He reached forward to draw her between his legs, his hands sliding up her ribs to cup her breasts, his cheek pressed against her spencer. Her head fell back. She arched into his hands. Anthony ignited, dropping her down onto the bed, twisting so he leaned over her but kept her legs locked between his.
“Simulation, my dear? I don’t believe you and I are capable of such a feat.”
His mouth covered hers with a scorching passion that singed all her nerve ends, taking her breath away. It was exquisite. It was what she remembered, this consuming fire between them that defied all reason. Last night was forgotten. He was kissing her now as if he would die if he didn’t, hiding nothing from her, and the soul of the woman came alive in his arms.
Chapter Forty
“I’ll be leaving in two days, Tony,” was the first thing James said as he entered the dining room.
“Need help packing?”
“Don’t be tedious, puppy. You know you’ve loved having me.”
Anthony grunted and resumed eating his breakfast. “When did you finally decide to be on your way?”
“When I saw how hopeless your situation has become. It’s simply no fun to watch anymore.”
Anthony tossed down his fork, glaring at his brother’s back as James walked casually to the sideboard after that remark and heaped food on a plate. Actually, he thought he’d made a great deal of progress in the past two weeks. He had only to touch Roslynn now and she turned into his arms. He failed to see what was hopeless about that. Soon she would admit that she needed him as much as he needed her. She would admit her folly and damn her own rules. But until she did, he would abide by them, to the bloody letter.
“Would you mind explaining that remark?”
James sat down across from him and said maddeningly, “I like this room now. What’d it cost you?”
“Blister it, James!”
A shrug. “It’s obvious, dear boy. Here she is sharing your room, at all hours of the day, I’ve noticed, yet when you two aren’t ensconced behind that door, you’re bloody strangers. Where’s the finesse you’reknown for that has women eating out of the palm of your hand? Is she immune?”
“This is none of your business, you know.”
“I know.”
Anthony answered him anyway. “She’s not immune, but she’s not like other women either. She has these infernal notions…the point is, I want her to come to me of her own will, not with senses drugged and giving her no choice.”
“You mean she won’t—come to you, that is?” When Anthony simply scowled at him, James chuckled. “Don’t tell me you haven’t straightened up that little misunderstanding about sweet Margie?”
“You still remember her name?
The sneer was obvious, but James chose to ignore his brother’s testiness. “Actually, I’ve been back to see her quite often. She was a delectable piece.” But that vixen in breeches hadn’t shown up at the tavern again, the real reason he had gone back there. “Did you never think to explain?”
“I did. I won’t do it twice.”
James sighed at such stubbornness, never mind that his own was just as irksome to friend and foe. “Pride is the advent of fools, dear boy. You’ve been married nearly a month. If I had known what a bloody mess you were going to make of it, I would have pursued the lady in earnest.”
“Over my dead body,” Anthony snarled.
“Touchy, aren’t we?” James grinned. “But it doesn’t matter. You won her. What you’ve done with the prize, however, is deplorable. A little romancing wouldn’t be amiss. She did melt for you in the moonlight, didn’t she?”
Anthony just managed to keep his seat when the urge to clobber his brother was overwhelming. “Thelast thing I need from you is advice, James. I have my own strategy where my wife is concerned, and although it may not appear to be working, it is.”
“Strangest bit of strategy I’ve ever witnessed, enemies by day, lovers by moonlight. I wouldn’t have the patience myself. If they don’t succumb by the first effort—”
“They’re not worth it?”
“Some are. But there are just too many other sweet consolations to be bothered.”
“But I’ve got Roslynn.”
James laughed. “Point taken, I suppose.Isshe worth it?”
