Yes!
She’d experienced his passion but he always kept control.
“Has that infatuation died?” he asked.
What was he truly asking? Was this the opportunity that she had wanted? Would Lucian finally give up his control and give over to passion and desire?
“My desires, shall we say, are of a more mature nature,” Eliza responded. “Kisses were well and good when I was only eight and ten, but as you know, I have a curious nature and know that much more can be enjoyed.”
His blue eyes darkened. “Be careful, Eliza.”
“Why?” she asked. “Because it is not proper for an innocent spinster to know of such matters or worse, want to experience intimacy?”
Lucian swallowed and pushed his plate aside.
He had drunk ale before he returned home and had drunk a glass of wine with dinner, but she did not believe Lucian was foxed. She’d seen her brothers in that state and they had never spoken as clearly as Lucian, but slurred, nor had they been able to carry on a discussion.
While a part of Eliza wished that he was inebriated as he may let go of some control, she’d not take advantage. That is what rakes did when they seduced innocent misses. Besides, if she was going to experience any intimacy with Lucian, she wanted him fully aware of his actions.
“It is not proper.” Lucian rose from the table and stared down at her. His dressing gown gaped and revealed a good portion of his chest. “I will not take advantage of a miss.”
He then turned and walked away but not before she noticed the tenting of his robe. Eliza may not have experience, but she had made certain to become as knowledgeable of the subject as possible without having experience.
Lucian wanted her and she was going to seduce him!
In fact, she was determined that before she left Wyndhill Park, she was going to experience a great passion because she had no doubt that was her destiny with Lucian, and then she’d have a memory to hold close for the rest of her days.
He strode for the bellpull.
“What are you doing?” she asked, coming from her seat.
“I was going to ring for a maid to collect the dishes.”
If he did that, then he would disappear into his chamber and she might not see him until tomorrow.
“Can it not wait?” Eliza asked as she approached him.
“Why?”
“Because I am a woman of seven and twenty, hardly the girl you first kissed.”
She placed a hand against his cheek and rose up so that she could place her lips against his but before she could do so, Lucian grasped her wrist to move her hand away and stepped back.
Despite how much the evidence of his arousal spoke otherwise, Lucian did not want her enough to be intimate, or even kiss her.
Her chest tightened with pain and her face heated with humiliation.
“For once would you let me be the one who kisses you for a change?”
She blinked at his aggravated tone. “If I waited for you, I would not be kissed at all,” she argued. “You were going to send for a maid so I thought to kiss you while I had the opportunity.”
He tisked and shook his head as the corner of his mouth twitched.
Was he rejecting her or not? “We are adults and I have not gotten over the desire to be seduced by you.”
“You are an innocent miss no matter your maturity.”
“Why is there a need to remain so? I am certainly not on the marriage mart and no lord is going to take me as his bride to provide an heir,” she argued. “So, why should I hold onto something that is no longer needed to make a good match?” she demanded. Virginity may have been important during her first few Seasons but it was useless to her now.
