“Because,” he returned huskily, as he lifted a hand and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her brow. “From the moment I spied you this afternoon, I found myself drawn to you for some inexplicable reason.”
“Did you?” He smiled at the breathless quality to her voice. She must have noticed it too, because she shifted.
“I did,” he confirmed. He allowed his thumb to slide along her full, lower lip. As he slowly dipped his head, he heard the sharp intake of her breath, but it was too late. He had pressed his mouth against her innocent sweetness. There was no doubt in his mind that she was untried, because her initial stillness was shock. But as he increased the pressure, moving gently against her lips, she started to kiss him back. He was aware of the restraint that still held her back, but there was a spark of interest. That would serve him well during his banishment from his usual enjoyments in London.
If this woman wanted to know if he was a true rake, if the words written about him were accurate or not, he might as well give her a taste of what he could offer. This curious little kitten was going to gain the full Belmont experience.
CHAPTER 3
When Meliah first set out on this escapade, she hadn’t realized how dangerous this man could be. She thought she was immune to his charms, that her dreams would remind her of what was at stake should she allow herself to be overcome.
But nothing in her wildest dreams could have prepared her for the swirl of heat that started in her stomach and slowly spread throughout her limbs. Her head spun, and she had to cling to his shoulders in order to withstand the sensation of falling.
This wasn’t just desire she was facing. This was dangerous territory, and she was starting to slip down this perilous slope entirely too quick—and easy.
Gathering her strength, Meliah pushed against him. Her breathing was rapid, her heartbeat the same, but she set her jaw and made sure that he knew she was serious when she said, “I think you need to return to your side of the carriage, my lord.”
He dropped his hands into his lap and offered a lopsided grin before he moved back to where he’d been. “Forgive me. I was just testing your fortitude.”
“Now that you have, I suggest you retain a respectful distance henceforth.”
“Of course, Miss Newton.” She clenched her fists when his grin broadened and he flashed a devastating smile. “Your every wish is my command.”
Refusing to be pulled back into that devilish magnetism, Meliah turned her attention outside. Although it was dark, staring into oblivion was better than continuing to face off with this dastardly villain. The only reason she remained was because he was the single thing standing between fulfilling her dreams and a life filled with toil.
Squaring her shoulders, Meliah kept her focus distant, until the gentle sway of the carriage started to lull her into a false sense of security. Feeling her lids grow heavy, she startled herself awake. She thought it was a bump in the road, but then she realized that they’d stopped. A glance out the window showed that the night sky was starting to give way to the dawn. Feeling a moment of panic that she must have dozed for a few hours rather than a few minutes, she reached for the door handle, only to have it opened from the other side.
“Where are we?” she demanded of the cretin standing there.
The earl waved his silver headed cane toward the large manor house behind him. “My father’s hunting box north of London.” He offered that same, heart stopping smile. “It’s quite secluded, I assure you. We won’t be disturbed while you conduct your… interview.”
She narrowed her gaze and reluctantly took his hand so he could help her alight. “Does everything have to be some sort of innuendo?”
“I wouldn’t be much of a rake if not.”
She couldn’t argue with that sort of logic, so she kept any further thoughts to herself for the moment as he led her up the stone steps. “Alas, we won’t be completely secluded,unfortunately,” he murmured in an aside to her. “There is the cook and the housekeeper who shall check on us randomly during the day. Lucky for you, I know where we can go where they won’t find us.”
A shiver trailed up her spine, and although Meliah wanted to say it was revulsion, she would be lying to herself. This man had a way of making her body respond even if her mind was screaming at her to deny the sensations.
Meliah took note of the large white columns as they entered the house, and then the black and white marble floor at her feet. She stopped and looked up at the large, crystal chandelier, and felt her mouth fall slack at the sight of the sprawling, carpeted staircase that led to the upper floors. Two hallways led back to more rooms as paintings and tapestries lined the wooden beamed walls.
She had never beheld such splendor before, and likely wouldn’t again. It would be so easy to imagine that she had fallen into some sort of fairytale, but soon enough, reality intruded to remind her that she was merely passing through these doors temporarily.
“I’ll show you to your chamber.”
Lord Belmont put his hand at the small of her back and guided her up the stairs. Their shoes made hardly any sound on the plush covering until they had reached the second floor, where they were greeted with another crisp, marble floor. This one was white and appeared both cold and inviting all at once.
When the earl opened a door halfway down the hall on the right, he moved aside so she could enter first. A lump immediately formed in her throat, because the large four-poster bed in the middle of the massive room looked much more inviting than her straw tick mattress back on Brick Lane above her parent’s weaver shop.
A cozy fire was burning in the grate with more coal and wood sitting off to the side. A large wardrobe, dressing table and privacy screen made up the rest of the space. Tears stung her eyes at the knowledge that this was the closest she would ever come to living in such extravagant surroundings. Unless she succeeded with her plan and became the notable writer that she’d always hoped to be.
“Miss Newton?”
His voice was soft and she had to blink away the emotion that also threatened to clog her voice. “Yes?”
He regarded her steadily, more than she felt comfortable with. “I asked if the accommodations were to your liking.”
“Quite,” she returned, with a brief nod.
