Tucking her stocking clad feet under the hem of her dress, she peeked back up at Gray. “Now for my question, sir.”
He lifted an eyebrow expectantly.
Doing her best to look him head on, she said, “Why did you agree to become my lover?”
A slow smile spread across his face, displaying perfectly straight teeth. “What man wouldn’t dream of being asked to pleasure a lady such as yourself?”
She frowned. “That was hardly an answer.”
He ignored her and reached for his cravat, loosening it and discarding it on the floor. “It is my turn again, I believe.”
She swallowed nervously, already wondering which piece she should take off next.
“Why are you willing to risk your reputation, your standing in society, for what you could freely explore after you marry with only a little discretion?”
She gnawed her bottom lip, not at all sure she could sum up all she had been tormenting herself over for the last several days. Yes, the risk she was taking was enormous in magnitude. The repercussions could be life long and devastating not only to her, but to her family as well. God, whatwasshe doing here? The urge to flee had never been as strong as it was now.
The idea of ruin had not in itself been enough of a deterrent, but the fact that her actions could jeopardize her entire family was sobering. Her circumstances and arranged marriage were not unique, nor was she unduly wronged. The very fact that so many women of her acquaintance took lovers after their marriage signaled that more than one woman went into a marriage unhappy.
But that was just it. She longed for something different.Shewas different. Always she had longed for things a lady daren’t think of, much less act on. If only she would be the soul victim of any negative outcome were she to be discovered, she could conduct this affair free of guilt. But she wasn’t and she had her family—a family she loved immensely—to think of as well.
When she realized he was still staring expectantly at her, she cleared her throat. “Actually, I am beginning to wonder just why myself.”
“Having regrets?” he asked softly.
Surely she could have one night with him. No one would be the wiser. She was already here, after all. There would be plenty of time for recriminations later, and she would limit their agreement to this one night. Yes, that was it. One night and no one could possibly find out.
She drew herself up, firm in her resolve. “No, let’s carry on with the questioning.”
“I believe you owe me a piece of your clothing,” he said with an amused expression.
“Ahh yes, right you are,” she mumbled. She rose, trying to disguise the trembling in her hands as she bent over and reached underneath her skirts for her garter. Slowly, she slid her stockings down one leg and then the other until they were free in her hand. Rising up, she sat back in her chair and laid the silk stockings on the table next to his hand.
His pupils flared once more in the flickering candlelight, and he let out his breath in a long sigh.
“My turn,” she said smiling at his reaction. “Are you very good at this sort of thing?”
His eyes widened in surprise. “What sort of thing are you referring to?”
“Being a lover, of course.”
Laughter rumbled from his chest. “Wouldn’t it have been better to ascertain that before we came to an agreement?”
“I demand you answer me and quit replying to my questions with a question,” she huffed.
“I think that is something you will learn soon enough.” He stood and slowly began pulling his shirt from his breeches then began to work it upward, baring inch by inch his muscled chest as he pulled it over his head.
She sucked in her breath, and the room swirled around her. Her cheeks felt ready to explode, and a hot wave rushed from her feet upward, leaving her lightheaded and precariously close to swooning. Dear heavens! She’d never even seen her brothers’ naked chests.
If she didn’t get air, and soon, she was going to burst into flames. “Can you open a window?” she squeaked.
“I find it comfortable in here myself,” he purred.
She swallowed hard, her eyes still glued to the ridges of his taut abdomen and the smattering of fine hair that worked up from his navel and spread out at his chest. Her breasts swelled against her dress, and the aching began in earnest in areas of her body she’d been taught never to mention.
Yanking her gaze from more skin than she’d ever been witness to, she focused on the stockings that lay carelessly across the table in front of her. She heard him sit once more, and she waited for what he would ask her next.
“Look at me, Jenna.”
