Desire tightened in his groin, and he angled himself away from her, praying she wouldn’t notice. But lord, how was he supposed to resist?
He wanted to press his mouth to hers and taste those plush lips. He wanted to bury his face in the side of her neckand breathe her in. And most of all, he wanted to send all of her goddamn suitors packing.
He tore his gaze away as the music began.
He was in so much trouble.
He’d thought the only risks that might arise from her plan were to her reputation and his relationships with Theo and his mother. It had never occurred to him that his own heart might be on the line.
Now, he couldn’t deny it.
When she married someone else, it would hurt.
He wanted her for himself. But he couldn’t have her.
He held himself stiffly during the dance, and as soon as it was over, he escorted her back to her mother and rushed for the balcony. He needed fresh air and a moment to himself.
Thanking his lucky stars that no one else was out here, he strode to the balustrade, leaned against it, and gasped for air. His head spun, and he tightened his grip until his knuckles strained, the bones feeling like they were threatening to break through the skin.
“You need to get a hold of yourself,” he hissed to himself, trying to suppress the unfamiliar emotions rising and falling inside of him. “You can’t be attracted to her. She isn’t for you. Just ignore it.”
This would pass. All he had to do was keep his head down, be on his best behavior around her, and eventually his heart would get the message that this woman wasn’t someone it could get attached to.
“Nicholas.”
He bolted upright and spun around so quickly that he stumbled and had to catch himself on the balustrade.
Sophie stood in the doorway, her head tipped slightly to the side, a quizzical groove between her eyebrows. “Is everything all right?”
No. It wasn’t.
His heart rate sped up dangerously.
The last time he’d been alone on a balcony with a woman, her reputation had almost been ruined, and his brother had been pressured into marriage.
“We have to leave,” he said, thrusting himself away from the balustrade and rushing to her. He guided her through the doorway and back into the thrum.
History wouldn’t repeat itself.
He couldn’t allow it to.
CHAPTER 12
Nicholas barreledinto Theo’s office as soon as he arrived home, relief flooding him at the familiar sight of his brother hunched over a pile of correspondence.
“I need to spar,” he burst out, panting as he hovered in front of the desk. “If I don’t burn off some energy before bed, I’ll never sleep.”
Theo folded a letter and dropped it onto the polished wooden surface of his desk. “You’re upset.”
“No, I’m not.” The answer was automatic and, judging from Theo’s smirk, hardly believable. Nicholas groaned. “Fine. Yes, I’m upset. I’ve discovered that I’m attracted to Sophie.”
Theo cocked his head. “And why is that so upsetting?”
“Because I’m not supposed to be!” He fisted his hands. “Are you going to help distract me or not?”
Theo gestured to the chair nearest to him. “It doesn’t have to be a problem. There’s no reason you can’t court her in earnest.”
Nicholas scoffed. “You know as well as I do how Mother would react if I married an earl’s daughter in some bigsociety wedding. That would be far too much attention on me for her liking.”
