Page 55 of Making of a Scandal
Diana touched her hand, and this time when their gazes met, Calliope saw only understanding and empathy in her sister’s eyes.
“Oh, Callie.”
The weight of those words nearly put a crack in her hardened exterior, and Calliope’s eyes began to sting.
“Diana, please. I can’t …”
Diana gave her fingers a squeeze and nodded. “I understand. We can speak of it more in private, just know … I love you and I want you to be happy. Perhaps Mr. Lewes isn’t what you want after all. I need you to understand it’s all right if that is the case.”
“That’s just it. It cannot be Dominick. There are so many reasons—”
Her words choked off when Diana’s hand tightened painfully around hers, and Calliope realized why when she glanced up. Dominick stood before them, the firelight adding a fiery gleam to his hair and darkening his eyes.
“Begging your pardon, Lady Hastings,” he said, though his gaze never strayed from Calliope. “I was hoping I might have a word with Miss Barrington.”
Diana gave Calliope a questioning look, which she answered with an affirmative nod. There could be no harm in a conversation when the room was filled with other people.
“Of course,” Diana said, forced cheer ringing in her voice. She vacated the place at Calliope’s side and went to stand behind Hastings, who was intent upon his card game.
Dominick took her sister’s place, his spicy scent filling her nostrils. Biting her lip, she jerked her gaze away from him.
“Callie.”
His breath tickled her ear and the side of her neck, making her tense and hold her breath.
“Dominick,” she replied, the words bit out between clenched teeth.
“I need to speak with you.”
“We are talking right now.”
“Alone. Tonight.”
She sucked in a sharp inhale when his little finger touched hers, then slowly caressed down the side of it. Her belly quivered, that liquid heat flaring to life in her middle. A slow pulsation began between her legs, in that wondrous place he had teased with his fingers the night of the ball. She remembered the feel of his thigh, hard and solid as she’d rocked against him, his lips at her ear and his words painting such a vivid picture.
Letting out a slow, shaky breath, she fought for composure. This was ridiculous. Surely the innocuous touch of his finger against hers shouldn’t be enough to cause such an intense reaction.
“Please, Dominick … not now.”
To her surprise, he smiled at her, and she found him utterly captivating. This was the grin she liked best; the one without scorn, derision, or sarcasm. The one she could envision the boy Nick giving his mother, or the young man fresh out of university flashing at a girl he was sweet on. It tore her defenses to shreds.
“You cannot hide from me forever. We are to inhabit the same house for fourteen days, and I will have my say. The longer you avoid me, the more creative I will become in finding ways to get you off alone.”
Her lips twitched with a smile that she didn’t dare let him see. How dare he try to charm her after spending the day allowing that odious woman to flirt with him!
“I should think you’ll have your hands full with Lady Thrush.”
He laughed again, and this time it was loud enough to ensure everyone in the room knew she’d just said something highly amusing. Her cheeks grew hot as he draped his arm on the back of the sofa, allowing the tip of his finger to fall against her nape. With no one the wiser, he drew slow circles on her skin, sending little tremors of delight down her spine.
“Surely you don’t think I’m interested. Nomortalwoman will do for me, goddess. Not after I’ve tasted the heady sweetness that is you.”
She shot to her feet, but he remained where she’d left him, staring up at her with eyes that gleamed with amusement and defiance. He was all but daring her to latch onto his bait.
Straightening her back and squaring her shoulders, she smoothed her expression into one that betrayed nothing.
“I’ll not risk my reputation traipsing about the house in the dead of night to meet you. If you wish to speak with me, you may do so tomorrow at an opportune time. Now, if you will excuse me …”
Calliope turned and crossed the room toward her great-aunts, both of whom were complaining of the late hour and the taxing afternoon spent in the company of others. She leaped at the chance to be free of the room and away from Dominick.
