What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(70)

She didn’t answer right away.

“Were you anxiously awaiting me?”

She huffed. “Your head is swelling again.”

“What is keeping you awake, Angeline?”

“You.”

“You can tell me,” he said.

“I’ve already said too much.”

Apparently, she regretted telling him about Brentmoor. “Whatever you told me in confidence will go no further,” he said.

“I know.”

Her confession apparently bothered her nonetheless. He dusted his hands, picked up the candle branch, and set it on the bedside table. Then he walked to the bed. “Lie back now,” he said, pressing her shoulders gently. He leaned over her, his hands bracketing her face on either side of the pillow. He kissed her softly on the lips. Then he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his boots.

“Are you taking off your clothes?” she said.

“My boots.” Shout at me to leave.

He drew his shirt over his head and laid it on the chair. Tell me to go to hell. Tell me you despise me. Tell me I’m the worst scoundrel you’ve ever met.

She sat up. “Come to me.”

“Aren’t you afraid? I’m naked to the waist.” Tell me to go away.

“I want to see you,” she said.

He did her bidding. “What do you want?” he said in a harsh tone.

She caressed his chest and abdomen. “You’re so hard everywhere and beautiful.”

“Men aren’t beautiful.”

She planted a kiss where his heart beat hard. He clenched his jaw. You should hate me.

He reached for the falls of his trousers, but she brushed his hand away. “Let me.”

A harsh exhalation escaped him. Do not make this easy for me.

She slipped the first button free and let her fingers slide over the fabric. His cock stirred. As he watched her, heat and desire collided. He got harder and harder as she took her time with the buttons. When his cock sprang free, she kissed the tip, and he realized she’d become the seducer. “Angeline, you are an innocent.”

She smiled up at him. “Do you like it?”

His harsh breathing ought to tell her. “Yes, but I cannot let you.”

She pulled the covers down. “It’s cold. Get in the bed.”

“Tell me to leave. Now.”

“I don’t want you to leave,” she said.

“You know what will happen if I get in that bed. I can’t do it.” He’d thought he could seduce her, but he couldn’t. He should have known better. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“You banked the fire. It will be cold, and you are too big. Your feet will hang off the sofa.”

Lord help him. He hadn’t expected any of this. “I’ll leave my trousers on.”

“For pity’s sake. You’ll be uncomfortable.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect you want me naked.”

She bit her lip. “Perhaps you should keep the drawers on—just to be safe.”

He laid his trousers over the chair and removed his stockings. Then he pressed a curl back from her forehead. “You are too good for me.”

“I’m glad you recognize it,” she said, grinning.

Hell, so much for his big, bad rake reputation. “Angeline, you keep me on my toes. No other woman can match your clever retorts.”

“Colin, you must be cold. Get in the bed.”

“Yes, mistress,” he said in a faux weak voice. He got under the covers and lay on his side to face her. “Brrrr. We’ll keep each other warm.”

“Colin, I may be a virgin, but I’m not stupid.”

He laughed and leaned over her. “You are adorable.”

“If I allow you to stay, you have to promise to be a gentleman.”

“I’m always a gentleman in bed. Ladies first.”

“You make no sense; you must have a touch of fever.”

He placed his finger over her lips. “I won’t lie to you. I want to kiss and touch you, but you can say no at any point, and I will stop.” He nuzzled her neck. “Mmmm.” Of course he knew exactly how to ignite the fire within her. Soon she would be so far gone, she would only realize her mistake when it was all over.

“If I said to stop now, would you?” she said.

He lifted his head. “Yes. It must be your decision.” He would never force any woman. “Do you want me to stop?”

She bit her lip.

He sighed. “I’ll go.”

“No, stay.”

“Angeline, I shouldn’t.”

She thought about all the lonely nights that might be ahead of her. She thought about his wicked sense of humor. Most of all, she thought about how he desperately wanted to possess Sommerall, because he could not bear for strangers to occupy the land where his mother was buried. He’d earned his rakish reputation, of that she had no doubt. But he’d sworn to stop at any point, and she knew instinctively he would honor that promise.

Tonight he’d enchanted her, teased her, and made her laugh. There were far worse things to fear, such as never knowing a man’s ardent kiss in bed or the way it felt to have strong arms hold her. She loved him and knew that no matter what the future held, she would always cherish this night with him.