Page 37 of The Rogue’s Countess

At her crisp retort, his smile disappeared, and he bowed his head as if he were studying the floor in front of him. Once more, she was thrown off-kilter by his odd manner.

“It appears I’ve done you a disservice, and I regret having done so.”

His words were so astonishing she could only stare at him in mute amazement. Gideon lifted his head to meet her gaze, then turned away to face the fire again. The silence stretched out between them for several minutes as she struggled to understand what he was trying to say. Was he apologizing for believing she was using his mother or was it for something else?

“I don’t understand,” she said quietly. There was a tension in Gideon that filled the small area of space between them. Almost as if he’d come to a decision, he straightened his shoulders, clasped his hands behind his back, and turned to face her once more.

“I accused you of marrying Helstone for his title. It was an ill-informed assumption, and it was wrong of me to suggest such a thing. I regret the accusation.” This time she gaped at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. Annoyance swept across his face when she didn’t reply. “Am I to assume you are trying to decide which insult suits the occasion best?”

The sharp words held a trace of humiliation, which made Phoebe bite back a smile. It was obvious the man was unaccustomed to apologizing. When she remained silent, his features suddenly became shuttered, and it was no longer possible to tell what he was thinking. With a small shake of her head, she met his gaze steadily.

“I am not one to bear grievances.” At her reply, his body became less rigid, and something told her it was the result of relief. His reaction made her frown. Why would he have been worried she wouldn’t accept his apology? More importantly, why would he care.

“Thank you.”

“Then, if that is all,” she murmured as she rose from her seat. “I would—”

“No. I have a request.”

Phoebe eyed him with suspicion as he met her gaze. From the moment she’d entered the study, the man had knocked her off-balance. Now he had a favor to ask, and she had the distinct feeling it had to do with his mother. Phoebe bit down on her bottom lip, and a flash of something dangerous flared in his eyes that set her blood racing through her veins. She swallowed hard to dislodge the knot in her throat.

“You would like me to stay until your mother is well.”

“Yes,” he said with an abrupt jerk of his head. Clearly, the man found asking for favors as difficult as apologies.

“Very well.” At her softly spoken agreement, Gideon jerked slightly. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him carefully. His features revealed nothing, but Phoebe saw the surprise in his gray eyes. Anger spiraled through her as she realized he had expected her to say no. She eyed him with disgust. “You thought I would decline.”

“I thought it possible, given our contentious relationship.”

“You think far too highly of yourself, Lord Chelmbee,” she snapped as his eyes narrowed with irritation.

“One day, you will call me that once too often, Phoebe.” There was a dangerous note in his quiet words of anger. She ignored the warning in his voice as she quickly stood up to stand rigid as she glared at him.

“And one day, I will no longer have to be in the presence of a man I find arrogant, ignoble, and far too enamored with himself to understand that not every woman finds him irresistible.”

Gideon’s features hardened until his face looked as if it had been carved out of a piece of marble. Gray eyes cold with anger, his gaze swept over her in a condescending manner before he met her gaze again. Suddenly, a small smile tipped the corners of his mouth, and she sensed danger.

“As reluctant as you are to admit it, Phoebe, we both know I excite you.” He stepped forward until he was inches away from her. “We both know how your body responds to me every time I touch you.”

As if to prove his point, he reached out to catch her chin in his hand and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. Unable to help herself, a tremor shook its way through her. A wicked smile tilted his lips upward at her response. Aware of the precarious position she was in, Phoebe tried to take a step back, only for her calves to bump into the edge of the couch. Stumbling slightly to remain standing, her body lurched to one side and then forward into his chest.

“See,” he murmured seductively as his hands wrapped firmly around her upper arms and tugged her closer. “Your body betrays you.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the glitter of something wicked in his gray eyes. She dragged in a sharp breath as she met his gaze. All he had to do was look at her like this to drag her to the edge of the abyss. If she didn’t end this madness now, she would regret it tomorrow.

“Let me go,” she gasped softly, knowing it wasn’t a protest at all. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as Gideon smiled.

“I seem to recall you saying the same thing five years ago, and we know how that turned out.”

“That…that was diff….different,” she stammered as her pulse accelerated.

“Was it?” he asked in a husky voice that caused a tingling sensation to race across her skin. “I have a feeling your mouth will taste just as sweet as it did before. Should I find out, Phoebe?”

As he bent his head, another gasp escaped Phoebe, which was silenced as Gideon’s mouth captured hers. Instantly, a rush of excitement sped through her body as her heartbeat doubled its fast pace. Just as he had once before, he didn’t conquer with force. He cajoled her surrender with the heat of his mouth, teasing and tempting hers.

Hard, muscular arms pulled her snug against him, and she gasped as he molded her into the hardness of his body. The moment her lips parted, his tongue delved into her mouth. Brandy still lingered on his tongue, and the flavor of it danced across hers. He tasted like a tangy bite of toffee and caramel.

With an eagerness she knew she shouldn’t feel, she allowed her tongue to swirl around his in a fervent response to the almost hedonistic caress. Her response elicited a low growl of pleasure from him. The sound skated across her senses, igniting a stark need inside her that left her craving a pleasure she knew only he could satisfy. Her arms wrapped around his neck, she slid one hand through his silky, golden-brown hair. As his hand slid up over her waist to press into the side of her breast, she arched her body upward into his caress. The instant his mouth left hers to explore her throat, she moaned softly.