Dauntless (Gentlemen of the Order 1)

“It’s like a recurring nightmare.”

“It’s easy for me. I can defend my honour, fight with swords or pistols, wrestle naked in the park at dawn. You’re forced to endure the torment or take undesirable work.”

It was a serious point, and yet one particular piece of information left her intrigued. “You’ve stripped off your clothes and wrestled naked in the park?”

“Clothes can be restrictive. As I’m sure you discovered tonight.”

Oh, did he have to allude to their kiss?

Her raging pulse had only just settled.

“Why do you seek to tease me?”

“I’m not teasing you, Eva. You deserve honesty from a man.” He smoothed his hand down his muscular thigh. “All night, I’ve wanted to slip that silk gown off your shoulders, slide it down over every sweet curve until it’s a claret pool on the floor.”

Mother Mary!

Eva drew in a deep breath, but it barely filled her lungs. Her gown felt too tight, a dreadful inconvenience.

“You wish to wrestle with me, too?”

Mr Ashwood’s emerald eyes glazed. “In a fashion. I want to make love to you, Eva.” His voice was hypnotic. “I want mine to be the name on your lips when you reach the height of your pleasure.”

Good heavens!

He made sin sound divine.

“Isn’t the nomad afraid the reality will fall short of the dream?”

“I believe he might be about to have his awakening. To be blunt, madam, this nomad wants to plunge into the pool and wallow in the waters.”

A knock on the door broke the spell, though Eva’s blood burned with a ferocity she struggled to contain.

“Come,” she called, almost choking on the word.

Kathleen shuffled into the room, her clumsy gait a means to incite pity. The maid’s mouth and shoulders sagged, but Eva felt nothing but the potent thrum of desire. The need for physical pleasure proved overwhelming. The heat pooling in her sex made it hard to stand still. Indeed, she considered telling Kathleen they would discuss the matter in the morning.

“I expect you want to know why I didn’t deliver the letters to Hart Street, ma’am,” Kathleen said, spoiling Eva’s erotic fantasy. “I expect you’ll dismiss me without a reference.”

“I expect I will,” Eva said sharply. No longer would she put other people’s feelings before her own.

Shocked upon hearing the admission, Kathleen burst into tears.

It was another ploy to gain sympathy.

Eva waited for the maid to stop blubbering. She did not offer a comforting arm or a consolatory handkerchief. No. Her patience had worn thin. All she truly cared about was continuing the arousing conversation with Noah Ashwood.

“I burnt the letters,” Kathleen said between wet sniffs. “I did it for love, ma’am.”

Mr Ashwood’s mocking snort was audible.

“For love?” Eva stiffened. An arctic wind swept through her, banishing all amorous thoughts of the virile gentleman on the sofa. “Please tell me you’re not talking about my brother.”

The tight knot in her chest said this had everything to do with Howard.

“People misunderstand him, ma’am.”

Oh, for the love of God!