She couldn’t look away from his gaze, the shards of golden ice. A magnetic force hummed in the sliver of space between them. Her heart thumped a tattoo under her breastbone.
“Don’t strain your arm,” she pulled away.
Ellie took half a step away when Dorian’s hand flung out, grabbed her arm and spun her back to him. “What—"
His mouth crashed upon hers. The force of his unexpected kiss had her rocking on her heels, and his kiss grew even more seductively demanding when his tongue swept against her bottom lip.
Instinctively, she opened for him and his tongue swept boldly in. His kiss tasted her as if she was his, the unapologetic possession of his touch sent a light burst of awareness through her. Gripping his upper arms for stability, she pressed herself on his firm body and did her best to match his furor.
Dorian’s right hand swept up to cup her nape, his head angled to the left as he took her mouth.
Heavens, the man could kiss.
He kissed her as if it would never end, and that there was nothing he wanted more than just to have his mouth on hers. Ellie’s instinctive fervor matched his and heat sizzled up her spine as his tongue thrust hot, and bold, mimicking another sensual act.
He pulled away to catch a breath before his lips met hers again, slowly this time to explore her mouth, suckling on her lips before he drew away. His kiss rendered her light-headed and Dorian’s gaze was unfathomable as he swept a thumb over her wet bottom lip.
She swallowed. “W-what was that for?”
His lips flattened for a moment, but as he went to answer, a knock came at the door behind them, and Dorian turned to answer it instead. A young man in a dark livery stepped in to bow.
“Your Grace,” he said.
“Bennet,” Dorian turned to Ellie. “Miss Frampton, this is now your footman, Jonathan Bennet. He is stationed just outside, so if you need something, call on him.”
Her gaze shifted from Dorian to Bennet.Is he going to answer my question?
“I’m pleased to meet you, Bennet,” she said. “Thank you.”
“I’ll leave you in his hands.” Tugging his cloak on, Dorian strode through the door without so much as a glance back.
Her shoulders wilted, and she looked at Bennet. “Do you want something to drink?”
Dorian paused while pouring his Spanish wine as Drake stepped into his office. “What in gods name are you wearing?”
“A waistcoat,” Drake cocked a brow. “Do you need spectacles?”
“I know it’s a waistcoat, but what is on it?” Dorian asked while trying to decipher the dizzying array of green and blue embroidery on the man’s clothing. “Are those butterflies or flowers?”
“They’re fish,” Drake sighed. “Japanese koi fish.”
“Second question,” Dorian turned to his desk. “When did you turn into a dandy?”
“I aim to be unpredictable,” Drake laughed. “You, however, are an unrelenting parade of dark blue, brown, and black. A splash of color would do you a world of good.”
“Blue, black and browns are colors,” Dorian scoffed. “Now, are we to waste time debating the intermediary colors or are we here to talk business?”
Taking a seat across from Dorian, the viscount crossed his legs. “Is that really what you want to talk about?”
Cocking his chin on his fist, Dorian sighed. “What did Wellington tell you?”
“Enough,” Drake replied. “You do know that you are playing a dangerous game with Carrington, Beaumont.”
“I’ve been warned,” Dorian exhaled. “That is not what I need to talk about.”
“But it is whatIwant to talk about,” Drake’s voice dipped as he lost the cavalier attitude and leaned in. “If you want to get into the Serpents, Beaumont, there are sacrifices you are required to pay. Carrington does not give you power, he does not giveanyonepower, unless you are willing to give him the guillotine that he can execute you with.”
Dorian closed the ledger he’d been working on, leaned back in his chair and drummed his fingers on the table. “And what kind of leverage didyougive to him?”
