Page 70 of His Scandal
“Flirt? I never think of calling it that. I pay women the respect they deserve, treat them the way they want to be treated.”
“Well, that might be going too far, Alex.”
“Really? Then you do not like things like this?” He caught her hand and brought it up to his mouth, letting his lips learn the smooth feel of her skin. When he didn’t release her quickly, he felt a slight tremor run through her hand.
“I—I’m sure other ladies enjoy…such things.”
Still holding her hand, he glanced up at her. “Does Maxwell do this?”
“No.”
“Ah, then this is a skill I can teach.”
“Yes, I guess so. Now that you grasp the idea, let us go back inside.”
“Wait, my lady, I’m not sure what else I can teach him. What about…this?”
He caught her arms and drew her forward to where he leaned on the balustrade. Her full skirts pressed into his legs, and with just a little more pressure, he would feel her hips against his. But there was time for that yet. He leaned down toward her, hearing the catch in her breathing, feeling her hands clutch the fabric covering his chest. Her lips glistened, and it was only through sheer willpower that he turned his head and pressed his mouth to her neck. God, he wanted her,needed her in his bed, and his frustrated desire was maddening.
Her gasp sounded loud in his ear. “Surely this is going too far,” she whispered.
He trailed his lips to the edge of the ruff at her throat, then back up. His tongue traced the shell of her ear and she shivered. “But ’tis effective, is it not?”
“But…but it’s not what a gentleman would do,” she answered breathlessly.
“But it’s what amanwould do.” He lifted his head and looked down into her eyes, feeling her breath against his mouth, wanting desperately to kiss her. “Very well, so that’s not what I’m supposed to teach him. What do you wish of me?”
Her eyes were dazed, and he could almost see her try to rally her thoughts. He wanted to gloat in triumph, to tell her that Willoughby would never make her feel this way. But he would bide his time.
“You’re supposed to teach him what to say to a lady,” she finally answered, her gaze on his mouth, “how to amuse her.”
“Ah. I know quite well how to amuse a lady.”
He waited, allowing her imagination to expand on his words.
