Matthew flopped an arm over his eyes as he struggled to regain his breath. He’d never intended for this to happen when he came to the club with Robert and Hugh a few nights before. If either of them had suggested such an outcome, he would have told them they were crazy. Uncouth.
And yet here he was, body tingling from the most powerful release he had experienced in years, this woman’s sweet flavor still on his lips, and he felt…
Calm.
He flinched as that word settled into his mind. Since Angelica’s death, he’d been restless and empty. Always thinking. Sometimes it felt like always remembering. And yet in those moments when he’d been lost in this other woman, he’d felt peace.
Was that a betrayal?
As he pondered that, her hand settled against his chest. He lowered his arm and looked down at that hand. Slender fingers bunched against his body. He felt the weight of each one and wanted to feel more of it. More of those hands moving over him. And when he followed the line of her arm and looked at the beautiful woman at his side, he wanted that mouth, too. He wanted to remove that intricate mask and see her entire face when she bucked in pleasure beneath him.
Andthatwas a betrayal, certainly. One stolen, anonymous night could be forgiven, perhaps. This strange feeling that it wasn’t enough was too much.
He sat up and caught her hand, lifting it to his lips to brush a kiss over her palm. “Thank you,” he said, hoping she would understand what he meant.
She’d had a soft smile on her face, but now that faded and she swallowed hard. “Certainly,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
There was a strange ache in his chest as he got up and began to gather his clothing. He felt her watching him as he did so, and searched for any topic to fill the now uncomfortable space in the room between them.
“Well, you can now say you’ve been in the infamous back rooms of the Donville Masquerade,” he said as he stepped into his trousers. “That is something.”
“Not something to brag about, I suppose. At least not for a woman.”
He turned and found she’d lifted the sheet to cover herself. The disappointment that flowed through him at that fact was not something he chose to ponder. “You don’t regret it, do you?”
She got out of the bed, blushing as she revealed herself once more. She put her back to him as she gathered up her dress, and he caught his breath. The sight of her bent over the gown was enough to drive a man mad.
He was turning into Robert—that was all there was to it. Crazed by desire.
“I don’t regret it,” she said, breaking into his thoughts. “I didn’t know I needed it so much until…” She trailed off and tugged her dress on. “Will you button me?”
Undressing her had been a dizzying pleasure. There was no way not to brush her skin and the same would be true now. He took his time sliding each button into place and let his fingers touch her skin. She stiffened each time he did, her breath coming shorter.
He felt the throb of desire between his legs, felt his cock slowly making its way back to attention. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d never been a randy wanderer, even before Angelica. Sex had been something he enjoyed, certainly, but he didn’t recall it burning in his blood like this. Making him want to take and take until there was nothing left of him or the woman in his arms.
He just didn’t understand it.
She pulled away as he fastened the last button and walked somewhat unsteadily toward a mirror affixed above the fire. She looked at herself, and occasionally her gaze flitted to him in the mirror image as she began to fix her hair.
“Doyouregret it?” she asked.
He shook out his shirt. “No,” he said softly before he tugged it over his head.
It tangled briefly around the mask he wore and he managed to get himself free. But when he smoothed the fabric down, the mask was now half-cockeyed around his cheeks. He swore beneath his breath and untied it, then removed it and brushed it off.
He heard her gasp just as he began to lift the mask back in place. He looked up to see her staring at him. Just staring, her eyes wide with what seemed to be terror and shock. Her hands trembled and her lips were parted.
“What is it?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I-I—”
She said nothing more, but ran from the room. He stared at her retreating back and then strode after her. “Wait!” he called out, but she was already running into the increasingly crowded hall. Barefoot, he’d never catch her.
He got to the end of the hall and craned his neck, but as he suspected, she was lost in the swell of grinding bodies.
With a shake of his head, he turned back to the chamber to finish fixing himself. As he did, his mind spun. She’d seen him. That was the only reason for her terror, for her quick escape.
But why? Why would she react so strongly to his face? Unless…she knew him. Or knew of him. Or he knew her. His stomach turned with the possibilities.
