Page 26 of Ruthless with a Rogue
Her plush pink lips parted on a barely there, “Oh.”
He swallowed, gaze glued to those lips.Closer than before.Just a taste.A sample before he brought her downstairs.He leaned in—and kissed a dainty silk-covered finger.Ivory silk that ran up her arms like his tongue wanted to.He nearly groaned.
She pushed him back with that finger, a small smile gracing her lips now.“Nice attempt, Lord Dunmore.”
Her finger dropped, and he licked his lips, lips that were cold, missing something now that her touch was gone.He’d never been so drawn to a woman before.It had to be how excellent she was at evading him.She posed a challenge.And it was thrilling.
He couldn’t wait to see how she fared tonight.Christ, she made him feel alive.She somehow made it impossible for the shadows hovering around him to creep in too close, to surround him like they usually did.He hadn’t fallen into that dark place since the moment he’d met her.Which wasn’t a thought he was going to ruminate too long on.
Miss Forester smoothed her skirts and lifted her chin, meeting his gaze head-on.“All right.Show me what you’ve brought me here for.”
Every nerve in his body buzzed, vibrating through him.It was time.The anticipation was strangling him.Ever since he’d witnessed what her mind was capable of—he shifted and tried to get his lust under control.He had to see it again.“Follow me.”
They made their way down the hall toward a set of stairs.“So, as I said before,The Devil’s Eyeis a gaming hell.”He glanced at her.“Based on how we met, I take it you are a wagering woman.Do you play cards, Miss Forester?”
Two cerulean pools of blue flicked to his, and she pursed her lips before looking ahead again.“I haven’t had much opportunity to play.But I enjoy Ving-et-Un.”
“Exactly what I was hoping to hear.Tonight, you get to play with my money, love.Every card table is yours for the taking.”
It took him a moment to realize Miss Forester was no longer next to him.He spun around to find her frozen in her tracks a few paces behind him.
Her eyes were wide behind her mask.“I can play?Me.A woman?You’d let me play with your money?”
He cocked his head.“Women frequentThe Devil’s Eye,the gaming floor and…other floors.Most anonymously.”He waved a hand over his face, indicating that most women wore masks.“Though not all.And most wager their own money—or their husband’s, I suppose.”
“You’re not afraid I’ll lose your coin?”
A laugh burst from him.Christ, she was adorable.Something odd and warm flitted through his chest.She might be the first woman he’d met who didn’t want him for his purse or his prick.The latter was a mite frustrating, but he was enjoying this game of cat—or stoat, he supposed—and mouse.When he finally took her to bed, it would be that much more exhilarating.
Derek had always been a fan of prolonging pleasure, the taunt, the torture of denied release.Holding that cataclysmic moment back until his partner begged—or he did—his muscles tightened.It was bloody heady.The question was, did he want to do that to her?Or have her hold the power?
“Little mouse, you could lose spectacularly tonight, and I wouldn’t even notice it.But I have a feeling the only person taking a loss tonight will be Mr.Drake.”He pulled out a coin purse and tossed it to her.She instinctively caught it, and he found himself impressed by her once again.
She stared at the brown leather coin purse, chewing her lower lip.Then she looked up.And beamed.Incandescent.Blinding.That smile was like staring straight at the sun.He frowned.“Put that away.”
Her brows lifted above the crown of her mask.“What?My smile?”
“Yes, it’s too big.It’s making me uncomfortable.”
She chuckled and stepped up to him…and then straight past, a bound in her gait.“Take me to the gaming room, Lord Dunmore.I cannot wait!”
A satisfied rumbling purr left his chest.He didn’t doubt for a minute she’d be winning tonight.
His gaze traced the sway of her hips.
He was determined to win too.
18
Livy
Livywasnearlyjumpingout of her skin.She was going to play Ving-et-Un.Not just play with the servants, wagering shortbread biscuits—though that was no trifling matter.Shortbread was serious business.But today?She was going to playfor coin.In agaming hell.
She’d always joined the boys’ card games, but only ever as an observer.It wasn’t a ladylike pursuit…or so she’d thought.Warren had certainly made it clear he didn’t believe women should play.She remembered when Quint had suggested she join them once…
“A nice thought, Quinton, but this would be too much for Liv here.Mastering the strategy of the game, coupled with the rapid mental calculations…” Warren had chuckled.“No, no.We don’t want to overtax her.”
And the world they lived in didn’t even allow for her to correct him.Livy'd sat there and forced a smile because women weren’t allowed to have intelligence.She needed to fit the narrative society had created, even more sobecauseshe didn’t fit it.And watch him make poor choices for his own hand.
