Page 67 of His Scandalous Viscountess
He looked up and offered her a tired but pleasant smile.
Suddenly doubting her plan, she tucked her hand behind her back and halted where she was, across the room. He had settled into a chair by a small fire with a snifter of brandy. She knew he preferred that to whisky just before bed.
“I thought I’d just check in before retiring.”
She tried to hide her consternation at finding him so relaxed and unguarded. Tired, even.
He stared at her a moment. “Check in?”
Her cheeks heated. “Yes, well, to see if you needed anything.”
She wanted to curse herself for feeling and acting so awkward. She was a woman of experience, and yet seeing him looking so worn out yet still pleased to see her had her tied in knots. She’d been about to ask him to tie her up, spank her, and then fuck her, but seeing him like this stopped her.
She didn’t wish to impose on him.
Dear God, she was a mess. Didn’t wish to impose on him? This was herhusband.
She wasn’t asking him to tea; she was asking him to pleasure her. To do so to the point she had no walls left to hide behind. Disgusted with herself, she huffed out a breath, which only appeared to pique his interest.
Wolf sat up and set his drink down on the table next to him. “No, I can’t say there is anything I need at the moment.”
She started to turn and retreat.
“However, if you’d like to join me by the fire, your company is always welcome.”
He watched her, studying her like a specimen he was trying to learn and understand.
She tilted her head. “No, I’ll just head to bed.”
She turned, keeping her hand with the robe belts hidden in her skirts. She’d just reached the door once more when he stopped her.
“Jules, what’s in your hand?”
She closed her eyes and cursed under her breath as her stomach summersaulted. “Nothing.”
As though he had materialized out of thin air, his breath caressed her neck as he spoke from just behind her. “Do not lie to me, Jules.”
And then he pulled the silk ties from her clenched fist.
Her face burned. Not merely her cheeks, but her whole face flushed with the heat of her embarrassment.
He shifted around to lean against the wall by the doorway where she stood. “My, my, my. What have we here?” He ran the silk belts through his hands. Over and over again. “I wonder what my wife had in mind as she carried these about?”
Her body quivered. The problem was, now she wasn’t sure if it was from fear or anticipation. Possibly a little of both. Without a doubt, there was no turning back now. She bit her lip and waited to see what would happen.
“Nothing to say?” He no longer looked tired as he stood there holding the ties. “Conceivably she intended to tie me up and have her wicked way with me?”
She closed her eyes. “No.”
“I see. Then perhaps she wished for me to tieherup?”
His voice had grown husky, thick with arousal.
A strangled noise escaped her throat as her eyes flew open. “Do not torture me. You know very well what I intended.”
She glared at him balefully.
He reached up and swept a stray hair from her face with a tenderness that stalled her breathing. “Why are you leaving without asking for what you need?”
