Silence followed her tirade, and when she finally looked up, he was smiling.
And although she’d wanted to strangle him a few seconds earlier, she was suddenly struggling to resist his smile. Oh, how she loved his smile.
“I still am,” she added, nonetheless, feeling stubborn.
With his hand still resting on her shoulder, he took a step toward her, so close that she could smell that spicy soap on him.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” he said.
“Someone does.”
He didn’t argue with this, but just stared at her, caressing her with his gaze.
She drew upon all her self control not to fall into his arms. For reasons she didn’t quite understand, she felt like weeping. From relief?
But was it relief at finding him safe? Or something more than that?
Was she relieved because she’d finally found what she’d been looking for? Something she’d given up on ever finding?
“I’ve underestimated you, Amelia. Over and over again.” His voice was gruff. “I won’t do that again.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
He smoothed his hand from her shoulder to her wrist, his other landing on her waist. “I haven’t seen this one before.” It took her a moment to realize he was referring to the dress.
“It’s one that was left behind.” There was that breathy voice again. By now, it sounded almost normal. “It’s not even close to being fashionable,” she explained nervously. Then, she stretchedout one foot, showing her exposed ankles. “Not to mention it’s a little short on me.”
So scandalous. There was no way she could ever return to society. There was no turning back. She was utterly ruined.
He moved even closer, using the hand on her waist to guide her steps backwards with him. She didn’t mind, though. She trusted him, and kept going until he had her back pressed against something hard. A table.
Without warning, he lifted her to sit on it.
What was he doing?
He took a moment to adjust her skirt, loosening it from around her legs, and stepped into the space between her thighs.
Thoroughly ruined indeed.
“I like it,” he said, and she felt his fingertips skim over her bare back.
“I DIDN’T KNOW”
Leopold traced the unfastened gap at the back of her gown. “It’s so soft,” he whispered. “Your skin.” He felt her shiver.
Her scent wasn’t that of a proper lady this morning. She smelled earthier, musky. It only made him want her more. It made him want to taste her.
Everywhere.
Waking up, he could almost believe the previous night had been nothing more than an incredibly vivid dream. But it had been real.
The candlelight. The translucent gown. And if that hadn’t been convincing enough…
“You thought I stopped because I’d come to my senses.”
She’d come to tell him he’d been wrong.
