What balderdash. He had not expected such a ridiculous statement from a woman who so obviously enjoyed the finer things in life.
“Says who? I love desserts, and they have never done any damage to my constitution. Have you ever tried the Tipsy Cake?”
“Not since I was little. It was a favorite of my mother’s, and we sometimes indulged together as a treat.” The dreamy, nostalgic gleam in her eyes told him all he needed to know. “But my stepmother banished desserts from the house. My late husband was of the same opinion. I haven’t enjoyed one in years.”
Well, that was sad. And a state of affairs he couldn’t allow to continue.
“Here, try this,” he said, offering a spoonful of cake overflowing with custard and sweet cream. She looked at it hesitantly, but the temptation was evident on her face. “Open your mouth, Thalia.”
She met his eyes and licked her lips in anticipation, making his cock twitch. But when she closed her mouth over the decadent morsel, and hummed in pleasure as the flavors caressed her palate, the rush of lust to his groin almost made him regret offering her the cake. Fuck, but he was in a state. Unless he paced himself, this encounter could turn embarrassing for him.
“That was delicious.”
He used his thumb to wipe a bit of cream from the corner of her lips and brought it to his mouth to lick it off. “You are right. Quite delicious.”
CHAPTER 10
THE DESIRE BETWEENthem was a palpable thing. Like an arc of electricity. Thalia felt every fiber of her body humming with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. After licking the cream he had wiped from her lips, making her insides melt with the heat in his gaze, Liam had finished the rest of his dessert in silence.
“Are you ready to retire?” he asked. “If you wish, I can escort you to your room now. We wouldn’t want the baths to get cold.”
“Oh! Yes, of course.”
Now that the time had come, old fears came back to war with the desire coursing through her veins. She clutched her napkin. She could do this. This is what she wanted. More than anything.
His hand covered hers over the napkin. Enveloping her in warmth, his rough fingers caressing tenderly, smoothing the tension.
“We don’t need to do anything if you are having second thoughts.”
His manner was neutral, but profound disappointment hit her like a cannonball to the chest, opening a gaping hole for all her fears to rush in. He was backing out.
“You don’t want to?”
She hated the way her voice sounded so timid. Why was she like this? She was an independent and decisive woman in every other aspect of her life, but when it came to relationships, she turned into an insecure, mumbling idiot. This attractive, confident, powerful man had shown interest in her, and beforeshe even got to fully enjoy his attentions, she had already turned him off.
His sarcastic snort cut through her pity party.
“Thalia, if I wanted you any more, I would have already disgraced myself. It’s not that, sweetheart.”
“Then why do you want to back out?”
“I don’t. At this very moment, my baser instincts are urging me to shut up, drag you upstairs, and ravish you. But a moment ago, you looked so uncertain. Nervous. I don’t want you to feel beholden to me in any way. Or to think you have to go through with it simply because you agreed before. You can change your mind at any moment, for any reason, and I will abide by your wishes.”
The sincerity of his tone, the kindness behind his words, the profound respect for her as a person that he displayed, dissolved her hesitation like the sun dissolves the fog. How could people ever think that this man was capable of murdering his wife? Society didn’t know him at all. He deserved equal sincerity from her.
Turning her hand in his, she interlocked their fingers. “I haven’t changed my mind. I’m nervous because I’ve never done this before. But I want you, too. Now more than ever.”
His smile was radiant. He brought their joined hands to his lips to kiss her fingers.
“In that case, I’m even more honored that you would choose me. Now, let’s not think about this anymore and just feel. Tonight is just for feeling.”
They climbed the stairs hand in hand. When the marquess opened the door to their room, her eyes were immediately drawn to the enormous bed that dominated the space. Made up with soft, inviting linens, it promised a restful night’s sleep. If sleep had been what they had in mind for tonight.
A fire crackled in the marble fireplace, and someone had set a huge copper bath next to it. Steam rose from the surface of the water, carrying with it the aroma of lavender, vanilla, and something darker, more exotic. It was the smell of seduction. Everything was exquisite and of the finest quality. As a widow of limited means, she could never have afforded something so sumptuous.
“Do you need help to get out of your gown?”
“No. Since I was traveling alone, I wore a gown I could manage on my own.”
