Page 6 of A Lady of Means
“Tell me your name.My Lady.” The last two words grabbed hold of something inside her, so possessive and hopeful.His knee grazed hers, his body so improperly close to hers that there was very little space between their two bodies not touching.
“How about a friendly wager?”
He raised a brow in answer.
“Try to guess my name in three guesses.I bet you’ll never guess it.”
He laughed a laugh that warmed her from her scalp to her toenails.“And if I succeed, do I get all the gold in the kingdom… or to keep my first born,Rumpelstiltskin?”
She giggled.She actuallygiggled.Who was she?“I can’t promise that.Is there something you’d like instead?”
His hand grazed hers, and though it caused a jolt of awareness to prickle across her skin, she didn't pull back.His fingers played with hers, wrapping around each in turn.She noticed that a few of his fingers bore tattoos, another one peeking out from his sleeve at his wrist.Where were his gloves?Actually?Never mind, hiding such hands would be criminal.They were the kind of hands that painted seductive images in her mind.
“I’d like to know what your lips taste like.”
Her eyebrows shot up.For all herennuiwith being courted and desired, this was unexpected.But now that he had said the words aloud, she realized she wanted that too.Right here in this enveloping sheet of green that blocked out the sun.
“You want to kiss me?Here?”
“There are no better places that spring to mind,Lady Elizabeth.”
Of this they were in agreement, but she didn’t convey as much.She laughed.“You used up your first guess… onElizabeth?”
“It was worth a try, I suppose.”The pad of his thumb traced her cheek.“You have the most beautiful skin.It’s like silk.”
The feel of his scarred and inked fingers upon her skin caused a riot of emotion stampeding within her, but Moria never let her mask slip if she could help it.She pulled her cloak about her tighter and adhered to what she knew: iciness.
“You have two guesses left.”
“Youcouldhelp me out a little…perhaps you could give me the first letter?”His finger traced her lower lip.She briefly closed her eyes at the soft ferocity of his touch and fought to find her bearings.
“That would be far too simple, don’t you think?”
“What do you mean, my lady?”
“What is a victory without effort?”She eyed his red coat, “Would you not agree, captain?”
“It’s Charity.”
“What?”
“Your name, my lady.Weren’t you speaking in riddles?”
She stared into those dark eyes that stared right back, into her, through her.He was someone she wasn’t scared to let know her.
“Well played.But I’m afraid not.”She shook her head, underscoring her point.
“Hang on.How am I to know you’ll tell me if I do get it right and you won’t just tell me I have gotten it wrong even if I haven’t?”
She looked at him defiantly.“I am a lady of quality, and honor bound to tell the truth.”
He let out a small laugh.“But on the other hand, are you not also honor bound to protect your reputation?”
She wanted to throw caution straight into the wind, into the fire if need be, and saydamn her reputation.The sound of his laugh incited a very visceral reaction from her more intimate and neglected places, including her heart.
But she merely touched his arm playfully and said: “While that may be true…I would be lying if I said that I didn’t want you to kiss me.”
He looked down at her lips, so fiercely and tenderly that when he looked away after several heartbeats, she almost believed he had actually kissed her.His fingers traced the edge of her collar, gently tugging at her cloak, and the pad of his finger caught the pendant from where it had lain against the floral muslin neckline of her dress, covering her heart like a promise.
