Page 91 of The Trouble with Tigers
She brought her fingers to her lips to cover her smile.
“I brought you this.” He held the missing atlas toward her, his expression one of hopeful expectation, as if bringing her pleasure meant something to him.
She blinked, fighting the wave of tenderness his thoughtful act elicited.
“Now you say,thank you, Zeke.”
His mocking tone broke her momentary trance. Twisting around, she craned her neck past the door jamb to glance up and down the corridor. Lucky for both of them, no one was about.
She turned back to Zeke. “Thank you for delivering it. Now you may leave.”
Zeke’s brows furrowed. He tossed the leather bound book onto her settee. “Why?”
“You know very well you can’t be in here.”
He looked down at himself, then spread his arms wide. “I can’t?”
“You know what I mean. You shouldn’t be. Someone might see you.”
He reached past her, closed the door, then flattened his palm against it. Mere inches separated them. Heat emanated from his body, transmitting itself to hers like an intimate caress.
His eyes, the color of blue smoke, locked with hers. “Better?”
“You deliberately miss the point,” she said, but couldn’t muster any heat.
His unblinking gaze dropped to her mouth. He licked his lips and parted them slightly.
Kitty went hot all over and her knees threatened to buckle. He was too close. His intriguing masculine scent too tempting. She pressed her palms behind her into the cool wood of the paneled door and tried to steady herself.
He brought his free hand to her face, tracing her cheek with one knuckle.
That one tiny caress started a tremor in her belly that spread through her like wildfire ‘til it seemed her entire body vibrated.
She must remember her vow not to cave at every turn. Pinching her eyelids shut, she ducked under his arm and put some much needed distance between them.
He swiveled to face her, and leaned negligently on the door, his arms crossed over his chest.
She’d had to call on all her reserves to keep from wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging to him like a vine, and he had the nerve to stand there looking cool as a cucumber. How very irritating. “Why are you here?” she asked. “Really.”
“I thought you’d appreciate having the atlas you risked life and limb for last night. And”—He inclined his head—“I wanted to talk to you. I would’ve preferred a more appropriate venue,but you’ve given me no choice, sequestering yourself in your chambers—and don’t bother denying it.”
So he had noticed her absence. Ruthlessly, she quashed the little thrill the revelation wrought.
“You could’ve employed a bit of patience. Perhaps you’ve heard of the notion?”
“Not my strong suit.” One corner of his mouth kicked up as he shoved himself away from the door and began a slow exploration of her sitting room.
She moved as he moved, keeping the distance between them constant. “Then how about decorum? You know very well you shouldn’t be in my bedchamber. You told me as much yourself. Why, if anyone found us—” She broke off as she recognized the corner she was backing herself into—again.
Zeke flashed her a brilliant smile. “The earl would insist we become engaged?”
Clever, arrogant ass.
“For the last time, what do you want?”
Zeke’s playful smile vanished. He straightened and closed the distance between them in two strides. Liquid blue heat smoldered in the depths of his eyes as he grasped her shoulders. “I should think that’s obvious.”
She gazed at him in dumb fascination.
