“I’ve always been told that only... lewd women enjoy such things.” Her voice was tentative, uncertain. “Am I a lewd woman, do you think?”
Her soft admission broke him. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her away, leading her blindly toward a small storage room a dozen feet away. Once they were inside, he shut the door and gazed down at her, her face just visible in a shaft of light visible from a window far above.
“You are not a lewd woman,” he told her fiercely. “You are a beautiful, vibrant, curious woman. It’s not a sin to feel desire.”
“I desire you,” she said thickly. “I always have, Quinn. Since the first time we met.”
The sexual attraction that he’d always thought had been one-sided roared between them, and he was helpless to deny it. Wrapping his arms around her, he crushed her against him and then lowered his lips to hers.
She gasped and surged against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and standing on her tiptoes, offering her mouth to him without any reservations. He kissed her gently at first but then deeper, letting his tongue dance with hers.
The entire world fell away, and they became lost in each other. He’d kissed many women before, but it had never felt like this. Allison melded against him like she was part of him, like she was home...
The thought finally made him tear himself away. “Bloody hell,” he swore, backing away, the enormity of what he’d done crashing over him. He’d allowed an earl’s daughter to watch a live sex act. He’d kissed her in a broom closet like she was a trollop. If he was of her class, he’d have to marry her.
Because he was not, her brother would probably kill him.
“Don’t say you’re sorry,” she cried, obviously seeing something of what he was feeling cross his face. “I wanted you to kiss me, Quinn. I’m glad we did it.”
He sank back against the wall, his breathing ragged. “I’m glad we did, too,” he admitted. “But it can’t happen again, Princess. I’m not the man for you.”
She straightened her shoulders, standing as tall as her barely five-foot frame would allow. “That’s not for you, or anyone else, to say. I will decide on my own who will give me pleasure, thank you very much.”
Her words surprised a pained laugh from him. “I like a woman who knows what she wants.”
She stepped toward him again, a glimmer of pure mischief in her eyes, and he held up a hand. “Have mercy, Allison. I’m hanging by a thread here. I need you to leave so I can do my job.”
She bit her lip, then slowly nodded. “All right, Quinn. I enjoyed this immensely.”
He could only shake his head in disbelief as she squared her shoulders and left the warehouse. He followed her out, watching until she climbed up in a hired hack with her maid and footman. He gave a low moan of frustration, giving up on the idea of talking to Delaney for now. He was not in the right mind to even think of conducting a thorough interrogation at the moment.
Perhaps the best thing he could do for himself and the whole neighborhood was go home and get some sleep.