Ecstasy (Notorious 4)

“Besides,” she was pointing out, “I understand from Emma that several ladies frequent your club.”

“Perhaps, but they don’t have a scandal hanging over their heads. Or they don’t give a fig about their reputations. And you haven’t answered my question. Why are you here?”

“Actually, I wished to speak to you. I wanted to thank you, for one thing. I am profoundly grateful that you sent Sean away.”

Kell nodded. “Very well, I’ll consider myself thanked. Now you can go.”

Raven made a face. “You can’t evict me without undermining our pretense of being happily married.”

Kell’s gaze narrowed. “I believe we had an agreement. If I escorted you to the Wycliffs’ ball, you pledged never to ask me for another favor, remember?”

“This has nothing to do with favors. This concerns the fate of your club.” She hesitated. “Have you heard what Halford has been saying about you?”

His lips thinned in a hard line. “I’ve heard,” he replied grimly.

“Well, we must do something. We have to try to stem those terrible rumors.”

“I doubt anything I could do would have an effect.”

“Lord Wolverton has offered to sponsor you in society. Dare believes that if you would only ingratiate yourself with the ton’s leaders, you might be able to weather Halford’s accusations.”

Kell shook his head. It rubbed painfully against the grain to accept help from anyone; most certainly he didn’t want to be beholden to Raven for her friends’ intervention. “I’m not about to accept charity

from the Marquess of Wolverton.”

“It wouldn’t be charity in the least. He would be doing it for my sake. Besides, you are always aiding others. Emma told me about all the street urchins you’ve rescued. It is only fair that you be the recipient for a change.”

Kell grimaced. He didn’t like having his secrets probed any more than he liked having to deal with his beautiful wife’s nearness. “You are much too interested in my affairs,” he observed.

She didn’t respond to that charge but took another tack. “Kell…I can understand why you scorn society, but this is another matter altogether. Your club is in danger.”

“It isn’t your concern.”

“But it is.” Raven gave him an imploring look. “I am the reason your reputation is being maligned. I cannot simply meekly return home and forget the trouble you are in. I won’t stand idly by while you are ruined.”

“I’m not giving you a choice. I don’t need or want your help.”

Frustration shone in her blue eyes. “I don’t understand why you must be so stubborn!”

Kell steeled himself against his own frustration, wishing Raven would just go away and leave him in peace. Her very nearness was a temptation. Yet if he wanted her gone, he would have to drive her away. But how, other than physical threats…?

Assessing her, he responded to the devil prompting him. “There is only one thing I might want from you, vixen.”

She looked taken aback. “Oh? And what is that?”

“Perhaps you can guess.” He reached out to brush her breast through her gown, making her start in alarm. “Carnal relations. You can fulfill my carnal needs.”

Her sharp intake of breath was supremely satisfying.

“I see I have shocked you,” Kell murmured. “How entertaining to render you speechless.”

Raven ignored his baiting, however, and searched his face, her gaze both serious and wary. “Do you truly want relations between us?”

Kell felt his loins pulse at the prospect. Too clearly he remembered the tight, glorious fit of his hard flesh in the hot, wet softness of hers. “No,” he denied swiftly. “I’m perfectly satisfied with our mock marriage, with neither of us demanding or expecting anything from the other.”

“But will you at least consider taking Dare up on his offer? I know it wounds your pride to consider accepting help-”

“My pride is none of your concern.”