A Study In Seduction(37)
He stopped. Used inhuman willpower to ease his hold. Waited with a thudding heart for her to pull away. She twisted her wrist from his grip, lifting her head to stare at him.
Seconds passed. Her breath steamed hot against his lips. Heat flared in her blue eyes. And then she splayed her hand flat against his belly and slid it down to his groin.
Alexander swallowed, his gaze locked to hers as her fingers brushed against the bulge in his trousers. A hint of trepidation appeared in her expression, but then her fingers curved with tentative curiosity until his erection pressed against her palm.
She sighed, her lips moving to his jaw, her cheek rubbing over his. He winced, desire churning through him. He placed a hand against the wall behind her in an effort to master his rapidly diminishing control.
Lydia paused, her breath still hot against his jaw. He grasped her wrist again. For an instant, neither of them moved, and then her hand slipped from him.
He stepped back, moving away to allow her to gather her composure while he did the same. He dug into his pocket and removed the necklace, turning back to extend it to her—and realizing his mistake too late.
She stared at the locket nestled in his palm, two spots of color high on her cheekbones. Alexander swallowed a rising tide of shame.
“I’m sorry, I—”
“I require no payment for services rendered,” Lydia said coldly.
“I didn’t mean—”
“You’ve made it quite clear what you mean. And I believe I’ve made my intentions equally clear. I will not accept your charity.”
His fingers tightened around the locket. “Your pride will be your downfall, Miss Kellaway.”
“Do you think so? Tell me, if you were in my position, would you take the locket back simply because I felt sorry for you?”
Alexander didn’t respond. He gave a curt nod and tossed the necklace onto the table beside the paper she’d given him. His shoulders felt stiff enough to break, his blood still flaring with desire unfulfilled.
“And should I solve your damned problem?” he asked through a clenched jaw.
“If you manage to do so by the end of two weeks, you may once again determine my debt.”
“And you will abide by it?”
For an instant, a glimmer of apprehension appeared in her eyes. “As long as it remains within reason.”
“Meaning?”
“No requests for a kiss or… anything else of that nature.”
“Very well.”
She blinked. “You agree?”
“Yes.” His mouth twisted. “You’re surprised?”
“Considering your—our—behavior of late, I suppose I am.”
“And disappointed?” He smiled without humor.
“Certainly not.”
“Good. There’s no need to be, you know.” He approached her again, his booted steps silent against the thick Aubusson carpet.
Lydia didn’t back away from him, but her wariness visibly deepened. “Why… why not?”
Alexander reached out to slide his thumb across her full lips, a renewed surge of arousal filling him at the sensation of her warm breath. “Because the next time we engage in something of that nature, debt will not be an issue.”
Lydia swallowed, her finger twisting around a lock of hair that clung to her damp neck. “There will not be a next time, my lord.”
“Oh, yes. There will. Not because you owe me, but because you want it.”
She swiveled on her heel and strode to the foyer. Alexander followed, ensuring she was safely in the cab before turning back to the drawing room.
He stopped. His father stood at the door of his study, his expression unreadable.
“Miss Kellaway, wasn’t it?” he asked.
Alexander nodded, not knowing what to say and not liking the feeling of having been caught doing something wrong.
Rushton’s gaze flicked to the drawing room and back to the front door before he turned and disappeared into his study.
Chapter Nine
The sun hung like a golden ball in the sky, burning away the last of the late-morning fog. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees. Beside Lydia on the carriage seat, Jane peered out the window as the festival came into view.
“There it is!” Jane almost bounced up and down.
Lydia smiled. Her sister had spent the past week and a half chattering about the festival, and her excitement solidified Lydia’s belief that she had done the right thing in accepting Northwood’s invitation.