“Oh, I suppose I saw the humor in it,” she confessed, but then she added, “I was worried for a while, however, when I thought Uncle Tony might find out where you took me and come pounding on your door before you returned to let me go. That would have caused a fine commotion! I don’t see how we could have kept a secret like that for long, and you might have ended up having to marry me. Such a shame, because we really wouldn’t suit.”
“Wouldn’t we?” he asked, amused.
“Certainly not!” she said in mock horror. “I would fall madly in love with you, while you would continue to be a disreputable rake and break my heart.”
“You are undoubtedly right,” he sighed, playing along. “I would make a terrible husband. Nor am I likely to be forced into marriage, by the way.”
“Not even if you have ruined my reputation?”
His mouth turned down. “Not even then.”
She evidently didn’t like his answer, and he was annoyed with himself for being so unnecessarily honest. Anger with himself made his bright amber eyes even brighter, as if an unnatural light glowed behind them. She shivered, wondering what he would be like if he really lost his temper.
“Are you cold?” he asked, seeing her rub the gooseflesh on her arms. Did he dare wrap his arms around her?
She reached for her cape and draped it loosely over her slim shoulders. “I think it’s time—”
“I’ve frightened you,” he said gently. “That wasn’t my intention.”
“I am afraid I know perfectly well what your intentions are, sir,” Reggie replied.
She bent down to put her slippers on, and when she straightened, she found herself in his arms. He did it so swiftly that she was being kissed before she could gasp. He tasted of brandy, sweet and intoxicating. Oh, she’d known it would be like this, so heavenly.
Never had she been kissed with such feeling, or such daring. He actually molded her small frame to his, letting her feel for the first time the state of a man’s arousal. She was shocked and excited, and her breasts tingled where they pressed against his coat. What was this other, deeper feeling coming from way down inside her?
His lips trailed along her cheek and down to her throat, where he kissed the throbbing pulse, drawing the skin into his mouth, sucking ever so gently.
“You mustn’t,” Reggie managed to whisper. It didn’t sound like her own voice at all.
“Oh, but I must, love, I really must.” He scooped her in his arms.
She gasped. There was nothing amusing about what was happening now. His lips brushed her throat again and she groaned.
“Put me down,” she said breathlessly. “Derek will hate you.”
“I don’t care.”
“My uncle will kill you.”
“It will be worth it.”
That did it. “You won’t think so when you see his weapon across a dueling field. Now put medown, Lord Montieth!”
Nicholas set her down slowly, carefully, causing her body to slide enticingly along his. “You would care, then?”
He was holding her close to him, and the steady heat of his body unsettled her. “Certainly. I wouldn’t like to see you die because of a—a harmless escapade.”
“Is that what you’d call my making love to you?” he chuckled, delighted.
“I was not referring to that, but to your bringing me here. As it is, I will have the devil’s own time talking Tony round to forgetting this matter.”
“You mean to protect me, then?” Nicholas said softly.
Reggie pushed away from him, unable to think clearly with her body against his. Her cape had fallen, and he retrieved it gallantly, handing it back to her with a bow.
She sighed. “If Tony doesn’t know you are the one who absconded with me, then I shan’t mention your name. If he does know, then, well, I suppose I will do my best to save your hide. But I insist you return me to him now, before he does something foolish, such as telling others I am missing.”
“At least you give me hope.” Nicholas smiled. “I may not make a good husband, but I have been told I make an excellent lover. Will you consider me?”
