Ophelia wide-eyed expression shifted to one of self-righteous pride. She stopped moving away from him, and crossed her arms. The Devil damn him, but it only made that static around them amplify.
“Ihavekept quiet” She whispered with authority. “I have said nothing to no one, you paranoid dandy.”
“I have warned you about your manners!” He growled.
“Oh, please,” Ophelia scoffed, taking a defiant step toward him, “As if any of your ‘lessons’ would prove effective.”
“Do not goad me,” Tristan warned, his rage crackling.
She lifted a defiant brow, leaned forward.
“Consider yourself goaded,Lord Perfect,”she purred.
Tristan’s movement were lightning fast; Ophelia was in his arms in an instant; her head cradled in his hand, her waist pinned tightly to his by his other arm. Sparks erupt behind his eyes as his lips took possession of hers, coaxing and nipping at their surprising softness.
“Let go!” Ophelia gasped upon his lips.
He did so at once, letting her push at his chest as she drew in ragged breaths and stared at him. He raised a querying brow, waiting for her next move- and then she was rushing him. Tristan caught her quickly, letting her lips mash hastily against his for a moment before he took control and showed her with his own lips how to kiss properly. He pressed his palms lightly to the sides of her neck, pulling her back just enough so that he could caress his bottom lip over hers, then followed with the tip of his tongue.
Ophelia let out a soft sigh, relaxed in his grip, and began follow his lead. Pleasure flooded through him as the hasty pressing of her lips transformed into long caresses; her tongue no longer prodded, but took coaxing, gentle strokes into his mouth. He suckled lightly, keeping her tongue there as his grip shifted down her neck, over her back, and to her waist.
She whimpered as he pulled her tightly against him. Tristan waited, like the hunter he was, until she was lulled into a sense of relaxing arousal. Then just as quickly as he started the initial kiss- he ended this one. His hands were off of her in an instant, his body an entire step back away from hers. He watched in deep satisfaction as Ophelia swayed on her feet, her eyes still closed; her plump lips, glistening and pink from his kisses, moving slowly.
Then he saw it. The moment she realized she was no longer being held by him- the moment she realized what she just done. Ophelia’s eyes flew open as color flooded into her cheeks. Her green eyes, though still glazed with arousal, looked at him with pure bewilderment. She shook her head, as if trying to clear it, and swayed at the small movement.
“You,” she rasped, putting her fingertips to her lips. “What did you to me?”
Tristan smirked, reveling in her reaction.
“I warned you not to goad me,” he replied. “Now I suggest you sit down. You look like you might fall.”
There was no argument from her this time. She walked with a slight sway to her chair and plopped down, her bottom no doubt hitting the seat hard. Even that did not seem to snap her out of her daze.
Satisfaction swirled with longing as Tristan watched her try to gather her wits. Never in all his days had he thought he wouldkiss Ophelia. What was even more surprising to him, though, was how greatly he had enjoyed it. Her lips had been buttery soft, and the spark that had shot through them both had jolted senses he never knew he had despite his deep well of erotic experience.
Even so, he would not show it. He had the upper hand now, and he was intent on keeping it.
“The carriage will come for you tonight at ten,” Tristan stated, taking advantage of the precious few moments they had left alone. He sat down and picked up his fork, readying another bite. “I took another look at your work. I still maintain that it is dull. You can do better. Youwilldo better. Tonight.”
He popped the bit of fish into his mouth and chewed, waiting for her respond.
“Do you understand, Ophelia?” He asked when she only continued to stare at him with that dazed look.
She nodded silently as the sound of Theo’s footsteps could be heard from the hall.
“Now be a good girl and act normal for my sister,” he commanded with a smirk.
That taunt was enough to pull Ophelia right out of her dazed state, and she glared at him just as Theo entered the room.
“I am sorry, brother, but I found no such portfolio in Alistair’s office,” Theo said with an exasperated sigh as she sat back down next to him.
“That is no problem,” Tristan replied, glaring right back at Ophelia; hiding his triumphant smirk with another bite of his food. “I will speak to Alistair about it later.
Theo looked from him to Ophelia, rolled her eyes, and groaned.
“For heaven’s sake!” She said with exasperation. “Will you two ever get along?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
