Seduction in Mind

He mentally shrugged away his reservations. If she wanted to know, she wanted to know. 'My barrister came to an agreement with the woman from Egypt. For a sum of money she has agreed to return home.'

'She was blackmailing you?'

'Yes.'

'How?'

'You don't want to know.'

'Of course I do.'

'She was threatening to send something to the newspapers.'

'Something?'

'Look, I don't know what. She was going to make up some story that would discredit me. I told my lawyer to let her, and the hell with it, because I didn't do anything wrong, but of course lawyers are always more cautious. So I agreed to pay her if she left. That's all there is. It's over, and hopefully she'll soon be gone.'

'I want to believe you.'

He scowled. 'Thank you for your confidence. And I want to believe you won't be seeing that young boy on Friday.'

'You're changing the subject.'

'No, I'm not. You don't like my women friends, and I use the term loosely with Farida, and I don't like your men friends.'

'Since I've known you for only three days, my men friends are none of your concern.'

'Nor should Farida be of interest to you.'

'She isn't.'

'Excuse me? I believe I was threatened with no sex because of her.'

'My mistake.'

'Then it doesn't matter whether I leave you now and go to another lady?'

'Would you really?'

'How late is it?' He glanced at the clock.

'You bastard.' Pique tightened her mouth.

'Are we being concerned? Let me know, because I'm getting mixed signals.'

'I have to see Harry. I promised him I would.'

'I'd be happy to tell him you changed your mind.'

'You don't understand. This has nothing to do with sex.'

'I doubt Harry would agree with you. Should I come along on your visit?'

She had the grace to look disconcerted.

'I didn't think so.'

'Are we going to be faithful to each other? I doubt it. Actually, I don't wish to.'

'Why?'

'Why? Because I've known you three days. And more important, your record on exclusivity is nonexistent. Let's just say I'm skeptical.'

'Would you otherwise?' The words were shocking even as he spoke them, and he wondered if he could be drunk on only one bottle of wine.

'You mean if you weren't the byword for vice and inconstancy?'

'I suppose that's what I mean.'

'You might have denied it.'

'It's rather hard to deny after fifteen years, but if you'd like me to, I will.'

She surveyed him from under her lashes, a stubborn set to her expression. 'Why are we even talking about this? It's ludicrous. Neither one of us is looking for love and marriage. We're interested in sex. You're the last person in the world to argue about that.'

'You can be damned annoying.' He pulled the cork from another bottle of wine and poured his glass full.

'I don't want to be annoying. I want to make mad, passionate love to you for another night'-she smiled faintly-'if I can stay awake two days in a row.'

'I've never had anyone fall asleep on me,' he said with a wicked grin.

'Screw you, Ranelagh.'

'We'll do that as soon as I finish this bottle. Let me know how I compare to Harry.'

'Suddenly, I've lost my appetite for sex,' she snapped, rising from her chair. 'Good night.'

She'd not walked more than five steps when he caught her and pulled her to a stop.

'Not so fast, darling.'

She hadn't heard his chair move, nor his footsteps on the floor, and the capacity for silence in so large a man was unnerving. 'I'm not your darling.'

'I beg to differ with you. At least tonight you are.'

'I'm not staying.'

'Of course you are.'

'You can't keep me against my will.'

'Why can't I?'

'Because I'll scream.'

'And?'

'This isn't funny, Sam. I don't wish to stay. I'm angry with you.'

'Maybe I can change your mind.'

'Not unless you can erase fifteen years of your life.'

'I can be very convincing.' He pulled her closer so their bodies touched lightly, so she could feel the rampant extent of his desire.

'I'm not in the mood to be seduced, particularly by a man who finds women no more than a blur of selfish orgasms.'

'Mutual orgasms, darling.' He cupped her bottom, hauled her closer, gently moved his hips. 'You remember those…'

'I prefer not being the ten-thousandth woman in your life,' she snapped, trying to push him away.

'Au contraire… you're the only one,' he said, bending low to kiss her pursed mouth, the rigid length of his arousal iron hard against her stomach. 'And I'd really like to make you come tonight-or all night… or all week if you prefer.'

The words all week jolted her brain, settled flame hot in the damnable eager heat of her vagina, required a sustaining breath to tamp into submission. 'Sorry, I'm not interested,' she said tightly. 'Now let me go and I'll bid you good night.'

He heard the tautness in her voice, knew what it meant, knew more how little she could resist her desires and even better how their passions matched. 'Stay a few minutes more. I promise to behave.'

'You don't know how to behave. You've spent a lifetime misbehaving.'

'You could show me how-a woman of your propriety and virtue.'

'There's nothing I could show you, believe me.'

Such a statement was difficult to ignore, almost impossible, but he resisted the impulse and said with exemplary courtesy, 'I'm willing to learn.'

The double entendre wasn't intentional, but it raced through her senses nonetheless, and she spoke in almost a whisper. 'Let me go.'

Something about her tone gave him pause, and he released her.

'Now step away from me.'

'Yes, ma'am.' And he did, deferential, polite, unequivocally beautiful at such close range-or any range. Maybe it was the candlelight or the room or the ghosts of Regency courtiers, but the viscount had never looked so darkly handsome or desirable or sweetly available.

'Have you thought any more about a baby?' His voice was like velvet, his dark eyes hauntingly seductive.

'Sam! Don't you dare!'

Her exclamation was answer enough. 'We could talk about it.'

'No.'