Page 58 of Lord of Mistrust

“The bosom is a well-known hiding place used by ladies. I didn’t search there until I’d exhausted all other possibilities.”

“So, just how did you search me there?” She ought to cease talking. She didn’t want him to answer her in words. She was enjoying the “demonstration” far too much.

“Chloe, do you have the faintest idea what this is doing to me?” His voice was hoarse.

Her eyes snapped open to see his handsome face hovering mere inches above her own. His eyes were dark and full of hunger, but his jaw was clenched. Had she pushed him too far? Made him angry?

“I can’t offer forgiveness until you’ve completed your penance.” She closed her eyes, firmed her lips… and waited.

She heard Robert sigh as he slid his hand down her breastbone into the space between her breasts. Her nipples peaked instantly, but he pulled back, leaving her bereft.

“That was all I did. So, now you know all the sins that should be laid at my door. Am I not the most despicable of men?”

She opened her eyes again. “You’re a poor judge of character and apt to distrust people, but I wouldn’t call you despicable. I hereby exonerate you of all guilt.”

He was still leaning over her, and she could feel his breath on her exposed chest. He was smiling gently, his eyes focused on her lips. She had the fish on the hook—now she must draw him in.

“So, was there anything else you didn’t do, but wanted to?”

He rolled his eyes and groaned. “Do you know what happens when you tempt a man beyond endurance?”

She shook her head. “Am I about to find out?”

“I rather think you are.”

She kept her eyes open. She didn’t want to miss any of the things his response implied. Nor was she going to be left out. When he tugged her shift down to fully expose her breasts, she reached up and rapidly unbuttoned his doublet.

“Take it off,” she demanded.

“As the lady wishes.” He shrugged out of it and cast it on the floor, then lowered his head and took one nipple in his mouth, stirring it to a frenzied ache with his tongue. Her back arched, pushing her body closer to his, and he knelt astride her, then turned his attention to her other breast.

This was more than she could have hoped for. This was sinful perfection. Desperate to feel Robert’s flesh against hers, she tugged at the waistband of his Venetians until his shirt came loose. Excited, her fingers explored the firm smoothness of his heated skin, running up his sides and across the muscular planes of his chest. Her hands dug into his powerful shoulders, then became tangled in his shirt.

“Won’t you take this off, too?”

He sat up, his chest heaving, his hands still stroking her breasts in mute appreciation.

“Nay, wench. We go too far. I want time to enjoy you, without fear of interruption.”

Without fear of interruption… merciful heaven, what was the hour? Her aunt and uncle would be back at any moment. They must make themselves presentable and get below before any further damage was done to her reputation.

She sat up and retied her shift. “So long as that is the only reason you stopped. It’s not because you don’t want me.”

He rested his head against hers, then kissed the exposed column of her neck.

“Chloe, I adore you. But we have to stop before any damage is done. Believe me, there’s a lot more that I would love to show you and teach you. But as I said, what I have in mind requires time and privacy—and plenty of both.”

He handed her bodice to her, then pulled his doublet back on and stood to tuck his shirt in. She could feel his heated gaze as she laced up her bodice, and as soon as she’d finished, he sat next to her and took her in his arms.

“You said you loved me—if not in so many words.” His lips brushed over her hair, then her cheek. “How do I know what you feel for me is more than a passing fancy?”

She pulled back and gazed into his intense, haunting, blue eyes. “I never thought you were afraid of risk, Sir Robert. Nor of pain. I had you down for a hot-headed hero who would do anything to win the fair damsel—was I mistaken?”

He chuckled. “I’m afraid you were not mistaken. I am that fool, but a fool who would love above anything for you to take that risk with me and become my wife. I may have little to offer at present but—”

“Hush. You know I don’t care about that—”

“No. But I might!”