Page 34 of One Scandal Too Many
“Oh,” he said in his wicked voice. “I appreciate it very much. Do not stop on my account.”
Her grin widened. She adored this man. She desperately wanted to press her lips to his. “I’m sure you revel in it quite a bit.” Charlotte winked. “But I’m still not taking a path I cannot return from.”
“Then perhaps I will have to lure you down it and we can spend a lengthy time there. Once there, we can discover all the appeal it holds and slide into some sinful drudgery.”
“Drudgery?” she lifted a mocking brow. “That is sinful?”
“Not in the least.” His lips tilted upward into pure wickedness. “But, darling, we are in mixed company, as you said. I cannot very well announce exactly what I am thinking, now can I?”
“And what is that?” She was nearly breathless. How was she supposed to shoot her bow when all she could think about was his lips and how they would feel upon hers?
He leaned down and said in a low tone. “I want to kiss you until you forget how to breathe.” He lifted his hand and trailed a finger over her shoulder lightly, and completely out of everyone’s view. “But what I want more than anything is to strip this dress from your lovely body, and everything underneath. I want you naked and at my mercy.” She licked her lips in anticipation. Charlotte desired him just as much. “And I want to have my mouth on you. The need to taste your skin and kiss you is overwhelming. When I look at you—I just want. It’s as simple as that.”
Saints above... this man. “Devil take it—you’re destroying every bit of my restraint. How am I to resist you when you say such arousing things to me?”
His grin was still as wicked as ever. “I never said I play fair, darling. I want you, and I will claim you. When you’re ready,I’ll gladly carry you away and prove to you I meant every one of those words.”
Charlotte didn’t doubt it for one second. He would do it, too. The question of course was: Did she want him to? She thought about it, and yes she did. One day, her father might arrange a marriage for her. It would probably be to an old man, or worse, a man that would mistreat her. Shouldn’t she know what true passion was like before then? Declan hadn’t offered her marriage. The way she had been acting with him, she didn’t blame him either. She was acting the part of a courtesan. Meeting him in secret and letting him kiss her without shame.
He hadn’t said he loved her, either. But what did she feel about him? She adored him, yes, but did her feelings go deeper than that? How did one know if one was in love? Charlotte shook those thoughts away. She wasn’t going to ask him to ruin her now. They had an archery contest to win. The rest could wait until later. She lifted her chin and met his gaze. “Today we have something else to occupy our time with. I do believe it is time to start shooting.”
She had a feeling she would be awful, and she didn’t care.
“Yes, we do.” He grinned. “You can shoot first. I insist.”
Charlotte sighed and took up her position. She nocked an arrow and took aim. Once she studied the shot and determined the best angle, she let it loose. It hit the center, and she grinned. Perhaps it wouldn’t be as terrible as she had first believed.
It was Declan’s turn to shoot. He did the same as Charlotte had. He nocked his arrow and took aim at the target. He did not let the arrow fly yet. He waited, then took a breath before he let go of the bow string. He hit the target, his arrow landing next to Charlotte’s. They were evenly matched, it seemed.
“It’s your shot, darling,” he teased.
That gave Charlotte an idea. Her lips twisted into a wry smile as she met his gaze. “Declan, love,” she said in a husky tone. “Why don’t we play for our own stakes?”
He lifted a brow. “A wager between the two of us?”
“Precisely,” she told him. Then she trailed a finger across his chest, making an x, as if marking her spot. She wanted to own his heart, and perhaps in time she would. Until then, she had staked her claim in the only way she could. “Clearly we are both excellent archers.”
“With the two shots we have landed, I’d have to agree.” He tilted his head to the side. “What do you propose?”
“If I win,” she said, “then you will allow me to participate in the gentlemen’s activities tomorrow morning.”
“You wish to join the hunt?” He grinned. “Darling, we do not need to wager for you to join in. I want you there with me.” He sighed. “As the host, I’m required to join. I had not been looking forward to it, but with you there I’ll happily attend.”
“Then we can decide upon a different boon,” she told him. “I agree to whatever it is you wish.” She winked. “And you will do the same.”
“To the winner goes the spoils?” He flashed her that wicked smile she adored so much. Charlotte almost sighed at that decadent sight. “I can agree to that. Are there any other terms for our wager?”
Charlotte shook her head. “I don’t believe so.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “However, we should establish rules.”
“Rules?” he said. “I thought the rules of archery were fairly clear.”
“That they are,” she agreed. “But I would like to add one simple thing to them.”
“And that is?” he asked. There was a hint of mischievousness in his tone.
“That we may use anything at our disposal to win.”
He nodded. “I agree to that. Shall you take your shot now? The other arrows have been removed from the target.” One of the servants had removed the arrows from the center. They would do that after each person took their shot.
