Page 49 of The Rogue

Chapter 28

“Wherein hearts are touched as surely as flesh.”

His kiss seared her, burned her from the inside out and she wanted nothing more than to step into the inferno. This time she knew what to expect, was ready for him when his tongue demanded entry and she willingly submitted. She reached her arms up around his neck and arched into him, feeling his hands on her, one sliding down her back to cup her bottom and pull her closer, the other stroking the column of her neck. His touch was at once tender and furious, and he held her as though she was precious, as though he wanted to caress and worship every part of her with care. Yet his kiss was fierce and hungry and threatened to take them quickly into dangerous waters.

She reminded herself that this was where she needed to go when her courage might have failed her. If she wanted to keep him here, to keep him safe where he belonged, then she had to forget everything she’d been taught, she had to forget she’d been raised a lady and make him want to stay - here with her - with every means she had at her disposal. With that in mind her hand fell, sliding down over his chest to caress the hard length of him that was only too easy to find in the fitted breeches.

His breath caught and held as her hand pressed against him and she felt suddenly powerful as he pulled back a little and she saw the look in his eyes. There was such need there, such heat; there was the inferno she had desired. She moved her hand, stroking him through the buckskin and he closed his eyes and groaned. Her breath caught, her eyes on his face as her hand caressed him, watching the expressions of pleasure as they crossed his face, wanting him to need her so much he couldn’t refuse her.

“Oh, God, Henri, you’re killing me.” The words were harsh and ragged, and she smiled, leaning forward to press a kiss against his neck.

No, she thought to herself, I’m saving you.

“No ... no, I--I can’t,” he groaned, and she found herself suddenly chilled as he released her, taking the heat of him away as he went.

She shivered, clutching her arms around herself and feeling foolish. She’d picked the one room in which there was no fire to aid her seduction, how ironic. Not that she thought a warmer temperature would have helped her with this pigheaded man.

He’d picked up the lamp. “Come,” he said, his voice dull. “I expect they’re waiting to serve the luncheon.”

This wasn’t over, she thought, glaring at him as he gestured for her to return down the stairs, not by a long chalk.

He avoided showing her the rest of the bedrooms on the way back and she took a little comfort from the fact that it might be he didn’t trust her, or himself, in the vicinity of a bed. He declined to eat with her and so she was left alone, picking at a simple repast of bread, cheese and cold meat with little enthusiasm.

It was growing dark by the time Alex returned to the house. She had curled up in a chair by the library fire after taking some time to select a book from the vast array that stacked the shelves. Unsurprisingly many had been in French, and although her French was adequate for speaking, she had no desire to struggle through pages of text, so she’d been relieved to find a comprehensive selection of titles in English.

She looked up, getting to her feet and bobbing a curtsey as Alex entered the room.

“My lord.”

Alex sighed with irritation. “Oh do, for the love of God, let the formalities go. Really, I have no patience with them.”

“As you wish,” she replied, irked by his sharp tone and taking her seat again. “I trust you had a good day?”

He watched her as he unlocked a beautiful wooden Tantalus and retrieved one of the crystal decanters within, pouring a generous measure.

He declined to answer but gave her a shrewd look. “By your demeanour and the fact you are here alone, am I to take it you’ve not had a successful day?”

Henri blushed, grateful that the light in the library was muted as she hadn’t yet lit all the lamps. “No, sir,” she replied, with as much froideur as she could manage. The nerve of the man, how dare he ask such questions!

He snorted and poured another glass and walked over to give it to her before occupying the other available seat by the fire. “Come, Henri, no need to be coy. We both know what hangs on your success.” He grimaced at his unintended pun. “How did it go?” he asked. “And for God’s sake don’t be shy, I would help you if I could.”

Henri looked at him, utterly mortified. What on earth did the man expect her to say?

He snorted and sat back in his chair. “Very well, I will ask questions and you simply nod or shake your head.”

She huffed and rolled her eyes, taking a large sip of the drink he’d provided.

“Did you kiss him at least?”

She nodded, avoiding his gaze.

“And he responded?”

Her smile betrayed her, and he laughed. “Well, thank God for that, I was beginning to think we were not actually related.” Henri tutted at him, and he gave a heavy sigh. “I take it that his honour got the better of him and he forced himself to walk away?”

“Something like that,” she muttered, staring down into the crystal glass. Perhaps it was her, perhaps she just wasn’t enough to tempt him?

She dared to look up and found Alex considering her.