Just as the voices sounded in the doorway, she found herself pushed against the wall next to the cupboard as Anthony’s tongue dove into her mouth. Hot fire shot through her, and she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, grabbing at his hair.
When his mouth left hers and he licked his way down her chest, she noticed the voices were silent. Opening her eyes, shefound two men watching them. She should tell Anthony, but his tongue found its way beneath her neckline to her nipple, and the feelings coursing through her were too strong to ignore. Instead, she let her eyes close again and her head fall back against the wall, thrilled by the desire flooding her veins.
“I say, are you starting dinner early there?”
Anthony’s head left her chest so fast, she would have fallen to the side if he still weren’t pressed against her, his erection proving he’d lost the purpose of his kiss.
He looked over his shoulder. “Oh, Lord Buswick. Our host did say we could use any room, correct?”
“Indeed. And this room will be all about delectable treats, after all.” The man stared at her, but could see little, since Anthony blocked his view.
She gave the two men a ladylike nod. “I look forward to meeting you at dinner, gentlemen.”
The other lord’s brows rose in surprise. “I do believe we’ve been dismissed, Buswick.”
“Yes, so it seems. Let us try the library, then, shall we?”
As the two men turned and headed back out, she remained silent, not sure she could hold herself upright if Anthony stepped back.
He turned back to her, confusion in his blue gaze. “I apologize. Leighhall had said we could use any room with our mistresses, so it was the first action that came to me to hide our real purpose.”
She wanted to kiss away his apology, but revealing how much she enjoyed his touch now would scare him away. “No apology needed. It was a brilliant idea.” She fluttered her lashes at him. “Mon amour.”
He blinked before understanding dawned. “Yes. Though I do hope we need not resort to such activity again.”
Feeling a bit more stable, she let her hands slide from around his neck. “I think we should investigate this room another time.”
“Of course.” Anthony stepped back, but stared at her chest.
Looking down, she found he’d pushed her neckline beneath her breasts in his hunger. She quite liked that, but still righted her clothing and pretended a coolness she was far from feeling. “Now that you found what you sought, my lord, shall we go up and change for dinner?”
Having turned away as she covered herself, Anthony held his arm out for her without looking back. “I believe that would be appropriate.”
She took his arm and hid her grin. If he lost himself with her in a simple kiss, she couldn’t wait to have him help her undress and dress.
As they entered the front foyer, they found a man carrying a woman over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs. The skirts of her dress were thrown over her head. She grinned at them just before she slapped the man’s arse.
“Alice, you keep doing that and you won’t be able to sit tonight.” His words were followed by a loud whack and Alice laughing.
Lissa looked to Anthony, who chuckled before coughing. He tried to move toward the first step, but she halted him. “What was that?” It wasn’t anything she’d seen, done, or read about.
“Um, it’s hard to explain.”
“Oh really, Anthony. It’s me.” She practically growled at him. She was no stranger to sex, but what she’d just witnessed appeared to be punishment. Yet the woman had asked for it and liked it. It made no sense.
He took a deep breath then finally looked at her. “Some people enjoy the sting, as it excites them before copulation.”
She raised her brows, absolutely sure it was something she would not be interested in at all. “Do not attempt that with me.”
His eyes widened. “Of course not.”
Confident he was aware of her limitations, she made to move forward, but he didn’t. Instead, he whispered in her ear, “Remember, this is not real.”
She completely disagreed. The new attraction they had to each other was very real. “Shall we?” She gestured toward the stairs.
Finally, he moved, and they ascended in silence. When they entered the room, they discovered the valet there waiting to help Anthony dress. He’d already lit a number of lanterns in the now-darkened room. She couldn’t believe her good fortune, as she had no doubt Anthony would hide in the dressing room if left to his own devices.
Moving to the armoire, she turned her back and opened the doors to choose her dress for dinner, having pulled out a few before the valet had arrived to unpack for Anthony. Choosing a deeper-blue dress with a daring square neckline, she laid it on the bed. It was far more suited to her coloring.
