Richard had never seen the woman before; of that, he was certain. He knew if he had he would have remembered the long silky strands of blonde hair and a body made for sin.Damn, where had Kitty been hiding such a woman all these years?
Parts of him that had not worked in many months jerked to attention, and Richard wanted very much to partake in the party.
“I’ll see you later,” he mumbled to Hendershot before he left his side.
There was no time to waste if he wanted her. Richard walked around the cluster of bodies in the small ballroom trying to reach the goddess on the other side. A quick glance around informed him that he was not the only gentleman who had noticed her. In fact, several men were also walking toward his goddess.
Increasing his speed, Richard strolled across the room determined not to allow the other men to prevail. She was his; of that he was absolutely certain.
He reached the goddess of a woman, who now stood at a table with a glass of champagne as Siegfried stood sentry by her side. Richard towered over her, looking down and truly taking her in. She was even more exquisite up close; the gold mask hiding her face did nothing to conceal her beauty from him. A pert nose, full lips, and creamy skin all contributed to her beauty.
One could write poetry about her. Oneshouldwrite poetry for her.
“Siegfried, may I have a word with the lady?” Richard asked the security guard.
The other man nodded before walking away, leaving Richard alone with the goddess.
“Do people often do what you tell them?” she asked, peering up at him with the bluest eyes he had ever seen.
“Everyone except my servants,” he answered simply, thinking of how his servants constantly ignored a direct order from him.
She watched him for a moment before laughing aloud at his comment. “You really should do something about their impertinence.”
He chuckled, taking his own champagne from a passing tray. “Unfortunately, I am loyal to them. Their impertinence keeps me an honest gentleman.” He sipped his own champagne, not wanting to overindulge like he had days earlier.
A sound that Richard had never heard on a lady left her lips. It was a combination of a laugh and snort, and it sounded delightful to him.
Delightful?
He was surely losing his mind if he was describing things asdelightful.
“An honest gentleman? You, sir, may be the last of your kind.” She took a large sip of her champagne. He watched mesmerized as a few drops of liquid lingered on her lips, and suddenly he was parched for a different reason than thirst.
“Are you new here?” he asked, needing something to distract him from what he really wanted to do.
What he wanted to do was kiss her, and in that setting he knew he could. Richard, however, was a man who took his time.
“I am new.” She set her now empty glass down, and Richard noticed the slight tremble in her hand.
How strange that a courtesan would be so nervous.
“How long have you been at Pleasure House?” he asked, wanting to know everything about her.
It scared him. The last time he felt a similar feeling—no, that wasn’t true; it hadn’t been as intense as this. This was an all-consuming need to know every single thing about this woman. Something about her called to him in ways he had never imagined, and he wanted her.
Beside their table, a couple was actively disrobing. The sound of kissing and moaning reached them as the other couple’s activity became explicit.
Richard watched as color formed on his companion’s cheek, trailing down her neck to her heaving bosom. He wanted to trace that heat with his tongue to discover parts of her that no other men had known.
“Oh, heavens.” Her gaze shifted from Richard to the couple, who now was engaged in a passionate embrace. “I have just arrived in town. Kitty has been so kind to give me employment.”
She was new, which meant that she had not yet been with any other gentleman. A thrill of excitement that perhaps he would be the first seared his skin.
Leaning in closer, he breathed in her delicate scent. He was shocked that she did not smell like the usual courtesan who were overly perfumed. Their scent would irritate Richard’s sensitive nose but not hers. It was airy with a hint of lemon.
“What sort of employment does Madame Delcour have you doing?” he asked, teasing her. He watched as she shifted from one foot to the other, the color gracing her pert breasts turned an even darker red.
She leaned in closer to him, a smirk on her bow lips as if she had unearthed a secret. “Now, sir, if I have to tell you what I’m doing here, then perhaps you are in the wrong place.”
