Page 22 of The Rogue’s Offer

“You’re impossible.” She scoffed at him with a skeptical smile. He held her gaze for a moment, his expression somber before he shook his head.

“And you, my sweet Ophelia, are absolutely enchanting.”

The sincerity in his voice took her by surprise, and she stared at him in amazement. Something flashed in his green eyes before a slow smile curled his lips, and her mouth went dry at the way he was watching her. His gaze held a silent invitation to sin, and the ache suddenly twisting her insides sent a strange lethargy sliding through her. Unable to think of a response, Ophelia quickly averted her gaze to look out the window.

“Merrick was right. The fact you don’t believe yourself enchanting makes you all the more desirable.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Her efforts to sound pragmatic and indifferent to his compliment failed miserably. Instead her voice was little more than a breathless rasp. Mathias’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward.

“I think perhaps another lesson is in order.”

“Another lesson?” She swallowed hard at his words.

“It is what we agreed to.” An unreadable emotion darkened his eyes, and a shiver raced down her spine.

“Very well, what pearl of wisdom do you wish to enlighten me with,” she said quietly as she struggled to regain some of her equilibrium.

“I believe you could benefit from another session practicing your skills of seduction.”

“As I recall, you said I passed my last lesson quite admirably.”

Ophelia tipped her chin upward slightly in an attempt to hide her trepidation at the thought of obeying his command. At her obvious reluctance to obey his command, Mathias folded his arms across his chest. One eyebrow arching upward, he smiled with amusement.

“Naturally, if you’re not feeling up to the task—”

“That’s not the first time you’ve accused me of being a coward,” she snapped as she glared at him.

“I have never labeled you a coward, Ophelia. But you cannot deny you’re afraid to believe in yourself.” As she glared at him, Mathias leaned back further into the seat cushions and with a small shrug silently challenged her to do as he’d instructed.

Ophelia’s irritation grew as she met his green-eyed gaze. A slight twitch at the corner of his mouth said he was amused by her outrage. Her irritation grew as she narrowed her gaze and contemplated inflicting all manners of harm on him. When she ran out of possible punishments, she realized the only penalty she could inflict was to beat the man at his own game.

She needed to do as he’d ordered—arouse his desire. The daunting thought made her stomach lurch. The sight of his mouth curved in the slightest of smiles sent determination speeding through her. Her eyes never leaving his, Ophelia slowly reached out and drew the shades down over first one window and then the other. The small candle, fluttering in its glass globe on the side of the carriage wall, barely illuminated the interior and threw Mathias’s features into the shadows.

He was no longer trying to hide a smile, and she leaned forward to lightly press her forefinger against his lips. His teeth nipped at her flesh and an odd flutter assaulted her insides. Despite her instinct to draw back, Ophelia pressed her palms against his chest.

“I find you quite…” She deliberately hesitated before releasing a sigh. “…exasperating, Mathias Gilchrest.”

“Do you indeed.”

His chuckle rose up from his chest and vibrated against her hands. There was something exciting about the sensation. She focused her eyes on the black tie around his neck and experienced the urge to loosen it. In an idle gesture, she played with the endings of the black material. Her gaze shifted upward and she noted that while he was still smiling, his green eyes had darkened considerably.

“Yes, but I wonder what you think about me.” She frowned as if considering her words, when what she was really doing was questioning her sanity.

“I believe I’ve already told you I find you enchanting.”

“Does that mean you thought of me last night lying alone in your bed?” The question was more for lack of inspiration than anything else. But the moment Mathias stiffened against her palms she knew it had been the right one to ask.

“Possibly.” The one-word response was quiet, but his smile had faded.

“Did you imagine I was doing as you’d ordered?” She marveled at her audaciousness, but she was determined to win this battle between them. Her question was met with a long pause, and she saw his throat bob as he swallowed hard.

“Yes.”

This time it was clearly an effort for him to respond. She slowly slid her hands under the lapels of his coat until her palms rested on his chest. Beneath his shirt, his nipples were rigid against her fingertips. In a slow, methodical fashion, she began to draw small circles around one of his nipples with her forefinger

“It felt quite wicked to do as you instructed, but it was definitely pleasurable.” Her words caused a dark sound to rumble in his chest, and she smiled. “Should I repeat the exercise again tonight or should I wait?”

“Wait?”

It was a hoarse, choked out sound that sent a wave of triumph cresting through her. She didn’t fully understand how, but she had no doubt he was aroused by her words.

“Yes,” she whispered as she brushed her mouth against his cheek. “I would not want you to experience any discomfort because of me.”

“I’m already experiencing discomfort,” Mathias rasped as he caught her face between his two hands and kissed her hard.