Part 21 (1/2)
She shrugged. ”They're not bruises; it will be back to normal in a moment. Had you held me too tightly, I would have said something. I'm not shy, you know.”
For some reason, that almost made him smile. ”No, you're not shy. Far from it, d.a.m.n you.” He found himself wis.h.i.+ng he hadn't released her, but had pulled her into his arms instead. Now that he'd released her, he felt oddly bereft. G.o.d, what a mull. ”I saw your blasted battledore match.”
Her gaze flew to his. ”You were there?”
”Yes.”
Pink stained her cheeks. ”And?”
”It was magnificent.”
Her plump lips curved. ”Thank you. My sisters have trained me well.”
”I'm sorry I lost my temper, although I'm not happy with what you've done. I was unprepared to discover the nature of your wager.”
”I stupidly hoped you wouldn't even hear about it. Then it very quickly grew into a public matter and I knew-” She wet her lips nervously. ”As I said, I'm sorry for that part of it. It was supposed to be a far more private matter.”
He found himself staring at her lush mouth as a pang of pure, hot desire flashed through to his core. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, my pa.s.sions are surface high today.
”However, since we are here, there is one thing I wish to know.” She slanted him a look from under her lashes. ”It's rather personal, though.”
He shrugged. ”I've no secrets, especially after your little wager.”
”Do you think of her often?”
”Think of who?”
”Your wife.”
The suddenness of the question almost floored him. Why does that matter? ”Not as often now, no.”
”But you loved her.”
”Yes, but that was long ago and I was someone quite different then.” He raked a hand through his hair, trying to pull his wayward thoughts from her lips and back to her words. ”Dahlia, why are you asking about Elspeth?”
”I didn't play that game out of pity for you, but in your honor. I played it because I know you are a good person, no matter how rude you might be. But even I must admit that you sometimes refuse to follow the dictates of society, as if you're angry with everyone.”
”And you think that's because of the death of my wife?”
”Yes.”
”Perhaps it's something simpler-a refusal to bend my knee to a society that doesn't accept me as I am now, scarred and 'maimed.' I'm not in mourning, Dahlia. I haven't been for a long, long time. Nor am I flattered you don't think me capable of dealing with n.o.bodies like Lady Mary and Miss Stewart.”
”They're not n.o.bodies. People listen to them.”
”Do you?”
”No.”
”Then no one I care about will pay heed to a word they say.”
She flushed, but quickly rallied, a light in her eyes. ”If you don't care, then you should. You are looking for a wife, aren't you? Whoever that is might care a great deal about what is said about you.”
She had him there, and for a moment, he couldn't think of a response.
Dahlia smiled. ”I'm right, aren't I? Admit it.”
He had to fight not to return that smile. There was something about her-perhaps the intelligence in her fine gray-blue eyes, or the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose, or the pert way she tilted her head to one side when she looked at him, as if she were focused on him and no one else. Her cheeky twinkle was d.a.m.nably taking, and he had to fight to remember why he was upset. ”Don't pretend you thought about that when you made this ridiculous wager. Somehow, forcing these two women to be polite to me stroked your vanity.”
”I will admit to feeling a certain satisfaction when I triumphed, yes.”
”That is why you made the wager, not because of me.”
”Certainly not because of any pity you seem to mistakenly believe I felt.”
”You, madam, are trouble. You need a keeper. Someone who will monitor those high spirits of yours and keep them in check.”
”My spirits don't need checking, nor do I need a keeper.” Dahlia looked at him through her lashes, noting that he looked less angry now, but far more perplexed. ”I wouldn't mind having a partner, though.”
”A partner in crime?”
”Among other things, yes.” Something glimmered in his dark eyes.
She met his gaze evenly. ”The wager was made to soothe my pride. I've known you longer than anyone here, and I will not tolerate fools who would mock one of my friends.”
”You made an error with this challenge.”
”I know. I lost my temper. It won't happen again.”
”That's not enough. Before we leave this room, you will admit you are not my keeper. Nor my champion.”
”No? Then just what am I?” The heat of his gaze sent a tremor of awareness through her and suddenly, she wished they weren't standing two steps apart.
”This is what you are.” He reached out and pulled her back into his arms and kissed her.
The kiss made their previous ones look meek. Those kisses had explored and surprised, but this kiss raged; it devoured and consumed. It took everything she had and gave her more than she could withstand. He molded her to him, holding her against him so that she felt the hard plane of his chest, the ripple of his muscles as lifted her from her feet. His hands never stopped roaming over her, exploring her curves and waist, finding the fullness of her bottom.
She wiggled against him, holding him closer, accepting and giving at the same time as he plundered her mouth over and over- ”Where are they?” came the d.u.c.h.ess's voice from the hallway.
Dahlia broke the kiss, her gaze locked with Kirk's. Pa.s.sion had darkened his eyes, his lips damp from their kiss. The air about them s.h.i.+mmered with unspoken pa.s.sion.
”We can't leave them alone; there will be a scandal! Someone must find them.”