She lifted her brows. “Would you know if you had?”
Edwin hadn’t known. Or maybe he hadn’t cared. After he’d found his satisfaction, he’d fallen asleep or gone back to his own chamber.
“I bloody well hope so,” Cull said.
Again sincere. And flutter-worthy.
“You could be a contender,” she allowed. “But I have terms.”
“As do I.”
Interesting.Cocking her head, she said, “First, this is a one-night-only affair.”
“No strings attached,” he agreed. “If both parties are amenable, however, we should not discount the possibility of future nights.”
“I will not be amenable.”
That would be far too dangerous. She could not let herself form an attachment; the whole purpose of this was to satisfy her physical needs without the risk of heartbreak.
He didn’t look overly concerned. “Your other terms?”
“Precautions will be necessary.”
Pippa was grateful that her mask hid her flaming cheeks. Charlie had coached her to institute this non-negotiable condition. It was one thing to indulge in a night of ardor, another to do so in a reckless manner. Truth be told, Pippa didn’t know if she was even able to bear consequences, so to speak. She hadn’t conceived in a year of marriage. Another failure that had been laid at her door.
“I have a contraption that will prevent unwanted eventualities,” she said briskly.
“One could not accuse you of being unprepared.” Humor in his eyes, he went on, “There are many ways to approach lovemaking, sunshine, some of which would render your contraption unnecessary.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“It will be my pleasure to clarify matters.” His mouth twitched. “For now, you have my word of honor that I would never put you at risk. Being acquainted with unwanted consequences—I, myself, being one of them—I have never acted carelessly in this regard.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say. How to respond to the fact that he’d referred to himself as an “unwanted consequence.”
It was getting harder to think in general. She felt a trifle warm, possibly because of the fire and most certainly because of this chat. It struck her as being the most intimate conversation she’d had with any man. Cull didn’t seem at all bothered by her demands. In fact, he was studying her with an intensity and, yes,hungerthat made her blood rush through her veins. Her nipples throbbed beneath her bodice, a matching pulse between her thighs.
“If you have stated all your terms…?”
Had she? “Um, yes.”
“Then it’s my turn. I have only one: my mask stays on.” His shoulders braced, he said, “Last time, I didn’t express myself well. It is not because of you that I can’t take it off. It is because of me, because of who I am—”
“It doesn’t matter,” she interrupted.
Strange how this was true. Whereas last time his refusal had ignited her anger, now she found it a relief to have that small barrier between them. To set limits during her exploration of uncharted territory. Not seeing his face made everything less personal…and less potentially painful if this proved to be yet another bad decision on her part.
He drew his brows together. “It doesn’t?”
“This is a one-night liaison, not a relationship,” she said firmly. “And you’re not the only one wearing a mask this eve. I’ll keep mine on as well.”
His shoulders eased; he released a breath that she hadn’t realized he was holding. He brought his hand to her face again, his long fingers trailing along her jawbone and down her throat, the careful, callused touch tightening and loosening everything inside her simultaneously. She swallowed as he cupped the back of her neck, bringing her closer. Close enough to feel the heat radiating between them.
“Pity to keep something so beautiful hidden,” he murmured. “Then again, you have countless other attractions to unwrap.”
Anticipation made her light-headed as he bent his head. Yet he stopped, a sliver of space between them…and she realized that he was waiting. For her to affirm her choice. She tipped her mouth up, searching out his. The velvety warm contact elicited a sound from her, between a sigh and a moan. This was what she’d been longing for since the last time.
Heavens, the man could kiss.
