Page 6 of Her Wicked Longing
“I fear that if you do not demand for me to step away, I will kiss you.” His voice was strained, his brown eyes rich and warm. Staring into them made her feel dizzy, and her body felt languid, as though she had lain beneath the summer sun in a bed of cool grass forhours.
“Kiss me?” The words escaped as a question, but James didn’t seem to consider themassuch.
“Hmmm, if you insist,” he murmured softly. An instant before their lips met, her eyes closed, and she melted against him when his mouth touched hers. He kissed like an angel, all fire and sweetness with a hint of wickedness where his tongue traced the seam of her lips. She jolted in surprise and her lips parted, allowing him to slip his tongue between them. He opened his mouth over hers, and she moaned at the delicious feeling of being helpless in the wake of the heated passion sweeping through her. She could feel the faintest scrape of the stubble on his chin against her skin, and it burned deliciously as he nuzzledherneck.
This was how a lady was ruined. This was the glory they risked so much for. She’d never understood her mistress’s yearning for love and marriage and a man…untilnow.
James cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheek as he gazed down at her in wonder and fascination. “Why can’t I resist you, MissBeaumont?”
“I don’t know.” She blinked, dazed by the fact that she and the Earl of Pembroke were pressed chest to chest against thebookshelf.
“Have you ever felt like this before?” heasked.
“No, never. I was beginning to worry something might be wrong with me.” She half laughed, but the sound was tremulous. She shouldn’t have confessed that—a ladywouldn’thave.
But you’re not a lady, her inner voice reminded her sharply.You’re a servant, and he believes you aregentle-born.
“Have you kissed many other men?” James’s question was full of curiosity and a hint ofjealousy.
“No, but then, I’ve never wanted anyone to kiss me before,” she explained in a scandalized whisper. The simple curve of his lips made hersmiletoo.
“Good. The thought of you with another man might drivememad.”
Worry creased her brows. “Are you a jealous sortofman?”
James shook his head. “Never. But you make me feeldifferent.”
He didn’t seem to know what else to say, and she didn’t want to speak, either. She bit her bottom lip and peered up at him from beneath her lashes. She couldn’t be as bold as Audrey, but she hoped he would take her actions as aninvitation.
He did. He curled his arm around her waist and brought her back into his arms. She placed her palms on his waistcoat and curled her fingers into his lapels as their lips met in another fiery kiss. He moved his mouth over hers, and she couldn’t help but moan at the way he made her feel, on fire everywhere. No wonder Audrey was chasing rogues about, begging for kisses. If they all felt like this, she couldunderstand.
“James? James? Where are you?” Letty’s voice carried through the shelves, and he hastily stumbled back from Gillian just before his sister found them. She held a trio of historical volumes and was watching themcuriously.
“Did Miss Beaumont findherbook?”
“Er… Yes.” James held out the book, and Gillian tried not to laugh at the almost boyish guilt written on his face. Letty was younger than her brother, and it was clear James tried to be on his best behavior around her, as though striving to please her. The notion was charming. It reminded Gillian of her mistress’s older brother, Cedric, Viscount Sheridan. Despite being a notorious rogue, he was impossibly sweet to hissisters.
“Excellent.” Letty grinned at her. “James, would you buy these for me?” She shoved the stack of books into his chest. He fumbled as he clutched at them. “I want to talk with MissBeaumont.”
James’s eyes twinkled as he looked at them. “You wish to talk about matters of a feminine nature, I assume?” He held Letty’s books and began to turn around, but then Gillian caughthisarm.
“Oh, you have mine. I shall need to payaswell.”
“Nonsense. I’ll buy it for you.” He tucked the book firmly between two of Letty’s where Gillian could notreachit.
“Oh, please, I really must insist.” Gillian made another valiant effort to reach for the book, but Jamestskedand shookhishead.
“Consider it a gift from me for a delightfully unexpected change in my day. If you hadn’t been at the modiste, Letty would’ve spent all day trying on bonnets.” James rolled his eyes, and Letty pretended to pout. Before Gillian could argue, James vanished with the books, leaving her alone with his sister. She’d been ignoring the truth of her deception for the last hour, but reality had returned once she was out ofJames’sarms.
This isn’t my world. I should not be here, letting them both assume I’m one of them. How can they not see?Her hair was simply styled. Her dress, while more fancy than that of a usual lady’s maid, was still a servant’sdress.
“He is right, you know. I would’ve stayed there all day. I’m certain he would’ve perished on Madame Ella’s fainting couch waitingforme.”
Gillian giggled at the thought of James lying prone on a fainting couch, a ghastly expression on his face, one arm thrown over his eyes in despair while Letty dropped more bonnets onhislap.
“He’s a wonderful man, my brother, quite wonderful,” Letty said, watching Gillian with a keenness that remind her all too well of her mistress when she was plottingsomething.
“Er… Yes, I imagine he is,” she answeredcarefully.
