A Little Bit Sinful(11)
“Yes, then I’m certain her father would trust your recommendation.”
“And what am I to tell him of this solicitor? Why does this Mr.—?”
“Bembridge. Mr. Ignatius F. Bembridge, LLB,”
He raised one eyebrow. “That’s quite a name, you couldn’t think of anything more subtle?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Mr. Bembridge is horribly shy, prefers to do all of his correspondence through the post and telegraph. He doesn’t get out much, you see,” she said.
“No, of course he doesn’t. And once you are secured as Ella’s family’s new solicitor, you will simply be making wiser investments for them?”
“Precisely.”
“And what if your investments fail?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. Her brow furrowed in a frown. “I had not considered such a notion. I’ve had such great success with my own investments. I suppose I could give them some of our surplus.”
“Interesting thought. You’ve had some good fortune, you have made wise choices, but I have been doing this longer, another set of eyes to be certain. Since this is the first time you’ll be using someone else’s money. How about you allow me to provide you with a second opinion on their investments?”
She thought for a moment. “I suppose that makes sense.” She came to her feet. “So you will do it?”
“Yes, I will meet with her father.” He stepped toward her. “On one condition.”
“Which is?”
“Another kiss.”
Her eyes widened and her breath caught. She brought her hand to her chest. “You would like to kiss me again?”
He wanted to kiss her again and again until she was dizzy from it. “Consider it payment for my favor. And for keeping your secret, as it were. You don’t want to be beholden to me, do you, Chrissy?”
She bit down on her lip.
He traced one finger down the side of her face, then moved it across her bottom lip. “Tell me, why would you want to hide the passionate woman you truly are, the woman you hide beneath all the propriety.” His finger trailed down her throat.
She swallowed. “I’m not hiding behind anything.”
Her pulse flickered beneath his touch and her breath came in short gasps.
“I swear, I’m a perfectly ordinary woman. Dull, really.”
He chuckled. He placed feather-light kisses on her neck. “You, dear Chrissy, are anything but ordinary.”
She leaned into his touch.
It was all the invitation he needed. He tilted up her chin and slashed his mouth across her. He didn’t ease her into the kiss, but allowed his passion to devour her. Her hands gripped his shoulders. She met him with as much fervor as he delivered.
She wanted him.
That thought sent blood rushing to his groin. He’d never wanted a woman to want him as much as he did tonight.
Their tongues molded, stroked, grazed. Her passion was intoxicating. He wanted to pick her up, press her against the wall. Have her wrap her legs around him, but he stood his ground, merely holding her face as he kissed her deeply.
God he wanted her. And she wanted him. He let his mouth trail down the column of her milky throat. He wanted to touch her everywhere. Reach into her bodice, cup her breasts, feel her nipples harden against his palm.
He forced himself to step away from her. He couldn’t have her, not really. She was far too good for him. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy kissing her. Perhaps in doing so he’d change her mind about marrying George Wilbanks.
Chapter Three
After the kiss, Justin had bundled Clarissa into his own carriage and sent her back to her townhome. Then he’d left and made his way to Rodale’s for the evening. Her request had surprised him, as had her admission, though not nearly as much as her reaction to his kiss. He’d gotten the distinct feeling that he had not ended their embrace she would have allowed him to steal her virtue completely. As tempting as that thought was, Justin needed to be more careful with his advances. He could kiss her, but he couldn’t allow things to go much further.
He’d admit that her secret had come as a surprise. Out of all the things she could have said in his study, that she’d been posing as a solicitor and making financial decisions for the Kincaid fortune had not even entered his mind. He couldn’t say he was surprised that Clarissa was accomplished in such a task, she’d always been quite clever, but she also strived to be so perfectly ladylike and this was anything but. He’d agreed to assist her as much because he was fascinated by the venture as his interest in spending more time with her.