“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s just that the irony of the situation is, in truth, rather magnificent. You have what I want, and I have what you want. In order for either of us to obtain what we want, we must sacrifice some of what we already have.”
Garrett’s mind retraced her words a time or two before understanding what she meant. “Yes, you are somewhat right.”
“Why only somewhat?”
“Because you are not going to sacrifice what you have. You are going to honor your parents and forget this crazy notion of playing the ‘lady rake’.” Nonsensical, addlepated female! He did not admit, however, that he had no intentions ofsacrificingwhat he’d been doing in the past. He would simply be more discreet about it.
And discretion did not include having the daughter of his host in his bedchamber late at night with both of them in nothing but nightclothes.
Lady Natalie glared at him. “That’s a little condescending, wouldn’t you agree? How would you feel if I told you something like that? I am not a child, you know.”
He regarded her narrowed blue eyes and petulant bottom lip for a moment in silence.
Perhaps what Lady Natalie needed was a taste of what she wanted. Perhaps that would result in her realizing the wisdom of being more amenable to her father’s plans.
Lord Ravensdale ought to appreciate the favor Garrett was going to do for him. He obviously had no idea how much of a powder keg his daughter was.
“What would you like, my lady? To pretend you are not the daughter of an earl?” The taunt caught her full attention. “Would you like—” He paused, enjoying the expressions racing across her perfect features, “—another kiss?” He’d meant the offer to scare her, to shake her reckless courage. The acceleration of his own heartbeat surprised him.
Natalie’s gaze turned suspicious. She was so very expressive, he could almost read her mind. Oh, yes, she wanted another kiss. But was he asking, or was he mocking her?
“Are you offering?” She lifted her chin and challenged him.
“I am if it will get you out of my room. I’ll also have your word that it will put an end to all of this nonsense!” Would her promise be worth anything?
“Very well, then,” she said quickly—too quickly.
He stared back for a moment and then shook his head, trying not to laugh. Good Lord, she was priceless!
“Don’t laugh at me!” she grumbled.
She sounded hurt. He didn’t want her to feel hurt. He wouldgive her what she wanted—this one last time. And then he’d have her promise to leave him the hell alone.
“Come here, then.” He patted his lap.
“You want me to siton top of you? Shouldn’t we be standing?” She narrowed her eyes, finally exhibiting some prudent caution. Ah, she wasn’t so foolish after all.
But it had been a long day and he was tired. “If you want a kiss from a rake, then you must do as he demands.” He patted his lap again. “Come here.”
Appearing unusually shy, Natalie rose and inched over to stand in front of him. As she neared, floral perfume teased his senses. Not giving her the opportunity to change her mind, Garrett grabbed hold of her waist and pulled her down to sit across his knees. She dropped her hand onto his shoulder and then slid it around his neck.
The minute her soft bottom landed on his lap, Garrett realized he was making a colossal mistake. Every ounce of blood he possessed headed south, and his own physical response to her was making itself known. Oh, hell.
This was intimate. Far too intimate. The lushness of her body assaulted his senses. He could smell her shampoo, a hint of lavender and citrus. Her long hair flowed silky and sensual on his arms, some even finding his chest. And when her fingers tickled the skin of his neck, his muscles tensed.
Her face was inches from his. “What now?” she asked, all innocence. Her breath was minty. He knew his would smell of whiskey.
He had better make this good if he was going to scare her to such a degree that she’d stop playing with fire. He turned her face toward his.
He meant to scare her—to slow her down. But as his gaze dropped to her sweet, inviting lips, an unusual tenderness struck him, and his kiss wasn’t the onslaught he’d intended.
No, he tasted, gently nipping at the corner of her mouth before claiming it.
The second his lips touched hers, she came to life. Eager for more, in an attempt to be even closer, Natalie twisted her body toward him. As she did so, her hip pressed into his arousal. Garrett winced as he tried to not only control himself but her as well. Was this going to backfire on him? Most likely.
Her tongue danced freely with his, encouraging him to deepen their kiss. The uninhibited enthusiasm of her welcome aroused him in a way that the most skilled courtesan could never match. And she responded as though she had been waiting for this moment her entire life.
