Page 15 of The Winter Rogue
Before she could further act the fool, she turned and fled the room.She raced upstairs to her bedchamber as though the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.Perhaps they were, because she'd just kissed her childhood nemesis and first love.Again!What was she thinking?
Worse—what was he thinking?
Chapter Eight
Drewwokeupthenext morning entirely conflicted.He was still greatly frustrated, despite stroking his cock to memories of Charlie pressed against him in the music room.The little hellion had played horrid music all morning—enough to test a saint's patience—but he'd been so bloody aroused when she'd stood once again in those fucking trousers, all her luscious curves on display.
He'd lost his mind and kissed her again.She hadn’t helped, melting into him, pressing herself against him.
With nothing but those trousers on, he had felt every delicious curve.It had made him crazy with desire.Thank God Polly walked in when she did, or he might have taken Charlie right there on the music room floor.Or perhaps bent over the sofa…
Regardless of the need that still simmered in his veins, Drew wanted retribution: for another sleepless night and the hours of pain yesterday, both from her music and from their kiss.She would find he could give as good as he got.Dressing swiftly, he headed to breakfast early to ensure he could follow through on his plan.
Drew arrived to find an empty morning room.A few minutes passed before Polly appeared with breakfast.As she laid out the fare on the sideboard, she seemed to want to say something to him, but was attempting to bite her tongue—which was saying something for his forthright housekeeper.
“Say whatever it is you wish to say.”He could only suppose it was going to be about his kiss with Charlie from yesterday.
She huffed before turning.“Fine.I would not normally say anything but Drew, you know better than to toy with that woman.She is not one of your dockside women who romps about freely.She is alady.”
He snorted.“Well, she has a title, at any rate.But I am well aware of who and what she is.What happened in the music room yesterday won't happen again.”It can’t.
She eyed him, clearly not fully believing him.“Fine.Then I'll say no more.”
Drew couldn't help but smile at the mother hen of a woman.“Thank you, Polly.”
She gave a soft harrumph and left the room.
Drew rose and helped himself to a heaping plate of food then proceeded to salt the remaining eggs and porridge liberally.He felt no guilt; he knew Polly would feed his guest later, after his point was made.He sat down and tucked himself into his plate and had taken a few bites when Charlie appeared.
She sailed into the room wearing the navy blue gown she'd had on when she first arrived on his doorstep.It was simple, obviously clean—and thank the heavens, it was not trousers.“Good morning, Drew.”
“Good morning.”He decided to try to be amiable as he waited for her to step into his trap.
Charlene took a stuttering step at his pleasant greeting, but kept moving to the sideboard.She proceeded to help herself to the eggs, porridge, and a few slices of bacon.After she sat down she offered him a winsome smile.“I hope you slept well.”
“I slept well, thank you.And yourself?”
She was making such an effort to be pleasant it caused guilt to niggle at Drew’s conscience—but she needed to understand that her antics would not go unpunished.That while he was not cruel, he was not weak.
She took the first bite of her eggs and choked.Then she chewed and swallowed as her face scrunched up in the most adorable way.“I- I slept fine.”
“Is everything all right?”Drew asked mildly as he took another forkful of his eggs and swallowed.She watched him closely.He chewed and swallowed.
Charlene’s eyes narrowed and took another tentative bite of her eggs.As the salt hit her palette, she made the same face as before and quickly swallowed.She pulled her porridge closer and turned her attention there, casting a glance his way.“Everything is fine, thank you.”
“Good.Do you have any idea what you might wish to do today?”Drew asked as she scooped up a spoon-full of porridge.
“What I wish to do?”Charlene took the bite and nearly spit the food back out.
Drew coughed into his napkin to hide his amusement before clearing his throat and nodding.“Yes, I wanted to know what you planned to do today.”
She pushed the porridge away and eyed the bacon warily, looking at him as she pressed her lips together.“I was planning to find a book to read as I curl up by the fire after I checked on John again.”
“Well, my library is at your disposal.”He ate a rasher of bacon as she watched him covetously.
Taking a piece off her plate, Charlene took a small nibble.When it tasted as it should, she hungrily chewed through the rasher and another.
A knock sounded at the door of the morning room.
