Page 46 of Dare to Risk it All

“What was the dare?” he asked.

Greer looked up, her eyes sparkling in the dim candlelight, shining with a beguiling mixture of defiance and embarrassment.

“I’m a Daring Daughter. We all have to take a dare from the hat, like our mothers did.”

Raphe returned a blank look, and she laughed.

“I think you’d better begin at the beginning,” he said.

“All right, then.”

Raphe hesitated, knowing he ought to make her leave, but he wanted her to stay. He needed her with him. Everything always seemed so much better when she was close. So, being a selfish bastard, he took her hand and drew her to the chair by the fireplace. He sat down and pulled her into his lap. She went willingly, curving a hand about his neck and laying her head against his shoulder as she told him the story of the Peculiar Ladies, the mismatched group of girls who had found each other, themselves, and love, through a variety of dares taken from an old top hat.

“And the original dares are all still in it?” he asked, diverted to consider the Duchess of Bedwin and some of the most respected ladies of the ton doing such shocking things.

Greer nodded. “They are, though we’ve added some new ones too, as some of the old ones are getting hard to read.”

“And will your daughters do such dreadful things as you’ve written on those bits of paper?” he asked softly, reaching out to trace a finger down the soft curve of her cheek.

“I hope so,” she said with a smile. “Though I hope they don’t make such a mull of it as I did. I ought to have thought it through better. It was foolish of me to act as I did, and I caused you a great deal of trouble. Your poor face….” She touched the bruise on his jaw with careful fingers. “I’m so sorry.”

“I doesn’t matter,” he said, feeling something like terror fizzing in his blood, his heart racing in his chest as he gathered his courage. “I’m only sorry that I didn’t find you in time, because… because there was something I wanted to ask you.”

“Yes?”

Raphe nodded, swallowing hard. His hands felt clammy all at once. What if she said no? What then? Well, then he’d just have to spend every moment proving he was the man she needed, the one she ought to marry. Yes, all right, he had a dreadful reputation, a crumbling estate, no money, and two brothers and his stepmother to support, but he still had an advantage, assuming she would see the one plus in his favour as an advantage.

She stared at him expectantly and Raphe tried to find something romantic to say. He was never usually short of words, especially the passionate words women wanted to hear. His charm was the reason for his success with the ladies, along with his easy manner and quick wit. This ought to be a simple matter, but it was too important for glib words. She meant too much to use the same old trite phrases, even if he meant every word with all his heart this time.

“Raphe? What is it? Is something wrong?”

He let out a huff of laughter and shook his head. “No. No for the first time in my life I have something that is perfectly, wonderfully right, and though I know I ought to, I don’t think I can bear to let it go.”

She stilled in his arms, watching him. Unable to resist the lure of her sweet mouth a moment longer, Raphe leaned in a stole a kiss, desire and longing coiling about him at the touch of her petal-soft lips against his.

“I can’t let you go,” he whispered. “I don’t deserve you. I’ve nothing to offer you when so many other men could give you so much more. I have only one thing that they don’t, that they can’t possibly give you, Greer.”

“Raphe,” she said, her eyes glittering now, over bright with emotion.

“I’m giving you my heart, love,” he said, feeling as though that poor organ was beating on the outside of his chest, undefended and vulnerable. “Because you’ve stolen it anyway, and I can’t let you give it back. I think it might kill me.”

She made a soft sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob and, before he could demand an answer, her mouth pressed to his, her arms pulling him closer with surprising strength. His breath caught as she opened to him, her tongue making a tentative exploration of his mouth. God, but she was so sweet, so delicious. He plundered, too overwhelmed by her enthusiasm to hold back, though he had meant for this to be all tenderness and care. Greer was not of the same mind and fidgeted on his lap, almost doing him an injury with an injudicious press of her knee as she climbed over him. Raphe sucked in a breath as she straddled him, pressing close, his aching cock nestled perfectly against her cleft.

“Oh, Christ,” he groaned, dropping his head to her shoulder as shivers of pleasure rolled over him. If she moved so much as an inch, he was going to come. He grasped her hips, holding her still as he realised she was about to do just that.

“No!” he gasped, shaking his head. “N-No, don’t move. Don’t. Move.”

“At all?” she queried, giving him a curious look. “Oh, did I hurt you? My knee—” she began in alarm.

Raphe made a smothered sound. “No. Not pain. Just… give me a moment.”

Closing his eyes, Raphe willed himself to calm down, cursing his ungovernable member. Get a grip, you brainless article. If you disgrace me, you’ll be sorry. Slowly, he felt the danger recede somewhat and dared to open his eyes. A mistake.

Greer was staring at him, a sparkle of mischief in the glittering green that boded ill.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked, a great deal too innocently, the wretch.

“You know damn well you did something far too right,” he retorted. “But never mind that. I still need to ask you something.”