Page 37 of Untaming Lady Violet
With a heavy sigh, he laid the sketch pad aside and leaned forward, trailing a finger over her cheek.
“If I painted you this way, just like this, I would name it ‘A Feast of Violets’. Do you know why?”
Violet shook her head, afraid to look away from the intensity of his stare, hypnotized by the dark, craven need she glimpsed inside him. Was that for her? Did the Viscount Longleigh really desire her? Or was she a convenient substitute for the woman he’d loved and lost to his closest friend?
“Because I would devour you. Completely. Unequivocally. Every piece of you, every morsel would belong to me.”
His finger left her cheek, traveling down the column of her neck to the line of her collarbone. With deceptive gentleness, he traced the fine bone.
“All of this beauty would be mine.” His hand moved lower, passing over the swell of her breast then down her side to the indentation of her waist.
Violet sucked in a hard breath. “I would be no one’s.”
“Stated with such conviction.” He laughed, slowly sweeping a hand over the lush curve of her hip. It was greatly exaggerated by her position, but when she attempted moving her leg, he immediately stopped her. “Stay as you are. I have not finished sketching.”
“I’m merely a test subject, Longleigh.” Her voice came out wobbly and unsure. Whatexactlywas she? Even she couldn’t say for certain.
“You are so much more than that.” Tristan’s head tilted while his hand crept along the vicinity of her ankles and breached an unspoken boundary zone. “I’d say you are the epitome of a muse, my prickly little Violet.” A finger trailed higher, tracing the anatomy of a kneecap, burning her flesh and bone through the flimsy silk stocking.
Moving behind her, Tristan picked something up. There was a faint metallic ring as he tapped it against the table.
It was the palette knife he’d held earlier. Violet swallowed hard, wondering what in the world he might do.
While still leisurely exploring beneath her skirts, Tristan used the instrument to count the carved ivory rosebuds marching in a delicate line from the nape of her neck to her waist. He flicked each button as if in contemplation of slicing them free. Violet shuddered at the thought of being naked before him.
Naked and at his mercy.
“Does this alarm you, kitten?”
Honesty would serve her best. “A little.”
His hand slowed in stroking the back of her knee, and Violet was glad she could not see his countenance. Would there be pity in his eyes? Contempt for her lack of sophistication? He probably played these sorts of games with every silly woman who chased him.
Poor, shy Violet. So frightened of everything. Even the very person she wants more than anyone or anything in this world.
Clenching her teeth in a sudden burst of temper, she uttered very calmly, “I worry someone might see. We left the door open.”
Would Tristan snatch her up from the table, pat her on the head, and send her on her way? Her stomach actually clenched when his hand eased away from her leg. The palate knife pressed harder until she felt the dull, flat edge of the tool through the fabric of her dress.
The eddying coolness of air alerted her when Tristan stepped back. A quick glance over her shoulder revealed the viscount striding toward the open door. He toed it shut, an expression crossing his features one could only characterize as savage triumph.
Violet was truly worried then.
Because that look promised sinful pleasures beyond comprehension that both terrified and thrilled her.
Chapter 15
“Lie on your back.”
Tristan removed all the remaining items from the table, watching closely as Violet settled herself. A pool of sunlight drenched her, so she shouldn’t have been chilled, but a series of fine tremors shook her just the same.
The table was almost the size of a small bed; only her feet hung off the end. Not knowing what she should do with her arms, she crisscrossed them over her chest. Instead of looking at Tristan, she stared at the ceiling.
His chuckle immediately drew her gaze.
“Don’t worry, Violet. I’ve no intention of offering you up as a sacrifice.”
Violet smiled despite herself. “I imagine that would create quite a mess. And would be rather difficult explaining to your housekeeper.”
