Page 16 of The Rogue’s Offer

“Even you?”

Mischief darkened her eyes as she smiled at him. His lungs constricted at her light-hearted teasing. Christ Jesus, the woman had no idea as to the magnitude of the power she possessed when it came to holding a man hostage with her alluring smile and sultry voice. He’d ordered her to entice him, and she’d done so with little effort at all.

If he wasn’t careful he’d be even more enthralled than he already was. The instant the thought entered his head, Mathias dismissed it. He wasn’t a schoolboy susceptible to falling under the spell of a woman. The last time he’d done so had taught him a painful lesson he’d never forgotten. Mathias shoved the old memories aside and smiled.

“I believe that was the point of the exercise,” he said as he lightly tapped the tip of her nose. She eyed him with annoyance.

“You are being far from helpful.”

“There is no better way to learn than if one is pushed into a body of water and forced to swim.”

“I see.” She stared at him with annoyed disgust, and Mathias was forced to bite back a laugh at her reaction. As if aware of his amusement, she suddenly relaxed. “And if I were any other woman what would you expect me to say right now?”

There was a beguiling quality to her voice that he’d not heard before, and his heart slammed into his chest. Desire, stark and fierce, crashed through him knotting his muscles with tension. Had he made a mistake in offering to instruct her on how to feel passion? When he didn’t answer, Ophelia tipped her head to one side as a questioning look softened her features. With great effort he suppressed the hunger gripping every muscle in his body.

“At the moment, I can’t think of any other woman except you.”

Color flushed her features as she averted her gaze. Mathias pressed one finger against her cheek and forced her to look at him. She flinched slightly as their gazes met, before she shrank back into her seat and turned her head away from him.

“I do not enjoy being mocked, Mr. Gilchrist.” The humiliation in her voice aroused a need to comfort her once more. Leaning forward, he caught her hand in his and squeezed it gently as he silently encouraged her to look at him.

“I am not mocking you, Ophelia.”

“Then you are far more skilled at this game than I am.” Her stilted reply made him gently caress her cheek as he turned her head so she was forced to meet his gaze.

“It doesn’t take skill to speak the truth.” The disbelief on her face caused him to grimace. Havenstock had to have been even more of a bastard than he thought. “I’m beginning to realize it’s not that you are incapable of passion but that you lack confidence.”

“And I think you’re delusional.” She quickly disagreed with a shake of her head.

“Simply by objecting you make yourself desirable.”

“I don’t see how.” This time she laughed. He was reminded once more how much he liked the sound.

“Simply put you’re a challenge. That cool exterior of yours makes a man long to see if there’s heat beneath that icy surface.” His thumb rubbed over her bottom lip as he stared into her wide-eyed gaze. “And I’m convinced there’s fire there.”

Ophelia turned her head away from him as color flooded her cheeks, while her fingers nervously tugged at the beaded purse lying in her lap. Slowly retreating from her, Mathias leaned back in the cushions of his seat and studied her in silence. She didn’t move for a moment before she drew in a deep breath. Her brown gaze met his, and he saw vulnerability flicker there for a second before she smiled at him.

“It appears you were correct this morning when you suggested I would be a difficult student,” she said softly. “So perhaps I should try once more to do as you instructed.”

“Practice does make perfect,” he said with a low laugh as he saw her arch her dainty eyebrows at him.

An odd look flitted across her face before a small smile curved her lips. It was a soft, bewitching look that suggested she had a secret. Instantly, Mathias experienced a visceral twist inside his body as his muscles grew taut in reaction. Ophelia leaned forward again, and her warm breath blew across his check as her lips caressed his ear.

“Will you forgive me?”

“Forgive you?” he choked out as her teeth lightly grazed his ear lobe, and he struggled to loosen the knot in his throat.

“I’ve been remiss in saying how handsome you look. I shall be the envy of every woman tonight.”

Her lips brushed across his jaw, and without thinking, Mathias turned his head to kiss her. In a quick movement, she retreated, her lips still curved in a secretive smile. She shook her head slightly in a silent reprimand.

“I believe you said I was to entice you to kiss me, not allow you to kiss me.”

“So I did,” he growled softly as his gaze locked with hers. “And you did not disappoint, Ophelia. I said you had the ability to incite passion in a man, and you succeeded.”

A flash of pleasure crossed her lovely features before her expression returned to the serene countenance he was growing accustomed to seeing. Mathias didn’t tell her how well she’d accomplished the task he’d assigned her. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had ignited desire in him with the simple sound of her voice and the lightest caress of her lips. He was beginning to think he’d miscalculated badly where she was concerned.

The carriage rolled to a halt, and he leaned forward to capture her hand in his. He turned it over and pressed a lingering kiss against her palm. In the next breath, he swirled his tongue around her finger then took it into his mouth. The sharp breath she drew in filled him with satisfaction as he released her and met her gaze. Lips parted slightly, she stared at him in mute surprise and with another emotion she quickly concealed behind her mask of composure.