“My lord?” she asked.
“I have been desperate to kiss you again.” Earlier in the evening, he wouldn’t have said such an exaggeration, but by this time, having been beside her for hours and kissed the soft skin of her hand, he was not lying. Hewasdesperate to have her mouth under his.
Without hesitation, he pressed close, feeling her soft curves meld to his firm chest. He couldn’t help tilting his hips against hers, too, while he caged her with his hands on the striped wallpaper at either side of her head.
She said nothing, blinking her blue eyes at him as he lowered his head and claimed her mouth. He nearly groaned from the relief of tasting Lady Purity again and of drinking in the same delicate floral fragrance that clung to her skin and, this time, to her hair as well.
As before, her body relaxed as soon as their lips fused. Also as before, his desire flared like a fatty candle. He wanted to sweep her into his arms and take her away, anywhere they could be together.
After ravishing her mouth as quickly as he dared, he kissed his way along her sweet chin and down the column of her neck.
“My townhouse is on this square, just a few doors down,” he said against the creamy soft skin of her collarbone.
She went rigid at his words. He ought to have expected it, but he’d been instantly caught up in the heady sensationof joining with her, able to imagine how good it would be if they made the two-backed beast. Obviously, his hasty invitation was impossible since the drawing-room door would open any second, but still, maybe they could arrange a tryst later.
Leaning back to see if she enjoyed it, too, he asked, “What are you thinking, kitten?”
He didn’t see it coming this time since the hallway was dim on all sides. In fact, he heard it first before he felt it.Slap!
At the same time, the door opened, and he sprang back and away from her as one of the guest’s heads popped out, followed by a lady’s shoulders.
“We’re ready for you.”
Lady Purity was already strolling away from him, head high as if nothing had happened. Entering the room behind her, he couldn’t find it in himself to regret the kiss, not to mention nibbling on her neck, although his cheek still stung. Without her gloves on, she’d delivered an impressive wallop.
Forgetting what they were doing, he was surprised when Lady Purity asked, “How do you like it?” followed by “When do you like it? Where do you like it?”
Asking all the correct questions within the confines of the game, she received equally informative answers and said, “A bow” before he could even consider them or formulate his own questions.
“A forfeit from Lord Foxford,” Lady Fenwick said. “Lady Purity, you may be seated.”
His dark-haired partner glanced at his cheek before smirking at him, which made him wonder if it was telltale red. Then she left him alone in the center of the drawing room.
His forfeit was to illustrate three of his best qualities in pantomime.
Matthew considered the roomful of people and what he could get away with. First, he pretended to mount his horse and ride.The other guests clapped. Then, since it would be difficult to mime making money, he pretended to draw back a bow and shoot an arrow, then lift his fist in triumph as if he’d hit the target dead center.
Lastly, after turning and looking directly at Lady Purity, he wrapped his arms around himself, closed his eyes, and tilted his head as if kissing.
The men fell silent, but the ladies clapped and laughed as he’d hoped.Except for Lady Purity!
When he opened his eyes, she appeared in a high tweague, with her arms crossed and her luscious lips pursed into a straight line. Moreover, if looks could kill, he would fall lifeless upon the thick Persian rug.
Instead, he grinned at her and winked.
Chapter Four
Matthew never doubted he would be granted entrance when he presented his calling card to the Diamonds’ butler and asked if Lady Purity was accepting visitors.
Their home on Piccadilly was immaculate and impressive, but he wasn’t the least daunted. A long-held family title, a good upbringing and a university education, plus a head for growing his fortune with investments gave him all the confidence he could ever need.
Not to mention the way women were attracted to him.
Thus, when Lady Purity agreed to a visit, he awaited her entrance in the elegant drawing room expecting a warm welcome.
Instead, as soon as she entered, she was hissing and spitting-angry like the kitten he’d named her — if said kitten had been dunked in a barrel of frigid rainwater.
“What on earth can you mean by coming to my home?” she demanded.
