Chapter Twenty-two
Ramsey had been called many things in his life, all of which revolved around either his inability to perform up to the standard of his father, or being too proper and prudish in his own standards and expectations.
Words never feel good when delivered in such a way, but they hadn’t quite stung like the word spoken over him.
Grandfatherly.
Dear lord, she truly knew how to emasculate a man, even if she hadn’t come up with the word herself, she had agreed. It was more than enough.
It wasn’t that he had anything against an older gentleman, but he didn’t associate them with lovely, vibrant, and ardent young women. Or if he did, it wasn’t in a good way. And after such a passionate exchange as they had experienced only a short time ago, it was a little frustrating and irritating to think she considered him on that level.
His nerves were still tight from knowing she was somewhere on the premise, but it was a different tension than he had anticipated. It was a constant push and pull with her, an equal balance of desire and irritation that had his body and mind spinning in opposition. Everything about her tempted him, teased him, yet she was equally talented at provoking him in the most frustrating ways, so that he never really knew if he wished to gag her or kiss her senseless.
Too bad doing both at the same time wasn’t an option.
But either option led to her mouth, which, he had admitted, he had an utter fascination with. Her lips were the perfect pink and constantly moving, whether in words or a smile, or some sort of twitch that gave away her thoughts just as much as her expressive eyes. It was bewitching, and he was under the spell.
And hopeless to explore it.
Because temptation wasn’t an excuse to act rashly, and compromising his best friend’s ward certainly would be acting rashly.
And he wasn’t quite certain that his self-control would extend to simply allowing a chaste kiss.
No.
He wouldn’t be able to temper his need, and it would consume them both.
And they would both wind up burned.
It wasn’t an option. He knew it in his mind, but his body was constantly rejecting the truth.
Bloody traitorous thing.
He buried himself in his ledgers, preparing for the betting that was to take place that evening. About a half hour into his work, his body had started to cool and his mind had begun to unwind from the tension. Certainly, by this point she had departed with Heathcliff and they were no longer on the property. It was a heady release as he crossed a “t” in the ledger.
A knock sounded at the door, and he called for whomever it was to come in, neglecting even to glance up from his book while the door opened.
When no further communication was made by the person entering, he glanced up, then nearly swallowed his tongue.
The pen fell from his hand as he blinked, not quite certain if he should believe his eyes or if he had maybe had some brandy that had gone sideways earlier, causing him to see things.
“It’s larger than I expected,” Miss Grace commented and then closed the bloody door.
He blinked, unable to formulate any thoughts that could come out as words at the moment.
“Hmm . . . and brighter too. You have a lovely study. Is that the park?” She strode forward, completely uninvited, and moved aside the heavy drapery that concealed part of the window. “Oh, no. Not the park, but it is a charming view. The rain stopped, I’m glad.” She turned to face him, her expression angelic, utterly unconcerned that she was in an unmarried gentleman’s office, with the door closed, in a gambling hell, with a man who was trying to convince himself that he couldn’t act on his distinct desire for her. No. She was oblivious and commenting on the weather.The bloody weather.
Good Lord. This was a disaster. It was worse than when Liliah came to the club and tried to seduce Lucas. This was of greater danger because Heathcliff knew Grace was in the club, and there would be no clandestine affair where she could slip away unnoticed . . . no.
She would be ruined.
Hell, she was already ruined just being here with him.
And all he could do was restrain himself from making it a thorough ruining indeed.
But that wasn’t going to happen.
She wasn’t interested in him.
