The smugness of his smirk and the confidence in his eyes at her reaction only confused her further. It would be impossible for someone not to hear his name or title and link him to disreputable causes. Even being alone in the room with him was risking her future, risking her being embroiled in scandal. He was rumored a rakehell—not even her strict upbringing could hide away what that meant. Handsome as he was, this man was certainly not the Duke of Allerton.
“Do you make it your business to tell taradiddles, My Lord,” she retorted drily. Her eyes darted to her book once more and she reached her hand forward, causing him to angle it further away from her.
“No more than what you were just reading in this block of wood, I’m sure. And my offer still stands.” His voice was dark and warm and she was ashamed that her body was reacting to his words.
“Thank you for the offer, but I would rather return to my novel and make my own way. I would like it back.”
The gentleman’s eyes darkened and he took one step closer to her. It was only one step, but it caused her heartbeat to quicken as he shamelessly studied her figure. The mysterious man possessed exceeding charms and it was embarrassing that she was falling for them.
“Hmm. You seem quite intent on getting back to what you were doing. What has you so fascinated, I wonder.” He held the book in front of him, studying its cover. “Whispers of Serendipity.”
“It’s nothing!” She lunged forward and tried to grab the book out of his hold once more, but he simply turned the other way this time. She was far too short to reach and he seemed intent on discovering what exactly she was hiding. Now, realizing it futile, she covered her face with one hand, hiding the heat on her cheeks. “Please, don’t read it.”
“Ah, so this is the object of your fascination? Let us see,” he teased with a sly smirk. He was far too bold as he flipped through the pages to a leather strip. Her breath hitched and she quickly stepped back, debating whether it would be best to simply run back to the ballroom. “And then, as the moon bore witness, their lips met, in a delicate mingling of breath and unspoken promises. He was the perfect—”
“My Lord!” she called out, intending to stop him from reading any further. He turned around and looked at her intensely. His gaze was so piercing that her muscles froze and her breath caught in her throat. “I… I don’t…I didn’t mean to…” she stammered. His presence seemed to make the air around her grow thicker and her face flushed a crimson red. He slowly inched toward her until her back finally touched a hard wall.
Then, he gave a boyish smirk at her reaction and removed the gap between them with a final step, placing his arm methodically to her right. “You didn’t mean to what?” His breath caressed her lips and she unexpectedly grew warm in his scandalous proximity. Gooseflesh rose on her skin, and before she could even acknowledge his question, his other arm glided around her waist and pressed her closer to him.
Meredith felt the rise in her lower stomach, an intensity that was both thrilling and frightening. The sound of a soft thud reached her ears which she assumed was the book falling to the floor. His eyes shamelessly lingered on her lips, and she didn’t miss the moment of hesitation that crossed him, as if he was battling something inside. His gaze drifted lower, and she felt as though he was slowly undressing her with his eyes, sending her heart racing. Her arms instinctively rose to cover her bosom.
At this gesture, he paused, allowing her a moment to remove herself from the situation if she wished, but Meredith was trapped in his snare. She couldn’t, no, didn’t want to leave. Instead, her eyelids fluttered before finally closing softly. And before she could catch her breath, their bodies melted together. He lifted her by the waist and traced his lips over her neckline in a careful, gentle touch that brought to surface a tingling sensation that was both torturous and pleasure-filled.
Her head fell back to the skies. Her breathing grew erratic in her failed attempts to rein in all she was feeling. With eyes still shut, her hands instinctively latched onto his coat lapels, pulling him tighter into her embrace. She desired more. So much more. But a feeling of regret began to wash over her at her boldness and what he might think of her.
All those feelings were assuaged as he seemed to only grow more eager by her wantonness, pressing her up against the wall and wrapping her legs around his waist, as his other hand moved to her cheek. She could feel a hardness pressing against her thighs and it threatened to consume her soul in flames of desire.
Then, after a moment of gazing into his hazel eyes, a moment that held the weight of an eternity, his lips crushed against hers with force. His masculine sandalwood fragrance filled each breath she took and sent waves of ecstasy throughout her body. He began thrusting ever so slowly over their clothes, and his hand fell from her cheek, drifting its way lower between her thighs. It finally reached her most intimate area and she weakened into his embrace, her arms knotting around the nape of his neck as she surrendered to his power.
But just as suddenly, she snapped to her senses and showed a moment of hesitancy, something the mysterious gentleman smoothly picked up on, softly dropping her back to her feet and adding a distance between them. A wave of regret swept through Meredith as she left his hot embrace, and she truly wished to throw herself back into his arms. But instead, she steeled herself.
As attractive and as intimidating the man before her was, she couldn’t allow herself to succumb to his blatant attempts of seduction. If she were seen right now, her one and only chance of doing what she wished—finding a husband—, everything would come crumbling down and would be snatched away from her.
“...M-my Lord, it would be wiser if you…if we parted ways. We have been wholly inappropriate,” she quickly said with all the courage she could muster.
She was met with a frown as he picked up the book from the ground and offered it back to her. “You must forgive me. I simply desired to show you what you have been reading,” he said as innocently as a man who had not just a moment ago tangled himself improperly with a lady and left her breathless on her toes… to put it politely.
“I was not…I did—” Meredith took a step back and tried to steady herself. Why did it feel so warm in here? Oh, she desperately needed some fresh air now. “...I… believe it would be wise if we put some distance between us...”
The gentleman’s smile slowly faded and his eyes became unreadable and impossible to reach. He stepped away from her and sighed deeply, looking visibly disappointed. “As you wish, Lady Meredith,” he said as he bowed.
Her breath was still shaky as she tried to compose herself after their scandalous tryst. “Thank you—”Wait.How does he know my name?
Before she could voice her thoughts, the man had exited the scene, leaving her cold and alone once more. Meredith tried to pull herself together but failed miserably; all she could do was stand there, breathless and stunned by what almost happened between them and hoping that she never came across that man again for the remainder of the Season.
Or better yet, ever again.
CHAPTER2
Meredith walked toward her father’s office, clutching the novel tightly in her delicate hands. She was not particularly worried at his sudden request for her presence, more anxious at being asked how she had fared during her debut. Truth be told, she hadn't managed to attract any potential suitors and she knew her father might be disappointed with that, even if it was her first ball and first formal appearance in society.
Though she had gladly accepted dances with many gentlemen of the ton, her only memorable encounter was the mysterious man she had shared a kiss with early on during the outing. Her cheeks bloomed with a rosy hue and her fingers brushed her lips, reliving the memory of their forbidden kiss. Thankfully, she had not seen him again, and thus assumed he left early which helped her relax a little for the remainder of the night.
Meredith rapped on the door to her father’s office before stepping inside. The strong smell of the countless leather-bound volumes her father owned, mingling with the spice of tobacco smoke, assailed her senses all at once. But when she saw who was inside her father's office, she almost swooned.
Her hand gripped the brass door handle to steady herself, lest she faint from mortification. Sitting on the cotton chaise in front of her father’s rosewood desk was the mysterious man from the ball. A roguish smile played upon his devilishly handsome features and he rose from his seat, bowing and greeting her in a practiced manner as if he had not seduced her only hours ago. Her eyes widened at the sight of him and had her father not been sitting directly before her, she might have fled in embarrassment.
“You again?” she whispered, far too quietly for her father to hear. “Did you follow me here? Have you no shame?”
