Just then, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck began to rise. I t was not necessary to turn around to discern why.

Marcus had arrived. She refused to face him. Her blood still thrummed with the pleasure he'd given her, and a man as perceptive as he was would know it.

Margaret leaned closer. "Heavens. The way Lord Westfield looks at you could start a fire. Fortunate for you that William did not attend this evening. Can you imagine if he had? I 'd wager they'd come to fisticuffs. You should have heard Westfield say you were worth the risk of death in a duel. Every woman in London is green with envy."

Elizabeth could feel the burning emerald gaze from across the crowded room. She shivered, her senses acutely attuned to the man who approached her.

"Here he comes." Margaret arched a copper brow. "The gossips will go mad over this, crazed as they've been over that row with William at the Morelands'. This will only add fuel to the fire." Her voice tapered off.

"Lady Barclay," purred the velvet voice, as Marcus bowed low over Margaret's proffered hand. His shoulder brushed deliberately against Elizabeth's arm, leaving goose b.u.mps in its wake.

"Lord Westfield, a pleasure."

He turned and the intensity of his gaze robbed her of breath. Dear heaven. He looked as if he meant to toss up her skirts at any moment.

Dressed in a dark blue coat and breeches, he made every other man fade to insignificance.

"Lady Hawthorne." He captured her hand, which hung limply at her side, and lifted it, meeting it halfway with the descent of his mouth. His kiss was anything but chaste, melting through her glove as his fingers caressed the center of her palm.

Instantly she was aroused, on edge, wanting those fingers to caress her everywhere as they'd done mere hours ago. He watched her with a knowing smile, well aware of her reaction."Lord Westfield." She tugged her hand, but he would not release it. Her stomach fluttered as his fingertips continued their gentle stroking.

Her Grace, the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess of Ravensend, announced the start of the musicale, and all the guests left the formal parlor to move into the ballroom where chairs had been a.s.sembled to face the musicians. Marcus tucked her hand around his arm and led her out to the foyer, deliberately falling behind.

"The man escaped," he said for her ears only.

She nodded, unsurprised.

He stopped, and turned to face her. "More must be done to protect you. And I will not be handing this a.s.signment over to someone else, so your efforts this afternoon were for naught."

"This entanglement offers no benefit to either of us."

His hand reached up to touch her face, and she stepped back quickly.

"You forget yourself," she scolded. She shot a wary look around the foyer.

With one warning glance, Marcus sent the attending footman fleeing with haste. Then he turned all of his attention upon her. "And you forget the rules."

"What rules?"

His gaze narrowed and she took another step back. "I can still taste you, Elizabeth. I can still feel the silky clasp of your c.u.n.t on my c.o.c.k and the pleasure you gave me still warms my blood. The rules haven't changed since this afternoon. I can have you however and whenever I wish."

"To h.e.l.l with you." Her heart racing, her chest tight, she stumbled backward until the wall prevented further escape.

He bridged the gap between them, enveloping her in his rich, warm scent. Music poured from the ballroom and she shot a startled glance toward the sound. When she looked back at Marcus, he stood directly before her.

"Why do you insist on driving us both to madness?" he asked gruffly.

Her hand went to her throat, nervously fingering the pearls that rested there. "What can I do to satisfy your interest?" she asked bluntly. "There must be something I can do or say, that will cool your ardor."

"You know what you can do."

She swallowed hard, and stared up at him. He was so tall, so broad of shoulder that he dwarfed her until she could see nothing around him.

But her fear did not come from that. In fact, it was only when she was with Marcus that she felt truly safe. No, her fear came from inside, from a cold and lonely place she preferred to forget existed. And there he stood, so d.a.m.n confident and predatory. He felt none of the uncertainty that she felt.

Libertines never did, shielded as they were by the knowledge of their undeniable charm and appeal. I f only she could boast such a.s.sured s.e.xuality.

A slow smile curved her lips as the solution to her dilemma presented itself in a flash of comprehension. How could she have missed the obvious? Here she'd been floundering and unsure how to respond in the face of such an overwhelming sensual onslaught when she'd grown up with the best examples of how to manage these situations in her own household. She would simply do what William or her father or Marcus himself would do.

"Very well, then. You can meet me in the bachelor quarters of Chesterfield Hall for your f.u.c.k." The crude word stumbled over her tongue and she lifted her chin to hide her discomfort.

He blinked. "Beg your pardon?"

She arched a brow. "That's what I can do, correct? Spread my legs until you sate your l.u.s.t? Then you'll tire of me and leave me in peace."

Just speaking the words reignited the heat in her veins. Images from the afternoon filled her mind, and she bit her lower lip against the sudden rush of desire.

The intense predatory look of his features softened. "Christ, when you present it in that manner-" His brows drew together in a rueful frown.

"What an ogre I must seem to you at times. I cannot remember the last time I felt so chastened."

The faintest trace of a smile touched her lips. She took a step closer, her hand coming up to press against the elaborately embroidered silk of his waistcoat before drifting down, caressing the rippling expanse of his stomach beneath. Her hand tingled through her glove, reminding her of how delicate the balance of power was.

Marcus caught her wandering fingertips and tugged her closer. Staring down into her face, he shook his head. "I presume you've conceived of some mischief."

"Not at all," she murmured, stroking his palm with her fingers and watching his gaze darken. "I intend to give you what you want. Surely you won't complain about that?"

"Hmmm. Tonight then?"Her eyes widened. "Good heavens. Again today?"

Laughing, he relented, his mouth curving in a smile that made her breathless. The change in him was startling. Gone was the brutish arrogance, replaced by a boyish allure she found hard to resist. "Very well then." He stepped back, and offered his arm. "And you are correct, I surely won't complain."

Chapter 8

Marcus paced before the fire in the Chesterfield guesthouse and tried to recollect his first s.e.xual encounter. I t had happened a long time ago and the rushed tumble in the Westfield stables had pa.s.sed in a blur of sweaty skin, p.r.i.c.kly hay, and gasping relief. Still, despite the less than clear remembrance of that afternoon, he was certain he'd never been as anxious as he was at the present moment.

Having escorted Elizabeth home from the Dempsey Ball over an hour ago, he'd rushed home and changed, only to return on horseback.

He'd been waiting ever since.

Doubt twisted his stomach into knots, a sensation wholly unfamiliar to him. Would Elizabeth come to him, as she'd promised? Or would he wait here all night, desperate to taste her and feel her beneath his hands?

Standing, Marcus tossed more coals into the grate before glancing around the beautifully appointed bachelor quarters. While he would have preferred to have Elizabeth once again in his own bed, he would take what he could get and gladly.

The Aubusson rug was soft under his bare feet as he moved back to the chair facing the fire. He'd removed every garment but his breeches, astonished and not a little disconcerted by his haste to press his bare skin to Elizabeth's.

The outer door opened, and then shut quietly. Marcus stood, and moved to the hallway, lounging against the jamb in an effort to appear nonchalant and less needy than he felt. Then Elizabeth turned the corner and his breath caught. Against his will, his feet moved, one in front of the other. She paused, her luscious bottom lip caught between her teeth. Dressed in simple muslin, her hair free of its previous evening elaborateness, her face scrubbed clean of both powder and patch, she was a vision of casual youthful beauty.

"Where have you been?" he growled as he reached her, his hands gripping her waist and lifting her against him.

"I-"

He crushed her response with a kiss. She stiffened at first, and then suddenly she opened for him. A groan escaped, as the heady taste of her flooded his mouth. Fierce but sweet, her kisses had always driven him to madness.

A loud thump momentarily distracted him, and he pulled back to discern the source of the sound. Lying at their feet was a small volume covered in red leather.

"Your returning Hawthorne's journal?"

"Yes," she said, in the breathy voice that betrayed her arousal.

As he gazed at the book on the floor, Marcus was surprised at the jealousy that rose up within him. Elizabeth carried another man's name.

She had once been physically joined to someone else. He still stung from the pain of it, much to his chagrin. He was not some foolishly besotted lad, selfish in his desire for the affection of a fair maid.

But he felt like one.

Marcus linked his fingers with hers, and tugged her into the bedroom.

"I came as quickly as I could," she said softly.

"Liar. You debated internally for a moment, at least."

She smiled, and his entire body hardened. "Maybe a moment," she conceded.

"But you came, regardless." He wrapped his arms around her, and fell back into the bed.

She laughed, the cold wariness of her features instantly transformed. "Only because I knew if I didn't, you would probably come up and collect me yourself."

Burying his face in her neck, he chuckled and groaned at the same time. Under other circ.u.mstances, as painfully aroused as he was, he would have rolled his lover over and mounted her. In this instance, however, he was determined to find a way past Elizabeth's defenses. s.e.xual satisfaction was not his only aim.

Not any longer."You are correct." He stared up at her. "I would have fetched you."

Her hand touched the side of his face, one of the rare tender gestures she bestowed on him. Any touch of hers, any melting look, stunned him and moved him.

"You are far too arrogant. You do realize that, don't you?"

"Of course." He sat up and settled her against the pillows. Then he reached for the bottle of wine he'd set on the nightstand, and poured her a full gla.s.s.

Elizabeth licked her bottom lip and her lashes lowered, hiding her gaze as she accepted the libation. "You are half naked. I t's...

disconcerting."

"Perhaps if you disrobed it would be less so," he suggested.

"Marcus..."

"Or drink. That should relax you." I t was why he'd brought two bottles with him. He remembered her giddy on champagne during their courtship, laughing and mischievous. He was eager to see her that way again.

As if she thought the same, Elizabeth lifted the goblet to her lips and took a large swallow. Normally, he'd chastise such an abuse of excellent vintage, but in this case he was pleased. A small droplet clung to the corner of her lips and he leaned forward and licked it away, closing his eyes briefly in contentment. He was startled when she turned her head and pressed her lips more fully to his.

Eyes wide, she pulled back and drank the rest of the wine down. She thrust the empty gla.s.s at him. "More, please."

Marcus smiled. "Your wish is my command." He studied her furtively as he poured, noting the way her fingers brushed restlessly over her thighs. "Why are you so nervous, love?"

"You are accustomed to this sort of...arrangement. For me, however, sitting here with you half-dressed and knowing the entire purpose of being here is for...for..."

"s.e.x?"

"Yes." She opened her mouth and then closed it, shrugging delicate shoulders. "I t makes me nervous."

"That's not the only reason we are here."

Elizabeth frowned, and took another large drink. "I t's not?"

"No. I 'd like to talk with you as well."

"Is that how these things are normally done?"

He chuckled ruefully. "Nothing about this is like anything in my experience."

"Oh." Her shoulders sagged just a little.

Catching her free hand, he laced his fingers with hers. Her cheeks were already flushed, betraying the effects of the wine. "Could you grant me one small favor?" he asked, even though he had promised himself he wouldn't.

She waited expectantly.

Tamping down the sudden apprehension he felt, he rushed ahead. "Could you find it in your heart to tell me what happened the night you left me?"

Her gaze lowered to stare into the contents of her gla.s.s. "Must I?"

"I f you would be so kind, love."

"I 'd really rather not."

"Is it so dreadful?" he coaxed softly. "The deed is done and cannot be undone. I ask only to be relieved of my confusion."

Elizabeth released a deep breath. "I suppose I owe you that much."

When her silence stretched out he prodded, "Go on."