She gave a challenging grin.
His answering grin was predatory.
The footman interrupted their tête-à-tête, removing their soup bowls and giving them their second course. Samantha glanced at the roasted pheasant, steam swirling up to meet her with its heavenly fragrance. But even with the delicious food before her, her hunger was otherwise engaged in something quite different.
This time, she removed her slipper. Then, she moved her foot over, and when she came in contact with Heathcliff, she met his gaze. Brazenly, she traced her foot up his calf, her stockings doing little to hinder the intense feeling of his body against hers. She inched higher, watching as his eyes darkened, his breathing seeming to stop, and he watched her with the hungriest expression.
Her courage almost failed her as she inched higher, but she continued till her leg was fully outstretched, brushing against the outside of his thigh, feeling the heat radiating from him.
“I truly wish the pheasant would cool faster. It’s blazing hot,” Lucas said. It was a rather awkward statement, and Samantha tore her gaze away from Heathcliff, only to see that her brother-in-law wasn’t looking at his food but at her, and with a quite pointed expression.
Properly chastised, she gave an apologetic smile, and turned to Heathcliff, who seemed utterly unrepentant.
Liliah, to her credit, kept her gaze downward, but a knowing smile was tipping her lips.
Samantha’s gaze darted back to Heathcliff, and he met her regard with an amused expression of his own.
Dinner passed with less scandal than it had started, and soon the gentlemen stood, with Samantha and Liliah following suit.
“It’s been quite an evening, and I think my wife and I will take our leave.” Lucas approached his wife and gently placed his hand on the small of her back.
“Just an eventful evening?” Heathcliff asked, his tone wry.
“A gross understatement; my apologies.” Lucas gave a nod.
Liliah moved from around the table to approach Samantha “I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early. Get your rest, love.” Then, in a softer tone, she added, “I’m certain you’ll be needing it.”
Samantha ’s face heated at the implication, and bid her sister good night.
Lucas’s carriage was ordered, and soon they were on their way.
Samantha watched the carriage roll away through the foyer window, then turned to the stairs. Though she had scarcely had a good night’s sleep the night before, she was restless and not tired in the least. Heathcliff was waiting in the hall, and she turned to him, her lips bending into a grin as she noted the way he glanced to his study, then to the stairs, then to her. She couldn’t resist teasing him. “Confused, my lord?”
He grinned. “With you, constantly.”
“Unfair,” she baited.
“Very fair, I believe.” He approached her then, his eyes warm and his smile enticing. As he drew near, he whispered softly, “If you’re not pretending to be a governess, you’re seducing your employer under the dinner table. I nearly choked to death.” He shook his head, scolding, though his eyes danced.
“I shall remember never to flirt with you again if it’s such a danger to your health, my lord,” she replied, but her voice didn’t hold the teasing tone she’d had earlier. In such close proximity, she found herself breathless.
“I don’t remember asking you to stop your flirtations. Nor was I complaining. I enjoyed them very much, and if they were a true danger to my health, I’d count it a worthy way to die.”
“Quite the melodramatic statement,” Samantha remarked, gazing into his eyes, losing herself in their depths.
“Quite a powerful flirtation.”
“I thought you said it was a seduction,” Samantha whispered, wishing his lips were closer, wishing they weren’t in the foyer, but in a more secluded place.
“Flirtation and seduction are often found in each other’s company,” he answered, leaned forward as if to kiss her; then, just when she leaned in to meet him, he withdrew. “I think we’ve endured enough temptation for one day.”
Samantha tried to think of an adequate reply, but her wits eluded her. All she could think of by way of a response was that temptation clearly had no real limit . . . at least in her perspective. She would have gladly continued to tease, taste, and tempt. Gladly.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” He gave her a curt nod, as if he were discussing an Act of Parliament, then bowed.
Samantha wasn’t sure why his demeanor had so quickly changed, and she waited for an explanation. But rather than offer one, he turned on his heel and walked up the stairs in a very resolute manner.
That was not how she had hoped the evening would end. She waited a moment, to see if perhaps he would change his mind, but when she heard a firm shutting of a door, she gave up hope and walked up the stairs herself.
