Page 33 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
“Come on, Sophie,” her father called back to her. “I have so many questions to ask.”
“I will catch up with you,” she replied. “I just want to take a look at this map here.”
Her family were far too distracted to really pay too much attention, which allowed Sophie a moment to stay with the map. To really take a look at the contours on each piece of land. She ran her fingers lightly along the outline of Africa, wondering what it would be like to visit such a place. She had only read about these other countries before, so they only took place in her imagination…
“The captain really does read well!”
Sophie jumped as George spoke out. She thought that she was down here alone.
“Oh yes, the books look wonderful,” she replied with a smile. “He must have had a lot of adventures on this boat. A little like the adventures I am about to read about in the book you have given me.”
Their eyes locked in for a moment, and they shared a sweet smile. In that moment, Sophie became acutely aware that they had been left alone for just a moment. If she was ever going to ask all the questions that she had floating in her mind, it was now. He would likely be far more honest with her if it was just the pair of them.
“I would like to ask you something.” She edged a little closer to him in the hope that she could speak in a hushed enough tone that they would not be overheard. “About the rumors I have heard about you.”
Immediately George’s face fell, and disappointment danced over his eyes. “Rumors?”
“About gambling debts and family ruin. Is that why you left for Sweden in the first place?”
She hated asking this. It did not make her feel good at all, but she needed to be certain. She had to know one way or another, even if it was a little terrifying to even state this.
“The rumors that have been spread about me are utterly false,” he declared with such sincerity that she immediately felt terrible for even seeming like she did not trust him. “I am not sure why they have been spread about me and why my brother started it all. I learned from a very young age that once the ton have decided something about you, they will not let it go, and so did he. Which is why I am unsure of his motives to always make me look bad. I did not leave because of debts. I left for adventure and for a new life in a country.”
“I see.” She nodded slowly. “Well, I might not have the same experience as you with English culture, because I did not grow up in it, but I can see what you mean. Reputation is everything in London, and once it is ruined it does not seem easy to regain it. I can see why you might have wanted to escape that.”
George stepped a little closer to her.
She could almost feel the heat and intense energy burning off him in waves. It sent a trickle of desire down her spine, one that she wanted to embrace because it felt wonderful.
“Lady Dashwood, you are my only friend in London, aside from Sebastian.”
His breaths seemed as labored as hers.
Sophie’s head began to spin with a heady dizzy lust.
“You do recall that I offered youanythingin exchange for saving my life. Why did you not ask for more?”
George did not say a word.
Instead, he stepped closer to her and lightly brushed her cheek with his fingers. Her whole face seemed to light up, tingling with a thrill that she could hardly fathom. As their eyes locked in on one another again, everything seemed to stop for Sophie. The world stopped spinning and everyone else vanished into nothingness. It was only herself and him in this wonderful, exciting moment.
He cocked his head to one side, and Sophie became utterly convinced that he was about to kiss her.
Her eyes hooded, she rose up on to her tip toes, more than willing for this man to claim her mouth with his own.
It honestly felt like it was almost going to happen, that this was inevitable, and she could not wait.
She wanted to taste him, to feel his mouth, to know how far this intense desire could go.
But before their lips could actually connect, the air whipped out of her lungs. A coldness overcame her as George vanished. One second, he was close to her, about to kiss her, and the next he had stepped back.
Gone, and she had no idea why.
As her eyes snapped open fully and she spotted George, she could see that he was shrouded by guilt. He knew what was about to happen, and he liked it too, she could tell. But he halted it. For reasons she could not understand, he had put an end to it.
“I think we should go up on deck,” he said, sounding a little detached now. “See your family before they wonder why we are missing.”
“Yes, of course.” She swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, I think you are right.”
