Page 21 of When a Lady Desires a Wicked Lord
She offered no resistance as he pulled her to him. She was warm and pliant in his arms, and she melted against him, the soft curves of her body pressed and molded to his. Desire surged through him. God above, how many nights had he endured without the feel of her in his arms?
Cursing himself for a fool, he tipped her head back.
And he kissed her.
Chapter Six
Savoring the taste of her mouth, Benedict held her close. Drinking in her scent. The feel of her body. Her arms looped around the back of his neck, her fingers lightly ruffling his hair, her nails lightly grazing his scalp. She was like a fine whisky, intoxicating him with a bold, heady warmth.
Until the moment she ended the kiss. The heels of her hands slammed into his shoulders, and she retreated, the single step taking her out of his hold.
She pinned him with her amber gaze. With a flick of her hand, she swept her long, wavy hair over one shoulder. The slightest of smiles curved her lips, tempting, plump, and freshly kissed. Damnation, he needed to savor that delicious, rosy satin mouth again.
“Most impressive,LordMarlsbrook.”
Amazing, how she’d infused his name with such an icy edge, it seemed a cutting epithet.
He met her dagger-filled eyes. “Impressing you was not my intention.”
“Then what would possess you to take such a liberty—a liberty you no longer deserve? Am I to believe you were overtaken by a sudden, irresistible passion?” Her hands went to her hips. “Come now, Benedict. I know you better than that.”
So, she questioned his motives. Her skepticism did not surprise him. She’d never been one to take an action at face value. Rather, she sought to understand the nuances of a gesture, the true meaning of a touch, a smile, or a whispered promise.
The kiss had been spontaneous, entirely uncalculated on his part—God only knew it had been anything but an element in a well-thought-out plan. The craving for even a shred of intimate contact with Alexandra had overtaken his good sense.
Well, then, there was no point correcting her mistaken assumption. He’d given in to pure instinct, but it was for the best that she did not know the truth. Strained civility suited his purposes far better than passion.
“Carpe diem.” He infused his words with an unfeeling casualness. Blasted shame that wasn’t the truth. What lay ahead of them would be far easier if he didn’t give a damn about anyone. Especially Alexandra.
“Seize the day. Or evening, I suppose. How very typical—you were always quick to action, regardless of the consequences.” Her throat tightened, as if she’d swallowed against an unspoken emotion. “In any case, if you thought a kiss—of all things—would entice me to join you, I’m afraid you were mistaken.”
“You wound me,” he said blandly. “A man does have his pride, after all.”
“Your pride will survive any damage I might inflict.” Her full mouth thinned, not quite a smile. “I do wish to thank you for your assistance tonight. For that, you will always have my gratitude.”
“Gratitude will not keep either of us alive.”
She reached out to him, clasping his hands in her long, slim fingers. She held the gentle contact. Could she sense the awareness coursing through him at the simple press of her skin against his?
“Rooney will soon be on his way to prison,” she said with quiet confidence. “Colton and his associates will ensure he remains powerless to do further harm.”
Benedict slowly shook his head. “Trust me when I tell you that common ruffian does not represent the worst of the threat against us.”
“It’s not as if London is crawling with tomb raiders and bandits,” she lightly scoffed. “And do not forget—my brother-in-law specializes in bringing very bad men to justice. I am confident Colton will see to my well-being.”
“This situation is beyond his area of expertise.”
“The Colton Agency is highly valued in Her Majesty’s service. I’ve no doubt one of their operatives will be up to the task.”
“The agent won’t know what he’s up against. These are not ordinary criminals.” Benedict’s mind raced, searching for some way to convince her to put her trust in him. She did not realize the gravity of the danger she faced. “Consider this carefully—I will not be here the next time a man like Rooney comes to call. I would not seek your assistance if I saw an alternative. Trust me, Alexandra. This time, I will not let you down.”
…
Alex entered her bedchamber. Each motion slow and deliberate, as if she were trapped in a dream she never wanted to come to life, she closed the door behind her. How was it that her reality—her very life—had changed in a matter of minutes? From the moment the brute named Rooney had invaded her study, the quiet existence she’d known had shattered. Deep within, she sensed nothing would ever be the same.
Benedict had shown considerable courage in defending her. But in the grand scheme of things, that had changed little. He was not lying. She was sure of that. He believed the danger he’d spoken of to be quite real. But that did not mean an ulterior motive did not influence his actions. There was something he hadn’t told her—some concealed reason why he’d seek a map she’d neither seen nor heard mention of until Rooney had uttered his harsh demand.
She glanced down at her hand. Odd, how her fingers trembled, when they hadn’t so much as twitched during the commotion. But now that the immediate danger had passed, and she’d locked herself behind a sturdy door in a house watched over by two highly skilled agents, the fear she hadn’t allowed herself to show made its appearance.
