Page 100 of More than Tempted

She crossed the room and reached for his hands. They were large and warm and oh so comforting. “Mr Masters is to duel with Sir Thomas at dawn.” She told him all she knew and of Mina’s hope that she might find a resolution.

“Masters won’t tolerate her interference. He’s been far too lenient of late and has a reputation to uphold. Indeed, I imagine she will come to regret her decision.”

“Then you need to help me forget about Mina’s troubles tonight. Else I shall pace the floor until I wear a hole in the Persian rug.”

He drew her closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “You want me to muddle your mind, love? Like I did this afternoon?”

Erotic images flashed before her eyes. “I don’t want to think about anything but how you make me feel.”

“I’d take you home now, but Miss Ferrington has our carriage, and we can’t leave a party held in our honour.”

She glanced at the chaise and then back at Nicholas.

He grinned. “I hear you, but we cannot make love here.”

Her pulse thumped hard in her throat at the thought, but he was right. “Then we shall make our guests happy and take to the floor for the waltz. It will be the first time we’ve danced together.”

“We danced in the garden last night beneath the moonlight.”

“If we dance like that here, we’ll cause a scandal.” He had caressed every inch of her body, and there’d been less than a hair’s breadth between them. “Do you know how often I’ve watched you dance and wished I was your partner?” It hurt her heart to think of it now.

“A dozen?”

“Too many to count.”

He sighed. “I couldn’t ask you to dance. I couldn’t hold you close knowing you could never be mine.” He pressed his lips to her forehead, then her nose, then captured her mouth in a passionate kiss. “Let me lead you around the floor in the first dance of many. We’ll fight to keep a respectable distance while indecent thoughts fill our heads.”

Excitement coursed through her at the prospect. And minutes later, when she placed her gloved hand on his arm and let him lead her out onto the floor amid shimmering candlelight, she said a silent thank you to fate.

She would have Nicholas St Clair’s company for a lifetime.

She would spend thousands of nights in his bed.

Spend an eternity saying I love you!

And it would be utter bliss.