Page 56 of After the Abduction

“I am not a goddess, drat it!” She shoved at his chest, but it was as unyielding as it was infernally broad. “If I were, I’d already have had my minions banish you to the underworld, where you belong!”

With an outrageous grin, he reached behind her to unclasp her gown’s top button. “You can’t. I’m Hephaestus, remember? Goddesses can’t banish gods to the underworld.”

“Sebastian, desist at once!” she protested, grabbing hold of his arms. But among the many traits he had in common with that blasted smithy god was strength and nimble fingers. She felt her gown give way a little even as she pushed at his too brawny arms.

He paused in unbuttoning her gown to smile roguishly. “Tell me you want me.”

She tipped up her chin. “No.” Because if she did, he’d most certainly press his advantage. Besides, he was only bluffing. At heart, Sebastian was a gentleman. He wouldn’t actually do anything truly wicked to her, would he?

Another button came loose.

Perhaps he would, after all.

“Come now, sweeting,” he prodded. “It’s just four words. ‘I want you, Sebastian.’ Very simple. And you know it’s true.”

“It is not!” she protested.

“Stubborn minx.” He slid her gown off her shoulders.

This called for different tactics. “I thought you were supposed to be the responsible twin, the one who restored Charnwood on his own, the one who looks after old women and rascal brothers—”

His mouth closed over hers, wild and angry now. He kissed her until her head reeled, and when he drew back, she gazed at him through slumberous eyes. It took several moments for her to clear the cobwebs from her brain, but when she did, it was to find him untying her chemise.

His fierce gaze swept her face. “I’m tired of being the responsible twin. What has it gained me? A monk’s life in a mansion full of servants who fear me. And the one woman I desire won’t admit she desires me unless I prove as much a rascal as Morgan. Very well, if it’s the reckless adventurer you want, then by thunder, you’ll have him.”

Suddenly, he pulled the edge of her gown and chemise down enough for one breast to spring free, then bent to flick his tongue over her nipple.

She gaped at him in pure disbelief. “That is not…proper,” she choked out.

He chuckled. “No. And neither is this.” Then his mouth closed around her breast.

“Oh…my…word…” she whispered as he began to suck and tease and do the most amazing things to her nipple with his tongue. “Goodness gracious…you shouldn’t…you mustn’t…have you lost your mind?”

He tore his mouth free long enough to grin up at her. “Absolutely. I’m operating purely on instinct now. You should try it.”

She didn’t dare, not when instinct produced such tempting sensations. She gathered breath to protest, but it was too late. His mouth had returned to caressing her naked breast in the most delightful fashion.

Hardly daring to move, she stared down at the unreal image of his head at her breast. All her half protests died in her throat. He looked so very blissful with his eyes closed as he sucked and tongued her flesh. How intimate this was, as intimate as she’d wanted him to be two years ago. And much more exciting than she’d imagined in her vague and formless dreams.

While she watched in utter fascination, he slid his hand inside her chemise to free her other breast, then fondled it shamelessly, rolling the nipple gently between his fingers as his teeth tugged at the other. A thrill of expectation coursed right down to her belly, startling an ache between her legs.

He straightened to stare at her, his free hand taking over for his mouth on her breast. “Morgan may have been the reckless one, but I’ll wager he never did this, never touched you like this.”

“You know he didn’t,” she breathed.

“He was a fool. To have a goddess in his hands and throw her away…an utter fool.”

She tried to summon up her earlier anger at him, but the regret in his words was so palpable, so genuine that she couldn’t.

“I’ll make you forget what happened back then, sweeting,” he whispered. “I’ll make you admit that it’s me you want. Me, Sebastian.”

Poor man. Couldn’t he see that she wanted both? God help her, but she was just that greedy. She wanted the dependable Lord Templemore and the reckless Morgan who’d carried her off.

Despite Morgan’s actions. Despite Sebastian’s lies.

“Because God knows I want you,” he added.

Was that all a lie, too? “Why? Why do you want me?”