Page 47 of Heart of Iron
The bold statement drew a hiss from him.For a moment she was wondering if he pictured it.The way she was.The thought sent a thrill through her.
“It’s not generally spoken of,” Lena continued, “but as well as lessons in etiquette and sewing and music, a young woman is often…given hints…in how to please a man, should she decide to offer him her flesh rights.”
Not that she’d learned much before her father was murdered and she was dragged to Whitechapel.But he didn’t need to know that.
His eyes narrowed.“I’m fairly sure you shouldn’t be speakin’ o’ this with a man who ain’t your patron.”
“True.”Another shrug, displaying the smooth creamy skin of her shoulder.“I’m just teasing.”
“More games,” he said in disgust.Hands clasped behind him, he paced the small rug in front of her.“Perhaps you need a lesson in what a man’d do in my world, were a women so bold with him.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”It was a statement, not a challenge.She knew how far she could push him.Knew he’d back away the moment she turned the game sexual.
Will turned around.Met her gaze.“Wouldn’t I?”
He leaned forward, resting his knuckles on either side of her hips.One knee pressed between her legs, parting her thighs and pinning her skirts.Lena froze as he reached out and captured a lock of the dark hair that tumbled over her shoulder.“All these games you play… I wonder what you’d do if I played ’em back?”
Excitement raced through her veins.He’d never flirted back before.“Don’t tell me I’m getting under your skin?”she whispered.
“On me nerves, more like it.”His fingers gently rubbed her hair.Then sank into the pile of curls prettily knotted at the base of her nape.It drew a gasp from her lips as he tilted her face toward his.Their breath mingled.Uncomfortably close.
And Lena was aware that she was pinned, trapped neatly beneath him.Catching a handful of his shirt, she stared up at him.His gaze was hard, almost cruel.Suddenly she didn’t like this game anymore.
“Let me go,” she whispered.
“Why?Ain’t this what you want?Me hands on your body?Ain’t that what you been playin’ at this last hour?Or have I pushed the boundaries?Either say what you mean, Lena.Or I’ll take this little game of yours where you don’t mean to take it.”
One word.Yes.One word and he’d do it.But as she met the steely look in those extraordinary eyes, she realized he wasn’t playing.When had this become more than a game?More than a light flirtation?
I’ll stake a hundred pounds that you’re wrong, Adele’s voice whispered in her head.Thathe’ll kiss you next time.
Yes?Or no?Lena’s heart hammered in her chest.She’d kissed him once.A game, nothing more.But his message now was very clear.Will wouldn’t stand for any more games.And a part of her was afraid to play for real.
She wasn’t that brave.Because if it meant nothing to him, if he used her and then discarded her without a care, she suddenly realized that it wouldmatter.To her.
“No,” she whispered.
Will’s gaze shuttered.“No more of this then.I’ve had enough games.Enough of these lessons for the day.Most of it’s useless anyway.”He let her go and straightened.
That drew her ire.She still felt shaky, surreal.As if the world had turned on its axis and she couldn’t quite keep up.“It’s not useless.I’m trying to help you, yet you don’t give a damn about anything I’m saying.”
“The Echelon ain’t gonna accept me anyway.They want a beast, and I’ll give ’em one.”A derisive look as he unrolled his sleeves.
Lena struggled to sit up.Her skirts were awry.So too her emotions.Will had taken their little game and turned it on its head.He’d never dared respond before.Years of pricking at him, needling him whilst he ignored her… She’d thought that was the worst he could do—to pretend she didn’t exist—but it wasn’t.The worst thing he could do was play back, to utterly destroy her defenses and then stand here unrolling his sleeves as though the moment hadn’t bothered him half as much as her.
“Then there’s no point to these lessons,” she found herself saying.Amazing how her voice barely trembled.
Will froze, halfway through one sleeve.
“No point,” she whispered, “and therefore no reason for you to continue coming here.Or escorting me in society.”
She could see the thought churning in his eyes.“No,” he said gruffly.“No.I’ll continue with it.”
“Why should I waste my time?”She managed to gather herself to her feet, resettling her skirts and smoothing her bodice.A swift glance in the mirror showed her hair tumbling free of its pins.She fixed them ruthlessly, feeling his eyes on her.
Her skin pricked.Damn him.
“You won’t listen to anything I say, you deride all of the rules of society and mock my efforts,” she continued, trying to ignore the feeling.Her skin still felt too small, itchy.“Do you know the worst thing, Will?The worst thing is that they see you as a beast and you let them.”She turned then, met his gaze.“You do everything in your power to live up to the image, the reputation, and then you scorn them for sneering down at you.”
