Page 30 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
He reached out and took her hand, pulling her round until she was trapped between his legs and the piano. Slowly, he rose to his feet, her eyes never leaving his face as he rose to tower over her. “If I was kind, I would not do this.”
He took her chin between his fingers and angled her head for a kiss.
Before she could say one word, he hauled her into his arms and kissed her. Something he’d wanted to do since she’d walked into the music room and yet he knew he shouldn’t. However, she didn’t fight him but simply pressed closer, her arms rising to wrap tightly around his neck.
His heart was pounding like a drum in his chest, drowning out all thought, all sounds, until every feeling centered on the woman, warm and supple in his arms.
His hands roamed over her, giving thanks for the fashion of flimsy silk dresses. Curves abounded in all the right places, and when his hands molded her bottom for the tenth time, he pulled her closer, letting her feel his need of her.
She sighed into his mouth and her hands stroked his back, down to his buttocks, which she gripped in order to rub herself along the hard length of him.
He lost all reason. Not caring who might stumble across them—not even Devlin.
Slowly, the ferociousness of the embrace and kiss lessened, and in its place was gentleness.
Her lips softened invitingly under his and at the tentative touch of her tongue on his own, Sin felt an emotion akin to triumph. He was careful not to tangle his fingers in her hair, but really he wanted to let the thick auburn tresses cascade over him in a sensual cloak.
Charlotte was making small sounds of pleasure deep in her throat. A sound that he would remember—forever. How unfair was life? If not for circumstances….
Finally, she pulled back, just enough to look into his face. “I can’t do this, Your Grace.” Back to formalities. “I’m looking for a husband, not a dalliance.” She paused. “I think your revelations about your uncle would make it appear you did not wish to be added to my list of likely husbands, and I cannot be your mistress.”
He stepped back and felt her loss immediately. “I refuse to regret that kiss.”
She cupped his cheek with her palm. “I will remember it always because the passion was freely given. For one moment I was wanted, and by a handsome duke.” With that, she glided across the room, and he couldn’t help feeling that letting her go was a mistake he would live to regret.
* * *
Charlotte kept her composure until she left the room. Then she gulped in big breaths, fighting back her tears. She almost crumpled under the weight of her disappointment. Even if she’d shared her secret, it was unlikely Sin would take a risk in a marriage to her. He wanted certainty. He wanted a woman who he knew without a shadow of a doubt could provide his heir. Besides, his heart was broken, and she wasn’t sure she could ever repair it.
She blindly made her way back toward her room, with her dream of telling him about her white marriage and him then falling madly in love with her, shattered.
Charlotte was so lost in her misery, she did not perceive the man in front of her until he stepped out of the shadows. “Lord Bann, you startled me.”
He crowded her up against the wall. “I’m not a patient man, but I think you’re worth the wait if I know there is something to wait for.”
She tried not to get angry. “This is not the way to impress me, Lord Bann.”
“But kissing you in the music room is? I can kiss you now if you wish.”
He leaned close, and she pushed against his chest. Charlotte drew back and declared with a haughty voice, “Unhand me this instant. Were you spying on me? That is not how a gentleman behaves. I think you should leave come first light.”
He didn’t kiss her again, but he sneered, “I don’t think that I will. I’d have to tell everyone how I saw you kissing, or I might even suggest you did more than kiss the Duke after he asked you to be his mistress. Wouldn’t that ruin your week? Especially the regard of Lord Devlin or Lord Toobury.”
He was right. Before he could say more, Lord Sanders appeared strolling down the hall. “Lady Charlotte, is everything all right?”
She elbowed out of Bann’s hold. “Quite all right, thank you, my lord. Lord Bann appears to be lost. I wonder if you could show him the way back to the billiard room?”
“I was just making my way to bed, but if you go back down that way and take the first stairway to the left, my lord, you’ll find it.”
Bann gave her one more furious look before taking his leave. She smiled up at Lord Sanders. She really might look more closely at the quiet, contained Lord. What was his situation? A widower with elder children and in no need of money, she had heard, so why had he accepted her invitation? “Thank you, my lord. I shall see you in the morning.”
“A trip to the seaside, I believe. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stop at the river on the way back to fish. I might even catch something for dinner.”
“That would be perfect, my lord. Goodnight.” The fishing. He was renowned for his love of the sport. Perhaps that drew him here.
The rest of the trip to her room was uneventful, but this time she would lock her door once her maid left, and she was pleased to have Bella with her. Bella would allow no one into her room without alerting her.
As she lay in bed, she crossed Bann off her list and made the decision that it was time to find out what Lord Devlin wished to do. Lord Sinclair was correct in that Toobury would be a fine match, but Devlin needed her more than she needed to marry. She owed it to his family to give him first choice. Then again, she was no more responsible for his situation than Devlin himself was.
