“He does, my lord,” Natalie said. “But, alas, is there a gentleman who might be willing to take him on?”
Garrett placed her hand on his arm once again. He assumed they were both using the termgentlemanloosely. “You don’t play fair, my lady.”
She chuckled, and they continued around the path. Natalie chided him for not bringing any fish back from the afternoon’s expedition. He insisted he’d caught dozens of them, huge beasts too great in size to be carried back to the cook’s kitchens. He feigned outrage at her refusal to believe him. They further surprised each other by finding other topics that interested them both, and before they knew it, the manor came back into view. The windows glowed, and piano music drifted out into the night. Natalie stopped and let out a wistful sigh.
“You are very lucky, you know.” She sounded serious again.
Garrett thought he’d misheard her for a moment. “Pardon?”
“I said you are really quite lucky.”
He had not misheard. “How is that?”
“If you were a woman and you acted with such disregard toward society”—she slanted him a sideways disapprovingglance—“as you have, there would be no second chances for you. A lady could never act as a rake and be forgiven.” She slipped his jacket off and handed it back to him. He looked down at the jacket, not sure what she expected him to do with it.
“Take it. I am fine now. I will enter through the back, and you may use the front door. It is best nobody knows we spent so much time together alone.”
He took the jacket, not bothering to slip it back on. He just stood there dumbfounded, watching her. “Why would a lady wish to play the part of a rake?” he couldn’t help asking. Was she referring toherself?
The girlish sparkle disappeared from her eyes and a bleak longing replaced it.
“Throughout my engagement, over the course of an entire year, my fiancé bestowed only two kisses upon me.” She touched her cheek. “One here.” And then she touched her lips. “And one here. And yet, when I caught him looking at the woman who is now his duchess, he beheld her with…hunger! I am certain he kissedhermore than twice. And with an open mouth, no less.” Perhaps she felt safe telling him all this because of the darkness. Perhaps she was restless because of her recent broken engagement. Whatever the reason, an intensity of emotion emanated from her.
And then she stepped forward and put her hand on Garrett’s chest. She licked her lips and surprised him by admitting, “I have seen you watch me with a similar expression. You may kiss me, if you wish.” Her eyes were bold as they gazed up at him.
Garrett’s heart beat rapidly. What on earth was she saying? Both her hands were on his shoulders now. Of course he wanted to kiss her. His body roared with hunger. Hell, he’d imagined sharing much more than kisses with her on morethan one occasion. And suddenly, she was not so unattainable after all.
But at what cost? She was a young noblewoman set aside to marry a duke. Perhaps not Monfort, but her parents had high hopes for an exceptional match. Garrett ignored the pull of desire coursing through him and continued to hold his jacket between them. He did not trust this. He did not trusther.
“What is it that you want, my lady?” he asked. He did not wish to be toyed with.
In an abrupt display of temper, she jerked away and stomped one of her dainty little feet. “Oh, blast and fiddlesticks! You’re a rake, for heaven’s sake. Must I spell it out for you? I Want. A. Kiss.” Her eyes flashed like sapphires. “There, now are you satisfied? You ask me why a woman would ever wish to be a rake, well, I will tell you: To experience life, that’s why. Women go from their parents’ care to that of their husbands. Always,alwaysbeing protected. Never experiencing anything real. I just want to know…I want to know.”
He felt the frustration radiating from her. Or was that his own? When the words stopped flowing, she looked up at him with pleading eyes.
He should turn on his heel and walk back to the house right now. Playing such games with Lady Natalie Spencer would bring him nothing but trouble.
She pulled at him in a most primitive way. In the moonlight, her hair shone like golden silk. The breeze swirled the gown she wore around her person, tantalizing him with hints of her softness and curves. The look in her eyes, in addition to her words, conveyed how badly she wanted his touch—his kiss. He’d never been a man to deny himself sensual pleasure.
But she was an innocent. She was his host’s daughter, his friend’s sister.
As he looked at her, a tear, suspended on one of her longlashes, lost its hold and trickled down to the corner of her mouth.
Oh, hell! Now he had caused her to cry. He could not win tonight! His control snapped.
Garrett tossed his jacket onto the path and grabbed her by the elbows. “Do you know what you are asking?” he ground out between clenched teeth. He was angry with her for tempting him, angry with himself for being tempted. Truce be damned! He pulled her close, his face mere inches from hers, and inhaled deeply. The mingled scent of her perfume and soap fed his desire yet more.
He had not asked to come to this damn house party. He had not asked to play the gentleman with the daughter of his host and hostess. He hadn’t asked for any of this, and he was damn tired of society’s indecipherable games.
There was no more denying himself tonight. He grasped her chin and tilted her head back. His other arm clamped about her tightly.
As his lips claimed hers, passion, fueled by fury and lust, unleashed.
She ought to push him away. She ought to compress her lips into a tight barrier. She ought to twist her face to the side to dodge his assault. She did none of these things.
No, Lady Natalie parted her lips and allowed him full access to the tender skin there. She tasted sweet and warm. Without moving away, he spoke into her mouth. “Is this what you want?” His ran his tongue along her teeth and the roof of her mouth. “And this?” She represented all he could never have. How she had provoked him! He was angry. He was also aroused. Hell and damnation!
Instead of pushing him away as a woman of gentle breeding ought, Lady Natalie clutched him with fierce but delicate hands and arched her body into his. He’d gone from playing the part of an affable gentleman to allowing his baser emotions to takecontrol. Pulling her closer, he pushed his knee into her skirts, between her thighs. A low moan of pleasure escaped her.
