I drop my head in embarrassment. I know he means when I felt his erection. It terrified me if I’m honest, and I hate that he sensed it.
“I didn’t know where my father’s guards were,” I whisper. “I don’t do that sort of thing in public.”
His eyes hold mine, and he reaches over the table to take my hand in his. “What about in private, Charlotte? What sort of thing do you do in private?”
We stare at each other for a moment. What can I say here without sounding promiscuous? “Private things,” I whisper.
“I should like to spend time with you in private sometime.”
I sit back, affronted by his gall. “Are you here simply for sex, Mr Spencer?”
He frowns. “Stop calling me that.”
“It’s your name, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but you call me that when you are pushing me away.”
“I’m merely asking you a question. There was no pushing involved.”
“I’m attracted to you, yes.”
“That wasn’t what I asked.”
“Am I here only for sex? No. Have I wondered what it would be like to have intimate relations with you? Yes.”
Intimate relations.
My breath catches as I stare at him. He is the first man in my entire life who has had the guts to come onto me, and I find myself fighting a smile. “Why?”
“You’re beautiful and different than most women.”
“So, you only pursue beautiful women?” I ask. “I’m curious as to what makes a man like you tick, that’s all.” I shrug, hoping that I haven’t just crossed a line.
He smiles and takes my hand over the table again. “Ask me anything you want. I have nothing to hide. I’m very honest. Perhaps too honest.”
“Then do you only date beautiful women?” I ask again. God, how did we get onto this subject?
“I only date women that are beautiful to me.” He frowns as he thinks for a moment. “Although lately my tastes have become very eclectic.”
“How so?”
“Being beautiful and nothing else doesn’t do it for me anymore.” He picks up my hand and kisses my fingertips. I feel the effect of it all the way to my toes.
I stare at him, lost for words, but with so much to say.
“You, for example,” he continues. “The things that attracted me to you have kept me awake at night all week.”
“Such as?”
“You’re innately feminine. You have a confident air about you, but then...” He pauses. “When I touched you, you were frightened of me.”
I stare at him, heart fluttering and words lost.
“I’m guessing you are very intelligent and articulate, but you’re kept in an ivory palace by your brother so that men can’t get to you, which means you definitely don’t sleep around.”
How does he know this?
“I believe that you will probably end up marrying someone of your family’s choosing who is extremely wealthy, and you’ll live a life of luxury—one that is expected of you.”