As she blushed to the roots of her hair and gritted her teeth, he pretended to be engrossed in her company while keeping an eye on Rachel.
The whiskered captain pulled Rachel too close for Lucas’ comfort, and then risked moving his hand along the side of her breast and down her hip. Lucas ground his teeth. Enough. He abruptly returned Susan to her friends and strode across the ballroom. He was not going to allow some hairy beast to paw his wife, even if it meant a court-martial.
When Lucas tapped the captain on the shoulder he’d intended to slam his fist in his face. But with Dodge breathing down his neck, Lucas suddenly decided to be charitable. He cut in without permission, taking Rachel and leaving the sputtering captain behind.
Rachel gasped and attempted to pull away. Lucas rested his hand firmly in the small of her back, signifying a territorial affectation, tacit and unspoken, yet clearly comprehended by every male in the room who witnessed it.
“You’re apparently irresistible this evening,” Lucas said, noting her eyes stabbing him like dagger points as he danced with her. “It is an unusual occasion for you to be wearing a dress, no less a ball gown.”
“You noticed?” She flashed a sweet smile.
“So has every man here,” he snapped. “But that is your intention, to keep them frothing at your heels with all your charms displayed in that damned gown. What are you thinking to go out in public dressed like this?”
“I like men who make fools of themselves. Like you…you don’t hesitate one minute to make a fool of yourself. I don’t think I’ve ever been in such inspiring company.”
Her cutting remark could have been heeded a mile away. Lucas gave a curt nod to Simon and Jimmy, carrying trays laden with refreshment. With certainty, one signal from Rachel, he’d receive a bowl of punch heaved all over him. “I see you brought your faithful puppies.”
“Apparently you have difficulty following orders, Colonel Rourke.” She nodded her head toward his commanding officer. “I seem to recall you were to stay away from me…far away.”
“A minor interpretation when it comes to being in the company of my wife. Nothing or no one will keep you away from me, and I shouldn’t have to be under armed guard to keep away from you.”
Rachel glared at him. “That is the sort of abomination you would imply.” He looked grim and ready to throttle her, but he didn’t frighten her one bit. “The vows are not real, nor are they binding. The marriage was a ploy to fool the enemy.” She pushed away from him, but he held her tightly. “Stop it, Lucas.”
His strong fingers pressed upon the small of her back as he whirled her around the ballroom.
She tore her gaze away and glanced about the ballroom. “Everyone is staring at us. You dare ignore your superiors and make a public scene?”
“I dare a lot Mrs. Rourke. I dare to hold you in my arms. I dare to kiss you.”
He had power over her.Damn him!“You must stop this. You have your fiancée.”
“Ah,” he smiled. “A fiancée could be a problem.”
“It is none of my concern.” She twisted to get free, but he held her there, pressed to his hardened manhood.
His eyes were half-closed as he watched her. “Are you jealous?”
She flinched as if he had hit her. “Of course not.”
Her body yielded to his power as he swung her around the dance floor. He dared her with his cobalt eyes, so penetrating, to remember the kisses the night before and before that…to remember what he’d done to her. To strip her bare, kiss her breasts, hold her hips, to sheathe his hardness. She closed her eyes. Somehow it was more of a dream and the ball, the war, the world blurred into unreality.
“I summon to mind how we shifted among the sheets, Rachel.” His voice came husky, against her ear, inciting riots of sensation across her flesh.
“I tasted your lips, the hollow of your neck, your breasts until your nipples grew hard…there is so much pleasure I can teach you. Much more of you I can taste. Would you like that?”
Did she miss a step?
“There is a richness to your skin.” He dipped his eyes to her breasts. “Like living silk. I’ll never get enough.”
Rachel panted.Pathetic. She strained toward him, toward mating. A shower of slickness moved down her thighs, soaking her pantalettes. All he had to do was throw up her skirts.What was he doing to her?
“Are you ready for me?”
She licked her lips. Dare she kick him? Break his spell? She scanned the ballroom. Everyone was staring at them.
“Lucas!”
He shrugged. “Let them look their fill. The men are jealous, and the women envious that I dance with the most beautiful woman in Washington.”
