Page 13 of Ruthless with a Rogue
Wasn’t she supposed to be leaving?It was odd, because her feetstillweren’t moving.
Livy, exit the room now!
He tugged on her bottom lip.“Yes, you will do quite nicely for dessert.”
Then he leaned in.
Reality hit her.
He was going to—
The man pressed his lips to hers, and for a heartbeat, she forgot her own name.
LIVY!Right.
She cocked her arm, pulled away from his kiss, and let her fist fly.Straight into his nose.
A roar ripped from him, and he stumbled backward.
Livy ran over to the settee, shaking out her fist.Peas and carrots, that hurt!She grabbed his breeches, shirt, and waistcoat and clutched them to her chest.She knew it was bold.She knew it was mad.But she’d had a thought when he’d leaned in to kiss her.He wanted to use her.Use her body.So why couldn’t she use him?
She knew exactly who this man was.The notorious Marquess of Dunmore.Notorious, yet one of the most sought-after peers of the ton.Wealthy with a knack for investments, ties so close with the Duke of Ironcrest most considered them brothers, and a Marquess of his own accord.Andfrequentlyfeatured in the scandal sheets.
He turned toward her, blood running from his nose.She winced.She’d always had a fair right hook.That was one of the perks of growing up with the neighbor boys.It had been Quinton who’d taught her to throw a punch.And she was pretty vexed at men at the moment.She had perhaps put some of her frustration with Warren behind it.Oh, it had felt good.Egads, was she becoming violent?Pettyandviolent.Oh dear, what was happening to her?
“What in the blazes do you think you’re doing?”The Marquess’s demanding tone snapped her attention back to the present.
He wiped his nose with the back of his arm, and his mouth dropped open as his gaze landed on the blood smeared on his forearm.“You do realize you just punched a marquess in the face.I should have you thrown out, never to be allowed to show your face in society again.”
Her chin jerked in.Well, that was just completely unfair.He was about to ravish her.Was she supposed to just lie down and toss up her skirts for him?Thatwasprobably what the ladies did for him.She crossed her arms and smirked.Not this one.
“Are you laughing at me?”His black brows jumped to his hairline, his breathtaking green eyes widening.
No, not breathtaking.Good Lord, did this man possess some sort of dark magic that muddled women’s brains?She wouldn’t fall under his spell.
“Pardon.I just thought it was comical that you would assume I would stand here and allow you to ruin me without any thought of defending myself.Was I supposed to be honored that the revered Marquess of Dunmore wanted to have his way with me?From what I understand, you ravish anything with a pair of…”—she gestured to her chest—“that walks.”
He gawked at her.He shook his head and ran a hand down his face.“Tits, a pair of tits.At least say the word if you’re going to attempt to give me a set down.”
Jutting out her chin, she met his challenge.“Tits.”
His eyes darkened.
Hmm, perhaps not the best idea to poke the beast, Livy.She never had been good at backing down from a challenge.
“You are a contradiction, aren’t you?”he murmured.
She shrugged and started discreetly moving toward the door.“Whatever do you mean by that?”
He tilted his head.“I mean that you are the picture of innocence.Blonde hair, the palest of skin, the largest blue doe-eyes I’ve ever seen.”He paused and added, as if lost in thought.“Petal-soft lips.”
She took advantage of his distraction and slid a few steps toward the door.His stare collided with hers, and she stilled.
“But then you plant me a facer, without warning.And, though I admit you caught me off guard, which added to the effectiveness, you threw one bloody hell of a punch.And then”—he flicked his hand in her direction—“you have your little set-down speech.And say tits.Which I wouldn’t mind hearing you say again.”
The hard, cool wood of the door pressed against her back.She rested her fingers on the handle, ready to unlatch the door and flee.“Yes, well.As fun as this was, I must be going.”
His brows pinched together.“Wha—” His eyes widened, and he advanced on her.“Oh no, you don’t!The fuck you think you will leave me here without my clothes!”
