“You spoke with Mr. Lyridon quite well.”
His mouth twisted sardonically. “I practically grew up with Talon and Drayven. We even attended Eton together, so I would hardly count a pair of childhood friends that I’ve known since we were all in short pants.”
She had to give him that, but since they didn’t have any other mutual friends that she could compare, she dared to use herself as an example. “What about me? We seem to converse easily enough.”
“You’ve always been an exception to the rule.”
Lyra’s gaze shot upward, but Alister’s attention was firmly fixed on the board, his brow knit, as if he was considering his next move. However, she had to wonder if he wasn’t just avoiding her gaze because he’d spoken so candidly.
With a gentle smile, she reached across the table and touched his hand lightly. “In that case, I hope that you will always consider me your friend.”
Slowly, his brown eyes lifted. The heat swirling in those depths reminded her of warm chocolate. “I consider you many things.” His voice was husky, tempting. “But at the moment, friendship isn’t what comes to mind.”
Unsure of how to respond, Lyra slowly started to remove her hand, but he caught her wrist before she could escape. She gave a gasp, so he loosened his hold, but he didn’t release her.
“Don’t be afraid of me, Lyra,” he whispered harshly. “I only want to help you.”
“You are,” she murmured in return, feeling her blood start to pulse through her veins, the need she’d first felt in the library beginning to snake its way through her limbs once again.
“It’s not enough.”
She froze. “What do you mean?”
“Come here, and I’ll show you.”
CHAPTER SIX
Lyra worried her lower lip. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
His eyes blazed. “Probably not.”
She started to rise to her feet, but then she hesitated. Wait…what was she doing?If she took Alister up on his offer—a ratherwickedoffer, at that—what then? Would they simply bid each other a polite good evening and retire as if nothing had even happened? Or even worse, greet each other in the morning with a simple nod of acknowledgement?
She closed her eyes and was just about to turn away when a strong, yet gentle hand cupped her chin.
“You’re thinking too much.”
With that, Alister claimed her lips.
At first, the pressure of his warm mouth against hers was light and persuasive, but as Lyra began to relax, his arms came around her and she was drawn closer into his embrace. She lifted her palms to rest against the hard wall of his chest, but as her bravado started to grow, her passions igniting, she slowly ran her hands up his shoulders and around his broad back, her fingernails gently brushing the nape of his neck.
When he groaned, Lyra felt that deep rumble all the way to her toes. It gave her a sense of feminine power the likes of which she’d never known. It was heady, and she craved more of it, like an opium addict looking for their next dose. When he ground his hips against her, allowing her to feel the hard pressure of his erection, her desire quickly turned into a raging inferno.
She gasped as he began to trail a path of scorching kisses down the side of her neck and along her delicate collarbone. He urgently tugged down a section of her gown and exposed one of her breasts to his fiery gaze. “You’re exquisite, Lyra,” he breathed, right before he bent to lave her nipple with his tongue.
Lyra moaned as she shuddered in Alister’s embrace. In all the years she’d been married to Roger, she had never felt such a powerful reaction to a man’s touch. But from the moment she’d laid eyes on Alister the night of her debut, she had known that he would be different. There had been an undeniable spark between them, and even now it would be so easy to get lost in his spell.
To be utterly consumed.
It was that fear of being held subservient to another man that caused her to push away from him. “Stop, please. Stop.” With trembling fingers, she turned her back to right herself as a single tear trickled down her cheek.
“Lyra…”
She held up a shaking hand at the sound of his tortured voice, but she didn’t dare face him. If she did, she might run back into that strong embrace and beg him to never let go. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry, Alister, but I just…can’t.” She hated how broken her words sounded, but the panic of losing any more of herself absolutely terrified her.
After a momentary pause where the only sound was her harsh breathing, she heard him turn and quietly leave the room.
* * *
