Page 52 of Saving a Scoundrel
“Yes?”
“This hallway is empty. Everyone is watching the performance.” She reached out to run her fingers down the lapels of his jacket.
“Ellie.” He took a step back. “You have that look again.”
“What look?” Ellie feigned innocence. Why was he always retreating? She closed the distance between them.
“The one where you are about to kiss me.” He took another step away. His back hitting the wall.
“I was thinking about that ugly chaise in your office.”
“You were?”
“Yes. Every night since Sunday, as I lay in bed.” Ellie gazed up into his eyes. The desire she saw reflected there made her feel bold, wanton even. She went up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. “Do you think about it?” she murmured against his mouth.
His hands slipped around her waist, and he brought her flush against him. “Every damn day. God Ellie, you are divine temptation.”
She liked that.Divine temptation.“I never thought of myself as the kind of woman who would be tempting. The kind of woman, like the heroines in my books, who elicit grand gestures and flowing poetry from the hero of the story.”
Lucius brushed his lips across hers. “I am nobody’s hero, but I do know that you drive me wild with need. That I cannot forget the taste of your quim, nor the softness of your skin, nor the rosy pink of your nipples.” His lips took possession of hers, and she melted into him. His tongue delved into her mouth, hot and demanding. She wrapped her arms around him, grasping his shoulders to hang on as their desire burned hot between them. The scent and the heat of him intoxicated her like no amount of champagne could.
Lucius pulled back suddenly. His head cocked to one side. Ellie froze; she heard it, too. The sound of male laughter floated down the corridor. Lucius grasped her hand and, in three strides, had them through the curtain back inside their box. He pressed her against the wall right inside the curtain. He placed a finger to her lips. The male voices became louder as they passed by and then faded again.
“I don’t think they saw us,” he whispered.
Ellie’s heart raced at top speed. She glanced sideways to the front of the box. Mr. and Mrs. Grisham still watched the performance. Had they even noticed they were gone?
“Probably not,” Lucius replied as though he had read her thoughts. He briefly leaned his forehead against hers. “You are one dangerous kitten.”
He grinned, and Ellie could only grin back. Who was she these days? Apparently, a lady who tempted scandal by kissing men in public corridors. She didn’t care. She was having too much fun. “Worth it. Your kisses are worth a bit of danger to my reputation.”
Lucius straightened and shook his head. “Come on. I’ll get you a glass of wine, and we will stroll around like respectable patrons. We can play my favorite game.”
Ellie followed him back out into the hallway. “What’s your favorite game?”
“Guess who is secretly sleeping with whom.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lucius strode upto the Dearborn’s townhouse. Today there would be no shenanigans of any sort. He had planned out a fun day all in public, where he would not be tempted to kiss the girl. When had Ellie Spencer become so irresistible? Things had gotten out of hand at the opera the other night. Then yesterday he had received a message from Ellie,Another adventure? I’m free tomorrow afternoon.Viola was right; this woman had gotten under his skin. He hadn’t been able to say no.
This morning he had worked his shift at Macdougal Brewing, and he’d accepted a dinner invitation for Friday evening at Mac’s house. Lucius had not seen Katy Macdougal since last week at Ascot. He knew he was not putting in the effort he should to properly woo the girl. His heart simply wasn’t in it.
The door opened, and over the butler’s shoulder, he spotted Ellie tying the ribbons from her hat into a neat bow under her chin. As fresh as a rose in the garden, she wore a pale pink dress with a darker pink spencer jacket. She glanced over and smiled at him, and he knew exactly where his heart had strayed. This wouldn’t do. He and Ellie Spencer were friends going out to spend a friendly day together. As friends.
He swallowed hard around his rationalizations and held out a hand as she approached. “Ready?”
“Yes.” Ellie gave the butler a sunny smile. “Thank you, Mr. Lewin.”
As they made their way down the street, Ellie slipped her arm through his. “So?”
“So?” he teased in return.
“I’ve worn my comfortable walking shoes as you instructed. Where are we going?”
“It’s not on your list, but I thought today we would take a poor man’s walking tour of London bookshops. Now not all of them. There are dozens in London. But you can’t come to town and only visit one bookshop. So I’ve mapped out three others we can visit if you are up to walking.”
Ellie stopped in her tracks and turned to him with a look of incredulity. “You are taking me to visit bookshops?”
