Page 59 of The Secret of Flirting
The idea ofbeingat his mercy shot a thrill through her. Cursing herself for wearing so many clothes, she arched her neck to give him better access to her naked throat.
“Then you are a better actor than I,” she murmured as he licked the pulse beating wildly there. “I could not tell that you wanted me so.”
“Couldn’t you? I suppose not. I was too caught up in my—”
“Self-importance?” she quipped.
He drew back with a scowl. “Is that what you thought? Because it’s not true. I was merely irritated that Hart was there, that you seemed to fancy him over me.” He nuzzled her throat. “You didn’t, did you?”
That hint of uncertainty surprised her. “He was nothing compared to you,” she admitted. When a self-satisfied smile crossed his face, she added, “Although Iwasirritated that you disapproved of my art.”
“I could tell. The truth is, I was merely annoyed with myself for falling under your spell like all your other admirers. For desiring you as badly as the rest of them.” His voice hardened, and he began to unbutton her front-opening bodice. “The way I desire you now, to distraction.”
The admission warmed her down deep. “You can have me, if you wish.”
He paused to stare at her with the unreadable expression of the diplomat. “This is not... just gratitude, is it?” Vulnerability crept into his features. “Because if so, I couldn’t bear that.”
She vacillated between protecting herself and confessing the truth. The truth won out. “No.” She tongued his throat, the light scruff of beard there reminding her that he was a real man, not like the sycophants who surrounded her in the theater. “It isn’t merely gratitude.”
Apparently that was all he needed to hear, for with a groan, he got her gown open somehow and fell upon her breasts, sucking and teasing and driving her out of her mind.
Meanwhile, his hands roamed down to drag up her skirts and burrow through her petticoats until he discovered the opening in her drawers. “My sweet princess...” he murmured as he delved inside her curls with his clever fingers. “My darling girl—”
“Not a girl,” she corrected him, “and not a princess.”
“Butmine,” he said. “At least for now.”
Those last words were a taunt she had to return. “Yes, Gregory. As you are mine... for now.”
If he realized it was a taunt, he didn’t show it. Instead, he took her mouth again as he drove two fingers inside her, tantalizing her, arousing her. At the same time, he thumbed the part of her that throbbed and ached for him, and her blood rushed through her veins... and lower.
It was so intense she nipped his lip.
He drew back with a chuckle. “The actress has claws.”
“Teeth,” she muttered, and shifted atop his growing arousal. “Though I can show you my claws if you wish.”
“Go ahead.” He resumed his caresses with relentless intent. “I don’t mind being scratched if it means having you.”
She couldn’t imagine any other man saying that to her. It turned her to mush, made her desire him even more. With him, she didn’t have to be the princess or the sophisticated Mademoiselle Servais. He seemed to actually like the woman who hid her softness beneath her prickly remarks. With him, she could be herself.
“Gregory...” she whispered on a breath, which was all it took to have him plundering her with his hand below while his mouth plundered her breasts above.
Oh.Mon Dieu!She began to see why Grand-maman and Maman had thrown away everything for a man. Clearly Monique had their reckless blood running rampant through her veins, because the way he was caressing her made her want to tear her clothes off and let him do as he wished with her body.
“My sweet Monique,” he said as he fondled her. “You’re so... wet for me.”
She squirmed against his hardenedverge. “And you’re so... firm for me.”
“You have no idea,” he growled. “I’ve been ‘firm’ for you since the day I met you. I’ve thought of you often since then.”
Drawing back to stare at him, she said, “Truly?”
His eyes had the heavy-lidded gaze of a man aroused, and he thrust up against her bottom as if to confirm it. “Do you doubt me?”
Her throat went dry. “No.”
“Good.” He shifted her off his lap and onto the chaise longue so she was reclining on it while he hovered over her. “Because I can think of nothing but tasting you and taking you. Here. Now.”
