Page 29 of Sinful Scottish Laird
“What, then?” he asked, his brows dipping.
“Pardon?”
“Why do you look at me in that manner?”
A warm blush crept into her cheeks. “Ah...” She gathered herself. “The cheroots are here. Would you mind?” she asked, and held out the candle for him to take. She opened the larder door, then retrieved her candle from him. “I’ll be only a moment.” And with that she disappeared down the short flight of stairs into the storeroom.
Arrandale didn’t remain behind to wait like an obedient puppy. She heard him and turned to see his boots. Then his trews. Then the rest of him, ducking down beneath the slant of ceiling before reaching the floor. The larder was scarcely large enough for two people, and he stood awfully close to her as he looked around at the food they’d stored.
“Nowwhat are you doing?” she asked with more exasperation than she felt. “There’s not enough room—”
“I couldna bear another long-winded tale.” He smiled conspiratorially, and when he did, it seemed as if the entire larder was illuminated with it. Daisyfeltilluminated with it. Oh, but that was a beautiful smile, a smile that could tempt Daisy to do any number of things she really ought not to do.
“You’re doing it again,” he said, shifting closer to her.
“Doing what, pray?”
His attention moved to her mouth. “Looking at me as if I’m a piece of cake that you’d very much like to eat.”
He’d seen through her completely, and Daisy didn’t care. “Still flattering yourself, are you?” His lips were so...lush.She imagined the touch of them—wondered if they would be firm or soft on her lips. Firm or soft on her skin? On her thighs? On her breast? She hid a small shiver. “You accuse me of trifling with you, and yet you are the one following me into the larder to seduce me.”
“Hmm,” he said contemplatively and shifted so close to her that Daisy had to move backward so that she was standing with her back against the shelving. “You donna know me, Lady Chatwick, but if you did, you would know that if I meant to seduce you...” He paused, allowed his gaze to waft over her and down, to her décolletage. “You would have no question of it.”
Daisy ardently wanted to know how this man would seduce her. “You mistake me for a woman with no knowledge of the world, sir, but I know a notorious bachelor when I’ve met him. I know how he seduces.”
He grinned. “Notorious, am I?” He braced his hand against the shelf at her head, and Daisy’s heart began to race as he wolfishly devoured her with his eyes. “Aye, you’re right, I am. I’m no gentleman,leannan,and I’ve a very strong desire at the moment to show you what has made menotorious.”
She had an equally strong desire to see it. Daisy couldn’t help herself; she reached up and brushed a tress of hair that had fallen over his eye. “Do you mean to show me now?” she asked and lifted her face slightly, so that there was no question of the invitation to kiss her.Show me! Show me, Arrandale. Show me before it melts away.Blood rushed in her veins, pooling heavy in her groin. Maybe she’d drunk too much of the wine, but she’d like it very much if he lifted her skirts and slid into her now, pumping his body into hers, taking her like a night’s fevered dream. She could all but feel his hands on her skin, the warmth of his body against hers. She could all but taste those succulent lips and smell the scent of his skin.
Arrandale shifted closer, his hand sliding into the shelf near her head. He was so close now, his lips a mere breadth from hers, and Daisy’s blood rushed harder, making it difficult to breathe.
“Do you think every man you meet lusts after you, Lady Chatwick?” he asked in a rough whisper.
“Most,” she admitted.
One of his dark brows floated above the other. “You are so full of conceit it’s a wonder you donna explode, aye?”
It was a wonder she’d not exploded, but not because of her conceit. Because every nerve, every muscle pulsed with want. “Shall I pretend it’s not true? Shall I pretend to be an innocent? Would that please you?”
He laughed softly, the sound of it rich and silky, caressing her from head to toe.Kiss me. Just kiss me.
“On the contrary,” he murmured. “I’d be disappointed if you pretended to be anything but who you are.”
Daisy sucked in a breath to steady herself. He was going to kiss her, and every bit of her shimmered in anticipation. She’d gladly follow him down any path he led her. Waiting for it, she closed her eyes.
She felt him shift closer, and now she felt the fabric of his coat against her bosom. She parted her lips...
“But even a woman who is often lusted after ought to have a care for whom she seduces. Men are vile creatures and will take advantage.”
What?Daisy opened her eyes. Arrandale smirked with triumph. He faded back from her and held up the box of cheroots. “I believe this is what your uncle wants, is it no’?”
She gaped at him.The dirty, rotten bounder!He’d baited her, and she, like a green little debutante, had taken it. “That was badly done,” she said darkly.
Arrandale chuckled. “Who was it, then, who said she would trifle with whomever she pleased, and if I was offended, I should stay away?”
“And who was it who said he had no intention of engaging me in a flirtation?” she shot back.
“Lass, you play with fire—”
