spanking would set that mind of yours to rights.”
She flushed deeply, much to his delight.
“You can’t do that. I am a grown woman.”
He trailed his fingers down her throat, his lashes lowering as he gazed at her parted lips. “I can and I will, lass. And afterward you will beg me to take you to bed.”
“For striking me?” She arched a brow. “I’m quite certain I would not.”
“You misunderstand me. It wouldna hurt much. It would ease into a burn that would make you desire me.” Her breathing hitched, and he held in a laugh. “Now, I remember telling you to go to bed.”
“I’m sorry. I was dancing because the music downstairs was so lively.” She turned away from him to approach the bed. “Good night, Mr. Kincade. I hope you and Mr. Lennox sleep well.”
“Thank you, lass. I’m sure we will.” He began undressing, and when she noticed, she halted midway through pulling the covers back on the bed.
“But you aren’t sleeping here!”
“I certainly am.” He smirked recklessly at her, and she wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
“But there are three rooms. One for me, the valets, and then you and Mr. Lennox.”
“Oh, no. I’m not about to share a room with Rafe—not when I can share a bed with you.”
That fear sparked in her eyes again, and he knew it was genuine. “I’ll not touch you, lass, no matter how you tempt me with your dancing.” He unbuttoned his waistcoat before he continued. “But you and I will share a bed. After all the misery you put me through, I am owed a few nights of feeling your sweet curves pressed against my body.”
He tossed his waistcoat over a chair and pulled his long white shirt over his head.
“Now, in bed, Lydia,” he commanded, though he kept his tone gentle. He gripped her shawl and slowly drew it away from her body, before letting it fall to the floor. Then he scooped Lydia up in his arms and tossed her onto the bed. She gave a little gasp of surprise at being plopped on the bed, before she scrambled under the blankets.
“I still think you should be staying with Mr. Lennox. It’s not like I can escape. Where would I go?”
“I’ve underestimated your cunning once too often, lass. Besides, I have no interest in watching him take a tavern maid to bed a few feet from me.” He removed his boots, stockings, and trousers. Lydia stared at him like she’d never seen a man before, but perhaps she hadn’t. Not like this, at any rate. He couldn’t deny he was starting to think she was more innocent than she’d first led him to believe. But then, she wouldn’t be the first lass to profess more carnal knowledge than she actually possessed.
He slid into bed beside her, wearing nothing but his smallclothes. The candle on the table beside him flickered, casting shadows over her face.
“Don’t be scared, lass.” He reached up to cup her face, and she closed her eyes but didn’t pull away.
“I’m sorry, it’s just that last evening you were still calmed by the laudanum, and tonight you are not hampered by it. I fear you will . . .”
“I will not,” he vowed. “No matter how you tempt me.”
Her eyes opened, and a spark of fire flashed in them. “Tempt you? By simply being here? It isn’t a woman’s fault if a man is tempted by her mere presence. That is your fault and yours to control.”
“Aye, true. But you do tempt me, and I willna say otherwise.”
Her eyes cooled a little, and he saw a return to a reasonable expression now that she felt less threatened.
“Why don’t we talk a bit?” she asked. “Conversation will help you focus on being a gentleman.” Her tone sounded so calm, as though she were sitting with him in some drawing room and he’d come courting her with a bouquet of flowers like some lovestruck lad.
He chuckled. “Gentleman? You do say the most amusing things.” But she was right, talking would distract him, at least for a little while, from his fantasies of the pleasurable things he would like to do to her.
“Very well. What should we talk about?”
“Well, what about your home, or Scotland? I’ve never been and would like very much to hear you tell me about it.”
“You wish to hear about my home?” He hadn’t expected her to care about such things, but she’d enjoyed the Mungo Park expedition book he’d given her.
He rolled onto