His continued formality irritated her. They had been intimate. Extremely intimate. He shouldn’t treat her so coolly now.
“What if I want to talk about what’s transpired between us?” she asked, grazing his inner thigh with her fingers.
He looked down at her hand, his jaw clenching. Good. She wanted a reaction from him.
“Brande, you’d be wise to return to your own seat. You know me now. You should know better than to put yourself back within my grasp.”
“But I liked being in your grasp.”
He turned his head to study her.
“I just don’t want to be trapped all the time in an enclosed suite of rooms.” Her hand slid up his thigh, brushing his groin with the side of her small finger. She stroked him with the lightest possible touch.
“Behave yourself,” he said, glancing again at her hand.
“And if I don’t?” she challenged, refusing to withdraw her hand.
“If you don’t, you will find yourself in situations beyond your control. Again.”
Her heart thudded in her chest. “We’ve been seen together. You can’t very well—”
“I can do a great many things.” He paused, giving her a meaningful look. “If you want to be treated like a princess, you’d best act like one. Because a naughty brat who brushes her fingers over a dominant man’s cock will soon find herself in the position of a pet, which as you know includes discipline and rough use.”
She swallowed. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I wouldn’t?” he asked. His entire manner was perfectly calm, but she didn’t doubt for a moment that he would make good on his threat eventually. What’s more, the thought of being disciplined and used by him was as exciting as ever.
She withdrew her hand slowly, but not because she intended to behave herself. It was only that she was hungry and was smart enough to behave until she’d at least had a bit of dinner.
She moved back to her original seat, pretending to be chastened.
* * *
Her teasing and brattinessknew no bounds. At one point she rested her bare foot in his lap, stroking him while the entire kitchen staff and the club’s musicians stood tableside to inquire about the time he and the princess had had throughout the evening. Thankfully Evston had chosen a jacket that provided enough coverage to conceal his erection, but at one point she’d actually moved the fabric with her foot, making public discovery of what she was doing entirely possible and likely. He’d leaned forward to prevent exposure, but what he longed to do was to throw her over his lap and spank her very publicly.
“Stop what you’re doing,” he said softly.
“No. I’m having too much fun. And for once, I’m in control.”
His brow rose. “Don’t push me.”
She smirked. “I know you. You’d never make a public scene, Evston,” she whispered. “I can do whatever I want, and you will have to put up with it. In fact, you can’t really control me at all while I’m not under your roof. Who knows what I may do?” Her smile widened. “Don’t scowl. Here comes the server. Act charming. I think it will do you some good to be under my control for a change.”
Brande had to know she was playing with fire. Was she challenging him in order to force him to take action? Did she want him to discipline her again? His dark side roared an affirmative opinion on the matter. With his muscles tight with lust and frustration, the dominant part of him demanded satisfaction. Evston sat back, considering what was to be done about his naughty fiancée’s bad behavior.
The waiter beamed at the princess. Yes, she was stunning, so her bright smile and pretty laughter entranced everyone. The other club patrons had been staring at her most of the evening, and, by the end, didn’t even bother to hide their interest.
She obviously considered herself quite safe. And with anyone else she would have been. But he was not anyone else.
* * *
On the glider rideback, he withheld the cordial that had been sent by the glider company, knowing the seemingly spiteful gesture would goad her into action. When she asked one of the soldiers to fetch another cordial, the young man immediately did her bidding.
She set the glass down on the tray and was then effusively grateful. Evston took advantage of their distraction to swap glasses, sliding the cordial he’d drugged to her side of the tray.
When she closed the compartment’s door, she sat down with a triumphant little smile.
He made a dismissive gesture and sipped the drink nearest him, pretending to ignore her. She drank hers quickly, having always loved the dark tart fruit that it had been made with.
