Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager - By Sarah Mallory Page 0,40
it was possible to be.
The viscount did not appear to notice. Susannah held her breath, ready to leap up should he seat himself too close, or press himself up against her, but instead he stood a little to one side, looking down at her.
It was unbearable. If he had pounced, leered or directed lewd innuendo towards her she would have known how to react, but there was nothing lover-like or menacing in his behaviour. They might have been the best of friends, enjoying a meal together. Save that they were not friends. They were strangers, and they were totally alone in his suite of rooms in the most expensive hotel in Bath. Taking her courage in her hands, Susannah forced herself to look up and ask him a direct question.
‘Why are you doing this?’
He hesitated a heart’s beat before replying.
‘I want to make sure you do not marry my cousin.’
She blinked at him. Was that all? Relief brought the first real smile of the evening to her face.
‘Then you have gone to a great deal of trouble for nothing, my lord. I have already told you I do not mean to marry him, and I am pretty sure Gerald has told you the same.’
‘I saw you,’ he said. ‘Coming out of the jewellers on Milsom Street.’
She raised her brows.
‘And that convinced you we are to be married? You are very quick to jump to conclusions.’
‘Then tell me what you were doing there.’
‘I will not.’
‘Then tell me where you go almost every morning, when you drive out of Bath in your carriage—and pray do not try to fob me off, I have seen you.’
‘Very well, I will say nothing then.’
‘You are an extremely obstinate woman, Miss Prentess.’
‘And you are a fool,’ she retorted. ‘I told you at the outset I had no designs upon your cousin. Gerald has come to terms with that, so why cannot you?’
‘You make use of him unmercifully.’
‘He is happy to be of assistance to me.’
‘You sent him off on an errand—’
‘I did.’
‘Where did he go?’
‘That is none of your business.’ She waved her hand. ‘I doubt you would approve, if you knew.’
‘But it might have stopped me from going to these extraordinary measures to prevent your liaison.’
His retort merely made her shake her head at him, smiling.
‘You have led yourself a merry dance, have you not, my lord?’
He sat down beside her.
‘It seems I have been well and truly bamboozled.’
He looked at her and his lips twitched. The corners of his mouth turned up. Susannah stifled a giggle, he tried not to chuckle, but the next moment both of them were laughing so hard they could not sit upright, but leaned against each other, helpless with mirth. He put his arm around her to support them and, still giggling, she turned towards him.
The laughter died away, but Susannah found she was still smiling, still looking into those dark, dark eyes that held nothing now but warmth and good humour. Without thinking she put up her hand to cup his cheek.
‘How foolish you were to doubt me,’ she whispered.
He turned his head to press a kiss into the palm of her hand and as he did so his arms slid around her. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to look up a little more, to invite his kiss and when his lips met hers it was as if the whole world relaxed with a sigh. She leaned into him, her lips parting under the soft pressure of his mouth. His tongue dipped into her, drawing on the ache that reached right through her body, down to her groin.
She wound her arms around him and kissed him back, tangling her tongue with his, pressing herself closer. Every inch of her skin was alive to the feel of his hands through the thin layers of her gown. When he stopped kissing her and slid one hand beneath her knees, lifting her effortlessly into his arms, she did not protest, but pressed her face against his neck, breathing in that faint, familiar scent she had come to associate with him and planting gentle kisses on the pulse beating beneath his skin.
He carried her through to the bedroom. A fire burned in the hearth, and candles flickered in the wall sconces, giving the room a warm, welcoming glow. He did not pause but made straight for the bed where he laid her on the covers. Her arms were still around his neck and she drew him to her,