Page 14 of A Gentleman Never Surrenders
“Change?” For a second she didn’t comprehend his words. “Oh, you mean…” She flushed when he smiled that dazzling smile at her, the one that cost too many ladies their reputations.
“I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable tonight.”
Milly sucked in a breath. “Are you going to…Are we…” How was she supposed to ask him if he would make love to her?
Owen stood and walked over to her, placing one palm on the back of the chair beside her head and he leaned over to cup her chin with his free hand. The pad of his thumb brushed over her lips, caressing them, his hypnotic gaze focused on her mouth.
“Whatever you think of me, Milly, know this: I am not a villain. I would never force you. One day, I hope we’ll like each other enough to try, but I know you still have reservations.”
Reservations? She didn’t think that was the right word at all. She was terrified of the idea of him pinning her down on the bed so he could take his pleasure. Her mother had whispered a little conspiratorially that sometimes if a man was skilled, he could give a woman pleasure, but most men did not. It was often uncomfortable and occasionally painful. It didn’t sound at all like something she’d like to do, even if Owen’s mere touch and sinful gaze did strange things to her heart and her body.
“I…am not ready.” She hated her own cowardice, but the idea of that intimacy frightened her. It was impossible to miss the disappointment shadowing his eyes as he swallowed hard and then nodded.
“Then you are safe tonight. We must share the bed, but I will not touch you.” He turned away and something inside her felt as though it had shriveled and died.
Why can’t I be brave? She was so strong in everything else…but when it came to a man, a man she hated to admit she desired, she was lost, insecure.
“Why don’t you change?” He rested one hand on the mantel of the fireplace as he stoked the logs with a black poker. He cut such a fine figure, with tall straight legs and narrow hips, a contrast to his broad shoulders. He was like a powerful ancient god trapped in mortal flesh. Beautiful in the way some men could be.
Milly forced herself to get up from the chair and go to her travel valise. She unlocked the clasps and dug through the contents until she found her nightdress. It was a beautiful lace creation with ribbon insertions, but was thick enough to keep her warm. She looked over her shoulder at Owen. He was still focused on the fire. There was nowhere to hide, no changing room or dressing gown. Milly stared down at her clothes and then with a silent curse, she pulled her blouse out from her skirt and lifted it over her head. Then she unbuttoned the tweed skirt and let it drop. She still wore a corset and her chemise, but she needed help getting out of them.
“Owen, could you…help me?” She clutched the thick nightgown to her breasts, concealing them as much as she could while she waited. When he turned around, his gaze darkened as he took in her appearance.
“My corset…” Offering her back to him, she held her breath, listening to the sound of his booted steps on the floor behind her.
His fingers touched the laces, tugging, then sliding as he loosened and pulled them. The rasping of the laces against his skin and the crackle of the fire were the only sounds in the room, save for the faint panting breaths that escaped her lips.
“There, all done,” he whispered, but didn’t move away. One hand settled on her bare shoulder and toyed with the strap of her chemise in gentle, little strokes. That single point of contact sent ripples of fire across her skin down to her toes, and the secret spot between her legs zinged with a sharp, strange pang.
“Would you let me have one good night kiss?” His voice was rough and low. The sound of it scraped deliciously against her skin.
A kiss? One kiss wouldn’t hurt.
Before she could second-guess her judgment, she turned to face him, her nightdress still clutched to her breasts like a shield. The angular line of his strong jaw was outlined by shadows from the firelight. His lips were slightly parted and his dark lashes fanned down to half-mast. She licked her lips, recalling the way he’d tasted the last time they’d kissed. How exquisite it felt to be in his arms, surrendering to waves of passion. Would it feel that way again?
“God how you tempt me,” he growled. It was her only warning before he dragged her into his embrace and slanted his mouth over hers.
Milly dropped the nightgown in shock and then clasped her hands on Owen’s shoulders as he coaxed her lips apart. His tongue thrust boldly between her lips and she moaned when it playfully danced against her own. The way he moved his lips, the way their breaths were shared in that small space between them seemed to bind them together in a dream. It was a hazy, warm dream that made desire and hunger for dark wicked things coil heatedly in her belly. She stood up on tiptoe, trying to get closer to him, to taste more of him, devour him in any way she could.
His large, strong hands explored her shoulders, traced her shoulder blades, and then tangled in the loosened laces of her corset. He was nearly ready to rip it off her, but he suddenly halted, his mouth leaving hers as he forced himself back a step. The action felt like a slap. Milly bit her kiss-swollen lips, hating that she wanted him to keep kissing her and despising that she missed his touch after only seconds. It wasn’t right to want him like this, to want the things her body seemed to crave after only a few kisses. She now understood why men like Owen were fatal to a woman’s reputation. She would do just about anything to stay in his arms.
“You should finish undressing.” He cleared his throat again and then without looking her way he went over to his own suitcase and stared digging around in its contents.
Milly watched for a few moments as he stripped out of his coat and started to unbutton his shirt. The sight of his bare chest through the partially open shirt was so distracting that she continued to stare until Owen chuckled.
“If you want to see me undress, you need only ask.” He grinned wickedly. “It is your right as my wife.”
Milly blinked and came back to herself. His ability to burn hot and then cold was so confusing. One minute he was asking to kiss her and the next he was pulling away.
She hastily turned her back on him and finished removing her corset. The filmy chemise was next. She tried not to think about the fact that Owen could see her entirely nude backside as she lifted the chemise up and off her body.
“Ready for bed, wife?” Owen’s voice was rich, seductive, and pure temptation.
Lord help me, how will I survive this night?
Chapter 6
Owen couldn’t get the sight of Milly’s bare backside out of his mind. She was, in a word, stunning. The flare of her hips, the hourglass figure, the curve of her buttocks. He was hard from the single glimpse of her before the nightdress dropped down, covering her. The edge of his control was fraying at the ends. That kiss had been explosive, and his hands still trembled with the need to touch her, to explore every inch of her. It was going to be a miracle if he survived sleeping in bed beside her. The idea that Milly, of all the ladies in England, would tempt him should have been laughable and yet he couldn’t deny that he was fascinated by her.
