Page 46 of The Viscount and the Vixen
“Yes,” she finally said. “But you would be with her out of kindness.”
“I’m not a saint. I like beauty in my women.” Leaning down, he laved his tongue over her nipple, took satisfaction in her soft sigh, before lifting his head to look at her again. “But there is all kinds of beauty in the world, some of it not always clearly visible. Even those spiders you hate have it within them to create the most intricate and beautiful webs.”
“You look below the surface of things.”
“I recognize that not all things should be judged by their appearance.”
“Would you have married me if I were a toad?”
If those whiskey eyes of hers had still held the challenge that they did— “Probably. Although I am quite grateful that you’re not a toad.”
Her lips quirked up slightly as she moved her hand around to the nape of his neck and began kneading. “Well, you have the toad’s voice anyway.”
“Pardon?”
Her cheeks flushed a pale pink. “My voice. It’s deep. Like a toad’s.”
“It’s one of the most sensual things about you.”
She seemed genuinely surprised.
“Did you not know that?” he asked.
Slowly, she shook her head. “I’ve been told it’s rather unbecoming.”
“By your husband?”
Her response was nothing more than her blush deepening. He couldn’t help himself. “Forgive me for asking, but why the devil did you marry him? He sounds like a complete ass.”
Laughing, she rolled onto her side and buried her face against his chest. He didn’t want to admit how much he enjoyed having her there, her breaths skimming along his skin, the feel of her smile broadening. “He was. I simply didn’t realize it until it was too late.”
Her slender, delicate shoulders were shaking with her laughter as he closed his arms around her and held her close. Dear God, but love never did anyone any favors. It had caused his father to go mad, had caused Portia to marry a man undeserving of her. He should leave it there. He knew all he needed to know, and yet his competitive nature refused to remain silent. “Did you find satisfaction in his bed?”
Her laughter abruptly stopped. She tilted her head back, while he tipped his down. He didn’t know why it was imperative that he look into her eyes when she answered. Even if her answer wasnone of your business;go to the devil.
“Sometimes,” she whispered. “But not like I did in yours tonight.”
His mouth came down on hers, hard and demanding. She was going to find satisfaction in his bed at least once more before she went to sleep.
Locke woke her up before dawn so he could have her before sunlight stole into the room. Then—even though she invited him to stay—to prove to himself he still possessed enough willpower to resist her charms, he dressed and went to the library to study his ledgers. Instead, he kept seeing her sitting in the chair before the fireplace that first night. They would probably spend many a night there. Either there or in his bedchamber or wandering the hallways. It wasn’t as though he was providing her with an abundance of options.
Not that she needed any options. She was there to warm his bed, provide him with an heir. She wasn’t supposed to make him want to laugh. She wasn’t supposed to make him want to give her more.
Nor was she supposed to make him glad for her presence when he walked into the breakfast dining room after growing tired of staring at her empty chair in the library. She was dressed in the dark blue she’d worn the day before, which he supposed signaled that she was going to tidy up the music room a bit more. He refrained from lifting her skirts to see if she was again sporting one of his Hessians.
“Good morning,” he said as he took his seat. “Again.”
She blushed. “Good morning, my lord. I didn’t have the opportunity to voice the words earlier.”
“You communicated quite well without them and provided me with a good morning indeed.” He nearly laughed watching Gilbert turn red as a beet while he poured Locke’s coffee.
“I’ll get your plate, m’lord,” he said gruffly before quickly vacating the room.
“I think you embarrassed him,” Portia said, lifting her teacup.
“I’m not certain he’s ever had a woman.”
Her eyes widened. “Truly?”
