Page 21 of Surrender

How long had Jamie or anyone else suspected he had feelings for Genevieve, and exactly what did they believe they’d seen? Did they think he was as lovesick as all her other fawning suitors, or had they seen something more base? His feelings for Genevieve encompassed so many things.

Right now, he was experiencing a territorial need and hunger where she was concerned. Desire was the one thing he understood all too well where Genevieve was concerned. Theo ached for her in a way that had him waking up in the middle of the night wishing she was lying beneath him as he pleasured her.

Genevieve might be unwilling to acknowledge the connection between them, but her willingness to share his bed was unmistakable. What she didn’t know was just how badly he wanted to be her lover. If there was anything he understood well, it was how much he desired Genevieve.

The memory of her rising from the water that summer day at the pond tightened his muscles. Every other woman in the world had faded into oblivion as he’d lusted after Genevieve that sunny afternoon. He’d finally possessed that divine body at the croft more than a month ago, and the woman was still driving him insane with need every time she found him alone.

Peter had never questioned his sudden aversion to her company, but a few weeks before his death, his friend had made a confession. When Peter had asked Theo to watch over Genevieve if anything happened to him, his friend had explained he’d made the request because he knew Theo cared for her. For the first time, Peter had informed Theo that he’d witnessed his reaction to Genevieve that day at the pond.

The revelation had left Theo speechless, while Peter had reacted with sarcastic amusement, calling him an ass for thinking he could hide his feelings from his best friend. Now, as he saw Ansbach holding Genevieve closer than Theo found socially acceptable, he narrowed his eyes on the count and frowned with displeasure. When in the hell would this infernal dance end?

“Ansbach seems to be enthralled with her.”

Jamie’s comment said he’d read Theo’s foul mood well, and was attempting to distract him while fishing for information. Skillfully, Theo side-stepped the real question behind his cousin’s observation.

“Yes, and I find that deeply troubling considering Genevieve’s proclivity for taking risks,” Theo glanced around them to ensure they wouldn’t be overheard, and lowered his voice. “The incident a month ago is a prime example.”

“Agreed, and it irritates the blue blazes out of me that C won’t see reason and remove her from the field,” Jamie murmured.

“Do you honestly think he’s any different from any other man when it comes to being swayed by a pretty face? Especially one as beautiful as Genevieve’s?”

Theo’s mouth tightened at the thought. He didn’t like having to add his own name to that group. He wanted to believe he was one of the few men who could resist Genevieve’s gift of persuasion and beautiful face, but he was no longer certain that was possible.

At the moment, it was taking every bit of willpower he possessed not to charge out onto the dance floor and drag Genevieve away from Ansbach. What he really wanted to do was find some place private where he’d take his time teasing her into a delirious state of need. He wanted to hear her pleading with him to bury himself inside her, followed by the sound of his name on her lips as she shattered in his arms.

The erotic thought made his cock stir in his trousers, and he swallowed hard. He needed to keep his thoughts focused on sensible things. If he didn’t, he was likely to sink further into the reckless behavior all Rockwoods were known for. God knows his resistance to Genevieve hung by a thread as it was. The woman had been making good on her promise that she intended to make it as difficult as possible for him to refuse becoming her lover.

Since her return to London almost three weeks ago, Theo had been keeping track of her movements. In that time, Genevieve had made it a point to be as flirtatious and provocative as possible. Most of the time it was easy to extricate himself from any intimate setting he stumbled into where she was concerned. The one exception was the carriage.

When he escorted her to a social event, such as tonight’s ball, the carriage was one of the most agonizing of all modes of transportation. The confining space made it damn difficult to resist her sensual innuendos without the urge to drag her onto his lap, hike up her skirts and sit her down on his cock. The imagery in his head stirred the beast in his trousers again, and he forced himself to focus his thoughts on Ansbach.

The man was slowly, but surely, becoming a strong suspect in their hunt for the bastard who’d killed Peter and other agents. Not to mention the spy who’d almost killed Val this past June. But Ansbach’s family connection to King George made for a difficult and volatile situation. One didn’t decide to investigate a cousin of the king, no matter how far removed from the throne, without a great deal of evidence, and certainly not without informing the king.

“Lord Selbourne, how lovely to see you this evening.” The husky feminine voice made Theo turn his head to see Althea Haywood, Viscountess Halliwell, smiling up at him.

“Althea,” he said with a warm smile. “You’re looking as lovely as ever.”

Theo took her hand and brushed the air over her fingers with his lips. Widowed several years ago, every time Althea appeared on the arm of a new suitor, rumors of a permanent liaison swept through the Set. But Althea remained unmarried. She’d once told Theo that she enjoyed her freedom to do as she liked, free of any man’s absolute control. Genevieve had said almost the exact same thing that day in the croft.

In that instant, Theo understood why Genevieve was so adamant in refusing to become his wife. She had far more unspeakable reasons than Althea to reject his proposal. Beside him, Jamie’s elbow dug into his side, and Theo grunted with irritation before he made the introductions.

Jamie took the viscountess’s hand and pressed his mouth to her gloved fingers, his lips lingering just a moment longer than necessary as he looked up to meet the woman’s eyes for a long moment. A light rose color flooded the woman’s cheeks, and she smiled at Theo’s cousin with a hint of bemusement.

“Be forewarned, Althea, my cousin is renowned for breaking hearts. Take everything he says with a grain of salt.”

“Thank you, I shall do that,” the viscountess said with a laugh as she met Theo’s gaze. At her reply, Jamie glared at Theo, which made Althea laugh harder.

He had met the viscountess more than two years ago, and of all the women Theo had dallied with, Althea was the most intelligent and witty. While the viscountess had made it clear she wouldn’t object to taking their relationship beyond a simple liaison, she’d never made him feel pressured to do so.

Theo was grateful for that because he liked Althea. Once their affair had ended, they’d remained friends, although he wondered how Genevieve might feel about his being friends with his one-time mistress.. As her laughter faded, Althea pressed her small, dainty hand over his arm to squeeze it gently.

“I was sorry to hear of your loss, Theo,” she said softly. “Peter was kind to me. I liked him very much. He was a good man, and the world is less bright without him.”

Althea’s expression of sympathy made Theo stiffen in surprise as he studied her face. The sadness on her features made him believe Althea had known Peter better than he’d realized. His best friend had always been a knight in shining armor for anyone who needed help, but Althea’s voice and expression made him think Peter had done something important for the viscountess. Theo was about to query the woman further when he heard Genevieve’s laughter-filled voice behind him.

“You’re a rogue, Lord Ansbach. I’ve already danced with you twice this evening.”

“How could I know you would refuse me if I did not at least ask the question,” Ansbach chuckled.