Page 50 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
“I wonder who has made you come to this realization? A widower Duke perhaps?”
Enjoying the soothing brush strokes, Charlotte shut her eyes. “Maybe, but even if it turns out he’s not the man for me, I will wait.”
“Even if it means never having a child?” Flora exclaimed, brushing intently.
Charlotte swallowed back her devastation at that thought. “There are plenty of unwanted children in this world. I could give them a wonderful home and life.”
Flora stopped brushing and hugged Charlotte. “Yes, you could.” She started brushing in earnest again. “But wouldn’t it be far more wonderful to capture the heart of a duke who needs a child?”
Charlotte beamed at her friend. “I think he’s definitely worth risking my heart on. Even though he’s been so badly hurt, he simply needs to be shown how easy it is to open up and trust in love again with a woman who would never hurt him.”
“And you are just such a woman. Do you have a plan?”
Watching herself in the mirror as Flora brushed her hair, Charlotte explained, “Honesty is the key to making him trust me. I think most women try to persuade, beguile, tease and trap. Perhaps I just need to sit down and have an honest conversation with him. Tell him what’s in my heart and what I would like.”
Flora put the brush down, and their eyes met in the mirror. Flora took in her nightdress and robe. “Then I know exactly where His Grace is, and we all know how men do love to be fussed over when indisposed.” Charlotte giggled. “And you are most certainly appropriately dressed for a visit to his bedchamber.”
“Flora, that’s scandalous.” Then Charlotte smiled like the cat who’d caught not one, but two mice. “And I think I need a bit of scandal in my life.”
ChapterSixteen
Charlotte nervously stood outside Lord Sinclair’s bedchamber. Cowardice would not get her closer to what she wanted. But entering Sin’s bedchamber was—sinful. The thought made her smile briefly and reminded her she wanted to take a risk this night.
With a deep breath she didn’t knock, but merely opened the door and slipped inside, closely it softly behind her. To her surprise, he wasn’t in bed. She bit back her disappointment, thinking he must be with the men downstairs. What should she do?
She eyed the bed and the idea of slipping between the sheets to wait for him flashed in her head. She took a step toward the bed when a voice in the shadows uttered, “You are probably in the safest place in this house right now, hiding in my room.”
“Safe?” She glanced at the bed. “Perhaps not. Nor am I hiding.” She moved to sit on the end of his bed, her heart galloping in her chest at the overwhelming sight of him. He wandered further into the room, naked except for a pair of under britches. She’d never seen a naked man, or a virtually naked man except for his fine linen, before.
He prowled ever nearer. She didn’t move, could scarcely breathe, for she could feel his desire, his gaze taking in every inch of her robe covered body as if she too were virtually naked. She instinctively pulled the edges of her robe together.
He smiled as he came to stand between her legs and gently pulled her hands off the opening of her robe. “Not so brave, either.” He placed her hands on his naked chest, and she couldn’t suppress her shiver. “Is this why you are here?” Lord Sinclair enquired in a low, gravelly voice laden with desire.
She didn’t answer, stunned by the feel of the muscle under her hands. The sensations swamping her body were new and exciting. With him, she was not afraid. She looked up into his face and wished he would open his shuttered heart.Make love to me, she thought.Trust me not to hurt you. She briefly closed her eyes, aching for him deep in the core of her being.
“Don’t be afraid.”
She opened her eyes, embarrassed that at her age she knew so little. “I’m not afraid.” She hesitated. “Maybe I am. I’m afraid you’ll turn me away, and that I’ll never feel like this with any man ever again.”
“You overestimate my honor if you think I could send you away. I want you more than I want my next breath.”
She searched his handsome face, looking for a reason he would want her so much. She wasn’t a beauty; she wasn’t even that young.
He leaned over her, ensuring she lay back on his bed. His enormous bed. “You spoke of trust earlier today. You want me to open my heart and trust in love again, yet you don’t trust in my desire for you. Are you a hypocrite?”
She held her breath, searching his sensual eyes, as she shook her head. He watched her in hungry approval, his eyes alight with fire.
Charlotte whispered, “Teach me what I have missed all my adult life.”
He needed no further encouragement. He prowled over her and on powerful arms, leaned in and kissed her. His mouth tasted of wine and cheroots, and the newness of his questing tongue thrilled her.
When at last he ended the kiss, his breathing was deep, hot, and heavy. He gripped her chin with his fingertips and gazed into her eyes. “I want to make this special for you. But I won’t take your innocence. I won’t take your choices away from you.”
Briefly, her promise to Devlin flashed in her mind and she brutally pushed it aside, guiltily wishing that she’d never offered such a promise. She had no words, so she merely nodded.
With his gaze still locked with hers, he leaned on one elbow and with one hand slowly pulled apart the sash holding her robe together. She let her fingers tangle in his soft ebony curls while he slowly kissed her throat, kissing and licking down one side and up the other. When he nipped her earlobe, his breath caressing her soft skin, she arched off the bed, pushing into his muscled body.
The heat of his body consumed her as he came full atop her, kissing her mouth again as her hands roamed the bare skin of his back. The closeness was so sensual; she was lost and thought she might weep. If this is all that happened tonight, she would be content.
