“You should have been more specific then,” she said, grinning. “Let’s continue the game.”
Joanna won the next round, and Evan begrudgingly ripped off his cravat and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. The action sent another wave of heat through her, and she ended up pressing her thighs together to contain herself. “I quite like this game,” she said, grinning. “You are right. It’s a lot of fun when you are not playing for money.”
He growled softly.
The game continued. Joanna was forced to remove the rest of her jewelry, as well as her gloves. But Evan lost his suit jacket, and then his waistcoat. When he was only wearing his white button-down dress shirt and pants, she got a brief glimpse of his muscles underneath. What she would not give to run her hands over his chest and arms, memorizing every detail.
Meanwhile, Evan was enjoying holding her bare hand, his thumb gently stroking her sensitive skin on the inside of her wrist. He smiled as he did so. “You have such small, delicate hands,” he said. “I enjoy holding them.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
A small moan escaped Joanna’s mouth unbidden.
He grinned. “That was a delightful sound indeed. All from me kissing your hand. I wonder how you would react if I kissed you elsewhere. Perhaps on your neck. Or maybe lower.”
She had to bite her lip to hold back another moan. His gaze immediately went to her lips. “What I would not give to claim every part of you right now, in my drawing room,” he murmured. He stood up suddenly. “I believe that’s enough cards for now.” He brushed them off to the table with one hand as he pulled her to her feet with the other.
“Remember,” she said breathlessly. “You cannot claim all of me tonight. Not unless you marry me.”
“I know,” he said. He grabbed her hips and effortlessly lifted her up and set her on the table. “I never intended to marry anyone.”
“I know,” she said. “Why else would you enter into such an agreement with me?”
“No,” he said. “I don’t mean I was putting it off for the Season. I mean, I am never marrying. For as long as I live.”
Her chest tightened at the thought of him living in such a big manor by himself, even after his brother gets a family of his own, and after his grandmother passes. “That sounds awfully lonely.”
“It’s necessary,” he said. “It’s easier.”
“Easier does not mean better.”
“My marital status should be the least of your concerns right now,” he growled, reaching behind her to gently grip the back of her neck. “Even if I decide to remain a lifelong bachelor, you are mine. As far as I am concerned, I have won the game and I can do as I please with you.”
CHAPTER 30
“Iam yours, am I not?” Joanna could not help but grin as she decided to toy with him a little more. “I believe you promised to find me a husband when the Season is over. Therefore, I belong to my future husband, don’t I?”
His expression darkened into a menacing look that would probably have the rest of thetonquaking with terror. But it only filled her with delight.
“Of course, I am sure his property will not be as nice as Blackwell,” she said. “But that hardly matters. I am used to more modest living arrangements anyway. I have been told that what matters most between husband and wife is strength and endurance. So I hope you can find me a husband who can keep up with me.”
He lowered a hand to her leg, where he grabbed a fistful of her skirts. “You should not push me like this, little mouse. You are playing with fire.”
“Yeah? Maybe I will enjoy getting burned.” She smiled up at him.
He growled as he shoved her back so she was lying on her back on the table. She only had the time to prop herself up on her elbows to see him shove her skirt up to her waist. The cool air touched her skin. The feeling of being so vulnerable to him was overwhelming.
He rested his hands on her bare thighs, gripping them tight enough to bruise as he leaned forward to kiss her. His mouth was hot and urgent as his tongue found its way into her mouth. She moaned in response as her body started to shake. The feeling of him was completely overwhelming. All she could think about was his musky scent, the way his lips felt against hers, and his bare hands on her thighs, holding her still.
His mouth broke off from her own, and he kissed a trail of fire from her lips down to the crook of her neck.
“You have the power to make a man go mad, Joanna,” he whispered in her ear. “I pride myself on control in all aspects of my life. But something about you makes me want to abandon all sense as soon as possible.” He licked her earlobe, and her entire body shook with the force of pleasure that shocked her entire system. He growled in response to that. “You are mine, Joanna. All mine.” One of his hands started to move upward on her thigh as he whispered urgent words in her ear. “It doesn’t matter that other men want you, or even if you look at them. None of them will ever be able to make you feel like this. You will always know, in your heart, that you belong to me, and me alone.” Then his hand was between her thighs.
Joanna cried out as he touched her most intimate area. She tossed her head back in ecstasy, but he wasn’t satisfied. His fingers moved over her wet folds to find the sensitive little pearl in between them.
Joanna had only dared to explore herself between her legs a few times in the dead of night because it made her feel absolutely wicked. But even the meager pangs of pleasure she managed to stir up within herself could not compare to the fire that Evan was igniting within her.
He watched her closely, drinking in her expressions like a man possessed, as he stroked carefully. He seemed to know just what to do to drive her to madness. “Come on, Joanna,” he said. “Give in to me. You know that’s what you want. You know you belong to me.”
With one more swipe of his thumb, pleasure exploded through her with more force than a windstorm. She cried out as her entire body shook. She stared up at him without actually seeing him. Instead, she was only able to focus on the waves of ecstasy cresting over her.
