She stretched, and through the layers of clothing, she felt his body tighten. She loved that he desired her so unstintingly. “Oh, yes, I am at that.”
“You’re also wearing far too many clothes.”
“That’s something I can fix.”
Her fingers slipped to his mouth. Almost reverently, she traced the sharply cut upper lip, dipping down in the center, lingering at the corners. She gently pressed on the full lower lip.
His mouth hinted at so much. His surprisingly ascetic streak, the intelligence, the perception, the stubbornness, the determination. The rapture of his passion.
He parted his lips and sucked her middle finger into his mouth. She shivered as hot wetness surrounded her flesh. He flicked the tip with his tongue, and voluptuous pleasure flooded her.
“So?” she asked in a shaky voice.
He rolled onto his side, watching her. His glinting eyes made her feel more desirable than any courtesan. He drew her finger from his mouth.
“So?”
“I thought I was to torture you tonight,” she said huskily.
“It’s more fun if we torture each other.” He slid a pin from her hair. With a concentration that made her belly tighten, he smoothed the fallen lock. “You have beautiful hair.”
“Flatter
y will get you everywhere.”
“I plan to explore everywhere. That’s why I shaved.”
She muffled a snort of laughter. “I have a better idea.”
His attention shifted from her hair to her face. “Now I’m interested.”
She sucked in a nervous breath and summoned her courage. “Why don’t I seduce you?”
Chapter Sixteen
That should take you about five seconds. Including the four seconds I need to shove up your skirts.”
Ashcroft stroked Diana’s hair with a visible pleasure that made her shake with desire. And something else that cut deeper than desire, something she couldn’t let herself acknowledge.
She leaned over him and insinuated one hand behind his strong neck. “You know, I didn’t arrive on your doorstep without serious preparation. Before I came to London, I read some interesting books.”
“Did you indeed?” A spark of curiosity lit his eyes to jade although the unloved little boy still lurked like a ghost in his gaze. That solitary child made her want to cry.
She’d been so tragically, wickedly wrong about Ashcroft. His life hadn’t been easy and shallow, although for the sake of his pride, he strove to give that impression. No wonder he was so ready to defend the defenseless in Parliament.
“Oh, yes. But my knowledge is theoretical. I’d like to develop practical skills, test my researches in the real world.”
His expression softened and became alluringly sensual. His beautiful mouth quirked in a way that made her yearning heart slam against her ribs. “Heaven forbid I hinder your education.”
“I thought you’d see it that way.” Diana struggled to adopt his light tone. It was difficult when she burned to wrap her arms around him, rail at his thoughtless, uncaring family, make up for every slight he’d suffered.
“So you intend to push me around.”
“Only in directions you’ll enjoy.”
She longed to do something just for him, something that didn’t advance her ambitions, a gift freely granted to a man who gave her so much and whom she betrayed so egregiously.
He lay back, that smile still teasing his lips, and studied her. She slid off the wide bed and rounded the elaborately carved base. His gaze, brilliant with interest, followed her every movement.