Page 40 of Sweet Siren
"I don't mean to be aburden."
"Never. Now…is it time to go torest?"
"Oh, it definitely is." She rose, took his arm and they made their way up to the ground floor and up the grand staircase. Midway, she missed astep.
He swept her up into his arms. Her surprise melted to surrender as he strode with her to the landing and down the hall to herdoor.
"Open it," he said and carried her inside. At the side of her bed, he set herdown.
She turned in his arms, her hands cupping his neck. "Thankyou."
What could he allow himself and still be a gentleman? Nothing but words. "You'rewelcome."
"You could let me go." She shook back her long red hair, her voice was half teasing, half warninghim.
"Good business ethics," hejoked.
She stroked the hair at hisnape.
But he didn't release her and she didn't move. He grew hard, his blood racing with hertouches.
"It's not fair to take advantage of a tired woman." Her eyestwinkled.
"I know." Hegrinned.
"You are arogue."
"And you, Lady Savage, are a sweettemptation."
"I shouldinsist."
"Hmmm. I suppose so." He considered the ceiling for a moment. "But this business behavior was all youridea."
"Woe untome."
She gave him a saucy once-over and turned her back to him. "Do me the favor to unlaceme?"
She'd brought no lady's maid. Lily had not assigned her one. And given the nearness of her delectable body, he didn't wish to summon one. "At your service, mylady."
As she clamped two hands to the bedpost, his own hands shook. Desire rolled through him like thunder. He wanted her as he had not wanted any woman in more than a decade. He clenched his fingers and splayed themwide.
Turning, she caught his gaze. "Undo me," she said and turned back again toward the post to whisper, "You already have, youknow."
"Minx," he murmured in protest and praise. He made nimble work of her buttons and pushed her gown from her delicate shoulders and down her graceful arms. Her back was lean, muscular. Her skin was flawless, pink, perfect. She was too ripe a temptation and he was too prudent to seduce the exhausted woman who has just helped his daughter bring her first child into theworld.
"Step out of it," he ordered her and when she did, he picked up the gown to place upon the nearby chair. He untaped her petticoat and let it whoosh to the carpet. Then he set to untying her laces, listening to her tiny sighs of pleasure and controlling his desire to strip away the damn corset and replace it with his hands, his lips, histongue.
He swallowedloudly.
She shrugged and the corset dropped down, down, down, over her petticoat, hooking on the cursed bustle and dropping to the floor. He untaped the bustle and her crinoline so that she stood only in hershift.
He itched to take that off, too. He breathed her in, her jasmine fragrance and hot little breaths of desire. With every inch of his rigid body, he willed her to be naked and natural in his arms.But not now, man. Notnow.
He cleared his throat. "I'll leaveyou."
She didn't turn, didn't agree, but cupped her shoulders and nodded. Then she whirled to face him, her dark brown eyes hungry. "You won't kiss meagain?"
He pinched her nose. "You need your sleep. I need togo."
