Thedoorlatchclicked,and Derek’s gaze flew to the entrance of the salon.He didn’t bother hurrying in pulling up his smalls.He had a nice arse, so really whoever was about to enter was being blessed with a gift.
A slight blonde came flying into the room, caught sight of him, and pulled up short.Wide, round eyes locked on him.
Big.Blue.Eyes.
The new addition to his list.
Grinning, he adjusted his smalls and stood tall, taking full advantage of his imposing six-foot-one-inches.How fortuitous.
“Well, well, well…” he drawled, dropping his voice low.“What do we have here?”
The muscles in the woman’s throat contracted as she swallowed.She took a small step back but then paused.Held her ground.
Interesting.
He slowly prowled forward and perused her figure.What had appeared a simple, yet elegant gown across the ballroom revealed itself to be an inexpensive one, and by the look of it, a poorly altered one.This chit didn’t come from money.She was tall and thin, with the slightest curve to the hips.It wasn’t easy to discern in her flowing gown, but based on the turn of her hips, her legs looked as long as the ivy crawling up his country estate.He could work with that.
He cocked his head.Modest bosom.Nothing to set ink to parchment over.She stood proud, shoulders back, chin lifted, emphasizing her swan-like neck.His mouth watered.Now that neck…that neck was delicious.She had no idea she was a gazelle who’d just wandered into the lion’s den.He would sink his teeth in and revel in her scream.She looked so innocent, so pure.He’d glory in teaching her the truth of this world.
He was almost upon her now, and she had yet to move.Frozen in fear, his gazelle.His gaze fell to her lips.Bloody Christ.Those were the lips of every man’s darkest fantasy.Pillowy clouds of pale pink rose, their fullness emphasized against her thin, delicate face, her dainty nose, and prominent cheekbones.He knew exactly what lips like that were meant for.
His gaze flicked back to hers, and he forgot to breathe.Her eyes were a force, sucking him in like a riptide—both blue, both dangerous.It must be a sin to have eyes that large and blue.Oh, how he wanted to sin with her.See them pool with lust.
He slowly reached out and brushed a golden curl behind her ear, lingering on that soft silk tress.She inhaled sharply.Her hair was twisted back into a simple coiffure, with small ringlets framing her face.No fancy lady’s maid for her.It didn’t matter; she required no adornments.She was so light, so pale, so fragile compared to his darkness and hardness.What would it take to break her?The devil inside him purred.
He had to have her.
He traced his fingers over her jaw, so delicate beneath his fingertips.A slight frown marred her brow.He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip.
Lady Torrington had served as a delicious first course, but now that dessert had walked in on its own accord, he found he wasn’t even close to satiated.
10
Livy
Livywashavingquitethe difficult time moving her feet.
Because that was a naked man standing in front of her.Touchingher.
Oh my puddings and pies.
This may be her first London ball, but even she knew people didn’t encounter naked men at balls.
Wait.They didn’t, did they?
Of course they don’t, you ninny.
Her brain had clearly stopped working.Not something that happened often to her, but at the moment she didn’t think she’d be able to perform her basic sums, let alone integration.Because she’d just witnessed this man pull his smallclothes over his very bare, very naked bottom.Very firm-looking bottom.Not that she’d been looking or paying any attention.At all.It wasn’t her fault she had eyes.
Heavens, the man was a mountain towering over her.Coal-black hair, roguish waves, shoulder length and in complete disarray.Like the thoughts scrambling in her brain.When he’d prowled over to her…the way the muscles in his legs had flexed—chiseled thighs, corded calves, sweat-slicked skin.She shivered.Goodness, it was as though he’d been carved from metamorphic rock, all lean hard ridges, rippling abdomen, protruding hip bones.They looked painfully sharp.Like her beating heart.
His hooded, vivid-green gaze was holding her lungs hostage.Her wits too, clearly.He was far too close.But those eyes…green like the moss covering the old stone wall on her father’s country estate.Green like blades of grass after a much-needed rain.They were dark, glittering with something that had nerves dancing under her skin.
His lids lowered, and the corner of his mouth hooked up.
She finally managed to rip her gaze away.But unfortunately it fell to his torso.Oh dear.He had muscles in places she hadn’t known muscles existed.She tilted her head.And a very oddly protruding rib bone.She wanted to touch it.Oh my goodness, what is wrong with you, Livy?
She hastily lifted her gaze—to his chest, dusted with black hair, glistening in the candlelight with…sweat?Why was he sweating?Heavens, she was sweating.Her brow furrowed.The lady she’d seen exiting this very room flickered in her mind.Oh.Ooooh.The man had clearly just been involved in a tryst.
