buttons while she attempted to put her hair up. He slapped her bottom. “All set. Should I get dressed and come out?”
“Don’t you dare!” She picked up his clothing and threw it at him. “Get dressed.”
“How am I supposed to leave if you both are out there?”
“Climb out the window!”
“Someone might see me,” he remarked. “And that would be scandalous, indeed.”
He was trying to make her insane. He was getting perverse amusement out of this situation. “Just leave.”
She walked out of the room and closed the door, praying he would leave them in peace. “Mia!”
Her dearest friend gave her a big hug. “I heard the news and had to come see you. Why did he change his mind?”
She shrugged nonchalantly. “The man is quite mad. I’m only hoping he doesn’t change his mind again.”
Mia looked her over critically with a frown. “Selina,” she drawled.
“What is it?” Hopefully, no more questions about the man in her bedroom.
“How exactly did you change your clothing?”
“What do you mean?”
“You seldom wear that dress because it’s one of the few you own that buttons up the back.”
Panic raced through her. She hated lying and it was worse to lie to someone you loved. “I was changing my boots, not my gown. Kate’s maid helped me dress today. My boots were muddied from visiting the tenants today.”
“And it took you that long to put your other boots on?” she asked with suspicion. “What is really going on, Selina?”
“Nothing,” she squeaked. God, she was a terrible liar. Her voice always rose an octave or two.
Mia glanced at the closed door. “Did you have a man in there with you?”
“What?”
“Did you finally decide to take that offer from the tutor in town? What was his name? Neil, Nathan . . .”