“Empire?” she asked. From the tone of their discussions and the depth of her questions, it was clear she’d learned more about him since their first encounter.
“But that would make me an emperor instead of a mere knight,” he said. He liked jesting with her this way. It cost him nothing and gave him pleasure. His body reminded him though not enough pleasure. “A conglomeration of businesses is all.”
“A far-flung, profit-making, ever-expanding conglomeration at that.” She walked to the railing and looked over the people working and rushing around below them.
“Is there a better kind, my lady?” As he watched and waited on her reply, she examined the way the huge space was laid out. Her eyes were bright and a blush filled her cheeks. What could she be thinking? Finally, he just asked his question. “You have been refreshingly direct today so I will be as well.” Her left eyebrow lifted at his words. She placed her hands, one on top of the other, on the railing and waited for him to speak. “What did you want to speak to me about... in private that could not be spoken before others?”
The tip of her tongue slipped out and moistened her lips and Iain nearly dropped to his knees. Between the blush in her cheeks and the sight of her tongue, heat raced through his body until sweat beaded on his forehead. Her breaths now came out as shallow panting and he wanted to take hold of her, tear the pert little bonnet from her head, loosen her hair and then kiss her to within an inch of her life.
Until she was his.
“Will my next refusal come with the same reaction from you, Sir Iain?”
For a moment, the words made no sense and yet they might. Would she refuse his advances? He’d had no complaints from women, from lovers, in the past so he was certain he would...
Make an utter fool out of himself.
Lady Clare spoke of business while he and his body wanted possession. He pulled the lust that threatened everything he’d worked for back under control and realized the accusation in her words. She knew.
She knew the actions he’d taken to secure her properties. At the very least, she knew about the interference in the application process even if she had no idea about the other efforts in his plan. Bloody hell, she was splendid! Nervous about speaking to him about it, but unlike any woman, or competitor, he’d faced before. Bloody hell.
“I will not offer insult, my lady, by pretending I know not to what you refer. Aye, I will continue to slow down the process of converting those warehouses, those spaces, until they’re mine.”
The shallow panting continued, and it made her breasts quiver beneath the layers of her clothing and her body tense. Although she had not moved or released her hands from their tight clutch, he sensed her first response—if she allowed herself the freedom of it—would be to punch him. That she clasped her hands together to prevent herself from swinging madly at his head made him want to smile. A lady would never do such a thing as strike out, but Iain felt the waves of anger pouring out of her.
“Why would you do such a thing?” Her voice trembled but he did not mistake the fury for fear.
“Because I want those properties. I have learned to do what’s necessary—”
“To get what you want?”
“Why else?” he asked.
“No matter what? No matter who is harmed?”
He had not harmed anyone. He’d spread a huge amount of his money around to accomplish what he wanted done. And maybe a few heads had been knocked about or a few threats made, but no harm. His delay in denying her accusation gave her the opportunity to continue.
“My answer remains the same, Sir Iain. Those properties are not for sale.”
She lifted her hands from the railing she’d been clinging to and walked past him. He reached out to stop her, for there was much he wanted to say to her. Taking hold of her upper arm, he used her momentum to guide her through another door and into a small chamber off the balcony. Once there, she tugged until free of him and stared at him. From her expression, his touch shocked her. Her mouth formed a perfect ‘O’ and her eyes widened and flashed like green fire.
He’d forgotten all the proper manners of a gentleman in society—lessons studied hard and practiced long and yet clearly misplaced when need and desire arose. All gone in a momentary lapse of reason because of her.
“My lady,” he said, lifting his hand from her. “Forgive me.”
“For that?” She glanced where his hand had been. “Forgiven.” Now she met his gaze, and he knew the rest. “But for what you tried to do? Only if you cease these nefarious means and negotiate in good faith.”
Any other man would have taken her demands as an affront to his pride. Iain found himself more aroused by her spirit and courage. He did not understand her resistance to selling, for that was one thing his efforts had not uncovered yet, but he relished this battle.
“If you wanted something, something you needed, would you not use whatever means necessary?” he asked. Leaning closer to her, he fought the urge to inhale her scent. “What lines would you cross to succeed?”
The lady startled then, at his words or his closeness he knew not, and she tilted her head back and met his gaze. Everything, every noise, every other thing around them disappeared and there was only her.
Iain took hold of her shoulders and lifted her closer to him. Her breath heated his cheek and desire shuddered through his body. Only an inch separated their mouths and when she did not object, he kissed her the way he’d wanted, nay, the way he’d dreamt about taking her mouth.
Deeply.
Completely.
