She looked at him calmly. “Fuck,” she said.
He laughed softly. “I wasn’t aware that you even knew that word, my darling. ”
“I spent time in the stables. ”
“And exactly which positions did you prefer?”
He could see the momentary blankness in her eyes, and he hid his smile. “Er…anything he fancied. I was very amenable. ”
“I’m most certain you were,” he said in a soothing voice. “And who after him? The assembled court of King Louis?”
Her warm brown eyes could glare at him, but they could never grow as cold as he knew his could. “You don’t believe me?” she demanded, clearly affronted.
“Oh, I imagine there’s a grain of truth in your intricate tales. You most likely had a crush on your sister’s music tutor, perhaps shared a kiss or two. As for duClos, he quite adamantly prefers the company of men. ”
Author: Anne Stuart
“So you persist in thinking I’m a virgin?”
“Oh, I know you are not, my sweet. You simply are lying to me about how you lost that particularly useless bit of your anatomy. ”
“What exactly is it you want, my lord? Why don’t we simply stop this charade, you tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you. ”
“But where’s the fun in that, poppet?”
She bit her lip again, and he couldn’t stand it anymore. “Don’t do that,” he said sharply, putting his fingertips on her lower lip to stop her.
She bit him. On purpose. He should have pulled his hand away, but he didn’t.
She had very strong white teeth and she bit down hard. He didn’t move.
“Child,” he said in a deceptively weary voice, “if I didn’t still retain a tiny, unwanted shred of decency I would shove you back on this chaise, push your skirts above your head and take you here, immediately, ignoring your struggles. Didn’t your oh-so-many lovers teach you that biting is highly erotic?”
She immediately released him. He smiled at her quite pleasantly. “Please go away, Monsieur le Comte,” she said in a polite voice. “You must have tired of your absurd, inconsequential games by now. ”
“My games are never inconsequential, as long as they entertain me. ”
She closed her eyes in frustration for a brief moment. “This house is filled with beautiful women…” she began.
“Oh, not quite filled,” he said frankly, leaning back. “The Revels won’t start for another day. At this point there are no more than half a dozen beauties in residence. ”
“Then why don’t you go bother one of them?” she said in a tart voice.
“Because I don’t want one of them, my sweet. I want you. ”
She made a low noise that was deliciously close to a snarl. “No, you do not. ”
He still had possession of her hand. Before she had any idea what he planned he picked it up and placed it on his lamentably hard cock. She tried to yank it away, but he bore her hand down, giving her no choice.
“That’s not the member of a man who doesn’t want you, pet. ”
For a moment she ceased her struggles, and her eyes met his. It was a moment of rare intimacy, something he usually avoided. It was part of the piquant danger of her, and she froze, staring at him, her breath coming in short, rapid pants.
“Hold very still,” he said in a soft voice.
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because I am going to kiss you, just once, and then I’ll leave you be for…oh, perhaps a few hours. If you move around too much I might be inspired to move beyond a simple kiss, and that—”