Page 14 of Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses
“The entire night has been inappropriate.”
“So it has been.”
But she heard a smile in his voice. “I rather enjoyed it. Thank you for allowing me to tag along.”
“I’ll never be able to go back there now without seeing you traipsing up the stairs with a harlot. You may have bloody well ruined it for me.”
A part of her was glad. She didn’t like thinking of him with other women. “Do you go there often?”
“Not in years.”
“You prefer actresses.”
“I prefer women who are a bit more discerning with their favors.”
“What was she like tonight, the woman you were with?”
“An unexpected delight.”
“You should have spent a bit more time with her then.”
“I was in her company for most of the night.”
His words took her aback, forcefully, as though she’d been punched. “I was asking after the woman you bedded.”
“Surely Venus taught you another word for that.”
“It’s too harsh sounding. I don’t like it. So I won’t use it. And you’re avoiding the question.”
“I wasn’t with anyone else tonight, Gina,” he said quietly.
She wondered how long it would be before her lungs began to work again and take in air.
He looked out the window. “Almost there.”
The carriage slowed, turned onto the drive. The adventure was coming to a close. She rather wished it wasn’t. But at least she was breathing again.
They stopped. Andrew immediately opened the door, leaped out, then reached back for her, extending his hand. It was ungloved. She supposed he’d taken them off as they’d journeyed home. She placed her gloved palm on his bare skin. He assisted her out of the conveyance. Rather than releasing his hold on her, he tucked her hand within the crook of his elbow and escorted her up the walk, up the steps, stopping at the door.
“I don’t find you dull, Gina.”
Facing him, she looked up at him. He was so much taller than she, yet she wouldn’t mind gazing up at him forever, even if it made her neck ache.
“You have intrigued me from the moment I met you,” he continued.
“Yet you avoid me.”
Holding her gaze, he skimmed his warm fingers along her cheek. “You are the sort men marry.” He leaned down. She cursed the faint light from the gaslights that kept her from seeing the blue of his eyes. “I am not the marrying sort.”
“Why?”
“Because I have no heart. You deserve a man with not only a heart, but a title. You deserve so much that I cannot give you.”
He was so close now. She waited, waited for him to traverse that final inch. She felt her pulse throbbing.Lay your tongue against it, calm it, then press your mouth to mine.She licked her lips. There was an audible hitch in his breath. He came half an inch closer.
Yes, be the first to ever kiss me. Show me what desire feels like.
Abruptly he straightened, inserted a key into the lock, swung the door open, and peered inside. “All clear. In with you.”
