Trianareluctantly turned around.Lord Eastbury grinned widely, knowing that he had her effectively trapped. “M’dear, Lady Triana, I would be honored if you would take a turn with me about the ballroom—”
“Apologies, Eastbury,” a deep voice intruded. “But I’m afraid this particular lady is spoken for. She has promised the first waltz of the evening to me and, if my calculations are correct, the orchestra is just about to strike up the first chord.”
Triana’s mouth fell open as a hush instantly descended over the area around them. The duke had been appealing from across the room, but this close, surely the devil wasn’t as tempting to behold! Handsome as absolute sin in black and white, with an emerald signet ring on his left, pinky finger and a stick pin of the same jewel placed neatly through his crisp cravat, he literally caused Triana’s flesh to tingle in places she’d never even thought possible.
As the Duke of Chiltern held out his arm to her, Triana moved forward, although she had no recollection of telling her feet to do so.
“I think you have some explaining to do,” Alyssa’s hushed, but amused whisper caused a hot blush to stain Triana’s cheeks as Gabriel led her away, leaving Eastbury to gape after them.
They got into position as they waited for the music to start. Triana swallowed nervously as Gabriel placed his strong hand at the small of her back and pulled her a bit closer than necessary, the heat radiating from his body seeming to seep through her bones as she carefully placed her hand on his shoulder, the muscles beneath bunching like corded steel.
He grasped her other hand, his fingers gently curling around hers. The electricity of his touch was quite unexpected, and she gasped, though a quick glance at her partner showed that he was as composed as ever.
But when she noticed his lips she remembered the feel of that strong mouth on her bare palm, which itched in betrayal, even now, for his gentle touch.
However, it was his eyes that truly held her fascination. Up close, she could see that they were such an intriguing blend of gray, with just a slight touch of green, that when the glow of the candlelight hit them just right, they took on that glittering, silver hue.
Much like the moon’s effects on an evening terrace...
Triana stiffened as the first notes were drawn from the orchestra. It had been ages since she’d partnered with anyone for a waltz. What if she forgot the steps and embarrassed them both? She didn’t think she could survive the humiliation, especially after last night’s episode.
But as the duke began to lead her about the floor, he bent down slightly to whisper in her ear, “Relax,” and she soon found herself doing just that. Gabriel was a competent leader and led her about the dance floor in such a graceful and effortless manner that she easily lost herself in the rhythm.
The tension began to ebb out of her body and she felt a genuine smile tug at her lips. After that, she could have sworn her feet never even touched the floor.
Chapter Five
Gabriel offered Triana a polite smile, all the while trying to act as though his body hadn’t suddenly been struck with a tinder match. If he thought he’d been distracted earlier, a strong temptation by sight, he found touching Triana to be infinitely more tantalizing. And that was before his other three senses were realized.
The sound of her steady breathing became a lilting melody that blended with the strains of the violins — a harmonious seduction that made his body hum. Inhaling lightly, he detected a hint of rose water, a fragrance that was popular with many women of theton, although he never recalled it being quite so poignant or arousing before.
Much more appealing than lilac, he mused.
At the recollection of Cordelia, it should have been enough to wipe away any further interest involving Triana, yet he couldn’t stop from bemoaning the fact that he would be denied the last sensation —taste. While he knew that soft, creamy neck exposed to his appreciative view was off limits, that didn’t mean he couldn’t take the opportunity to entertain a brief fantasy…
First, he would lead her into a dimly lit room where they could be alone. Shutting them inside, he would nuzzle the sloping curve of her shoulder, perhaps even work his way across her collarbone, before gently tugging down her bodice and exposing the gentle swell of her breasts to his hungry gaze. The peaks would be hard points, aching to be caressed by his experienced hands. And oh, how he would delight in gently kneading that tender flesh, before he dipped his mouth and captured a rosy tip with his tongue…
Slightly increasing the pressure of his hand at the small of Triana’s back, Gabriel set his jaw and took a deep, steady breath, all the while cursing his imagination.
He was at this ball for one reason, and one reason only — and it wasn’t to seduce his friend’s sister.
He reminded himself that it wasn’t just his position within thetonthat was at risk here. Triana could very well be in danger if she got too close to the truth. He’d been in the spy game long enough to see the casualties and he didn’t want her to be one of them. The thought of her being hurt caused a strange ache in his chest.
He knew what he had to do. He didn’t like it, but he had to let her imagine she was right, that he was nothing more than the unrepentant rake she wanted him to be.
***
“I enjoy having you in my arms, Lady Triana.”
Triana’s gaze instantly flew to the duke’s face at the sound of that smooth timbre.Did he just say…?
No. She would not give in to his charm, even if it might be difficult to concentrate when he kept looking at her like that. It would be easy to get lost in such a charismatic spell, but then wasn’t that her purpose in dancing with him? She wanted to prove that he was no different than the rest of the rogues and libertines. And with the hungry expression on his face, she feared she might be right.
“You flatter me unnecessarily, Your Grace.”
Gabriel peered down at her through hooded eyes. “Do I?” he murmured. “Surely you know how beautiful you are, Triana.”
She gritted her teeth at his familiarity, wondering where the man from last evening had gone; the caring, gallant hero who had given her his handkerchief. It was as if a curtain had suddenly been pulled back and another man was being revealed.
