After he’d secured the champagne flutes and the key, they silently made their way upstairs together. When they stopped at the door to the room, Meredith lifted her brows. “Room seven again?”
“It’s a lucky number, is it not?” he drawled.
“I hope so,” she said, lowering her lashes over her eyes and then glancing up at him in the same coquettish way she’d seen the ladies do downstairs.
He unlocked the door and ushered her inside.
The moment the door closed behind them, Meredith turned to him in a swirl of red skirts. “Care to play?”
She had no intention of allowing him to speak first. If he told her the truth tonight, he would ruin everything. And she deserved this. This night. One more night of pleasure with no strings attached. What did it matter that Griffin was the one behind the mask? She wanted him. She guessed he wanted her. There was plenty of time to go back to their duchess-hunting tomorrow. Oh, she had a tug of guilt for whoever the lady was that Griffin had already decided to marry. But he had yet to begin his courtship. He’d told her as much. And what his future duchess didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. Besides, Meredith would put an end to this before he actually became betrothed. Of course she would.
One of his dark brows had shot up. “Play what?”
She slowly pulled the deck of cards from her indecently low bodice. “A card game. I’m told it’s quite diverting.”
His eyes sparkled beneath his obsidian mask. “What is the game?”
“The club had these cards specially made,” Meredithcontinued, repeating what the woman downstairs had told her. “Each card has one item of clothing for a man and a woman listed on it. You must remove the item on the card when you draw it.”
His mouth quirked. “How does one win the game?”
“The winner is the one with the most clothes left when the cards run out.”
“Are you certain that’s not the loser?” He laughed. A deep throaty laugh that made Meredith rub her thighs together in anticipation. She wanted him again. Tonight. And if she played this card game correctly, they would end up naked together in bed. A thrill shot through her.
She tipped the flute to her lips, set it down, and then took a seat on the bed. He moved over and placed his drink next to hers. She was trying to shuffle the deck when his gaze locked on hers, and his large hand covered her small one. He took the cards from her and the deck came to life within his fingers. He quickly shuffled them a half dozen ways. The cards flew through the air between his palms, making a whirring noise. Griffin always had been an expert at shuffling cards. She should have realized long before now he was good with his hands. She bit her lip. Oh,whata wicked thought.
He offered her the deck again. “Before we play, there’s something I must?—”
“No,” Meredith insisted, still intent on keeping up their ruse. “You sound far too serious. Let’s play first.” She pulled the cards from his hands and set the deck atop the quilt. “Ladies first?”
He nodded. Thank God. He hadn’t insisted. Which meant he wanted this too. She shuddered with relief as she turned over the first card.
The card contained five words:hair pins or top hat.
She pushed herself up on her knees and slowly moved herhands to the back of her neck. One by one, she pulled out her hairpins.
His eyes danced with dark fire as he watched the mass of her thick hair fall below her shoulders. She shook it out.
“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered.
“Thank you,” she replied. His words reminded her of when he’d said she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen last time. Had he meant that? Had he truly meant it?
She lowered herself back to the mattress and pointed to the cards. “Your turn.”
He took a deep breath and flipped over the next card.Gloves or cravat.
“Seeing as I’m not wearing any gloves, I suppose the cravat must go,” he drawled.
Meredith watched in fascination as his deft fingers moved up to his neck. With one swift tug, he had the cravat undone. Then he easily unwound it and tossed it aside. His shirt fell open, exposing a muscled chest with a light dusting of dark hair. She licked her lips.
He splayed his hand toward the deck. “My lady.”
Squirming with anticipation, Meredith moved her fingers to the cards and flipped the next one.Slippers or boots.
She daintily lifted her legs in the air and kicked off first one slipper, then the other.
“I’ll remove my boots too,” he offered, shucking them. “Which means it’s your turn again.”
