Page 38 of Cruel Shame

I leaned forward and nodded. “Go on, then.”

He frowned as though not understanding my words.

“You said you wanted to apologize. Now’s your chance.” I picked up my knife and fork and cut myself a healthy slice of pheasant.

Kendrick sucked in a deep breath, his shoulders rising to his ears. “Lilah Hancock, I apologize wholeheartedly and unreservedly for the pain and suffering I caused you in your first term. I placed my faith in the wrong person and ended up hurting an innocent girl. If there is anything I can offer in penance, name it.”

My tongue darted out to lick my lips. As far as apologies went, this one was more formal and direct than his brothers. It even came with an offer of servitude. I pressed my legs together at the thought of having Kendrick at my command.

“You want to make it up to me?” I asked.

He nodded, his eyes bright.

I leaned back and smirked. “That thing we did this morning.”

Kendrick’s lips parted to exhale an excited breath. “Yes?”

“I want you to return the favor.”

He inclined his head and offered me the tiniest of smiles. “I may be amenable to your suggestion.”

Chapter Sixteen

We skipped dessert and booked a room upstairs, filled with the scent of burning pine from a crackling fireplace. A mahogany, four-poster bed took up pride of place on the left wall, adorned with a purple comforter and royal blue cushions. At the base of the bed, a pair of elegant armchairs separated by a low table faced the fireplace on the right side of the room, and a balcony window took up half the back wall consisting of a balcony window that overlooked the lamp-lit gardens.

My breath caught in the back of my throat. “This is—”

“Exquisite?” Kendrick stared down at me, his eyes ablaze, making me think he wasn’t talking about the room.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice breathy. “But I was going to say romantic.”

He turned to the fireplace and frowned. Without telling me, I could guess what was on his mind. A guy like Kendrick, who tolerated years of Elizabeth and valued chastity wouldn’t want to have his first time in a hotel with a girl he barely knew. Kendrick seemed the type who wanted to court a woman for months or at least years before receiving a crumb of affection.

“Don’t worry.” I rocked forward on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss on his lips. “Your virginity is safe with me.”

As I drew back, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his hard body. “You are the most peculiar girl I’ve ever met.”

“Is that a compliment?” I ran my hands over his chest, aching to pull off all those layers.

“That has yet to be decided.”

I swatted him on the chest. “You’re such a dick.”

He smirked. “Are you going to stand here insulting me all night or do you want me to begin my penance?”

“Alright, then.” I stepped back and leaned against the wall. “What are the ground rules?”

He frowned. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“You’re the one with a broom up your ass. Tell me what you will and won’t do.”

Kendrick sniffed and walked to the other side of the room, where there a tall, mahogany cabinet concealed the most elaborate minibars in the history of luxury hotels. One door consisted of shelves containing cups and tumblers and champagne flutes while the other held an array of snacks, such as the type of Belgian cookies they served on the train.

A waist-high counter took up the middle of the bar, holding a coffee machine, kettle, teabags and coffee sachets. Kendrick reached for a pair of tumblers, opened the refrigerator at the bottom and extracted a can of lemonade, poured it into both glasses and returned with a frown.

I bit down on my lip. Did I go too far? This was my first time with a virgin. Max disguised as Kendrick didn’t count because that version of Kendrick was still eager for sex instead of the prickly version offering me a drink.

“Thanks?” I took the glass and sipped at the sparkling liquid.