“Do you see no benefits of marrying now?”
“The benefits of marriage are sorely less for a woman than a man, Sir Iain. Especially a woman of means who must lose everything to a husband.” Her lower lip slid out in a show of belligerence even as she crossed her arms over her chest.
He laughed then and mimicked her stance.
“But, Clare, you were married. I know you found joy in it. I have heard about that as much as I have about Nairn and your sister.” A strange, empty expression lay on her face for the length it took for his heart to beat and then disappeared.
“Certainly, I did. Like all good marriages, it had its moments.” That reply reeked of a long-used lie and covered up some truth she was unwilling or unable to share. He suspected it involved the same reason that left her clutching onto what Logan had left her. But something more than just that. He took a step closer and relaxed his hands.
“You should know that although Elphinstone’s title is old and respected, his son is gambling and whor—” He paused. “Spending his fortune on the entertainments of men.”
“What about the Earl of Cathcart? Even I have heard some rumors about his... ahem... second household.”
“Do ladies truly speak of such things?”
“Aye, we do. But, in this case, the information was brought to me by Chalmers.”
“What must he have told you of me if he knew that about Cathcart?” He’d not planned to say that aloud.
“He warned me that you are ruthless, manipulating, dangerous if crossed, a brilliant businessman, and....”
“And?” He was curious now. Even if she’d not been told of his manipulations, she had seen them for herself. How much did Chalmers discover about his background? His previous life? He took the next to last step that would reach her. Did she realize she was one small step from the wall?
“That, although you have not yet married, you have not suffered from a lack of attention, shall we say, from the feminine gender.”
Bloody hell, did she know about—
“’A discreet string of lovers’ were Chalmers’ words.”
Iain must either put a stop to Mr. Chalmers’ investigations or hire the man himself to defuse his attention. He felt her regard and the heat in his face. Bloody hell, he was—
“Is that a blush, Sir Iain? I would not believe it possible but for seeing it myself,” the lady teased.
He did not wish her to think he had an indiscriminate number of women warming his bed. Firstly, because it was not true and secondly, because he was never indiscriminate. Worst of all, he did not want her to think she would be one of many when she would be the first in so many ways.
“Certainly not a string, my lady,” he said, closing the now-small distance between them. “But, aye, always discreet.” He leaned into her, his foot sliding between hers to trap her against him. “I do not believe your Chalmers could give you any of their names or details?” Her head barely shook her reply. Their breaths intermingled in the inches between their faces.
“Your price then, Sir Iain?” she asked. Her voice was low and breathy. Did she think he would ask for lands when he could have...
“You.” He kissed her hard and quick. “Discreetly, of course.” She clutched his arms.
“Me?” she asked, tilting her head up to meet his gaze.
The movement only served to expose her long, graceful neck to him. He leaned down and suckled his way from the feminine line of her jaw along her neck and farther. Her breasts were heaving when his mouth reached the edge of her bodice.
“You. I wish to do pleasurable things to you. With you.” He reached under the edge of the decorated fabric and lifted her breast out of the gown. Laving it first, he then sucked the tip into his mouth. His tongue teased the nipple to a tight bud before he bit it. She gasped and arched against him at the same time. “Pleasurable, impolite and even unspeakable things.”
His aim accomplished, he tugged the bodice up and eased her breast back into its place, stroking the tip with his thumb once, then twice more, as he did. He could smell her arousal and his cock throbbed for it. Once her gown was adjusted, he whispered once more.
“Discreetly.”
Iain stepped back and he was inordinately pleased to see the glaze of excitement in her eyes. Though his cock did not agree, the best thing he could do in this moment, at this opportunity, was to leave her. He turned and walked to the door.
“Once.”
“Once? One time, my lady? Or one night? One day?”
From the way her brows gathered, he knew she’d not thought of the possibilities. Facing her, he knew the truth even if she would not admit it. It could never be just once between them. But, if they did this, there would be no misunderstanding.
