Page 38 of Wickeds Scandal
Sutton pondered that difficultquestion. How to explain to Alex that he wanted her. But it wasmore than wanting. He desired the whole of her for an inexplicablereason. She called to something deep inside of him. The Badgerbelonged to him. Just thinking about Alex with Runyon filled him with blindingrage. No amount of brandy, nor the charms of every beautiful woman inLondon, not even the thought of returning to Macao drove thoughts of Alex fromhis mind. Seeing Runyon put his hands on the Badger, hisAlex,made Sutton nearly insane. Sutton had many reasons for wanting Archiedead, but he had found another. Alex.
Afternoon sun peeked through the skylightabove their heads, casting shadows across the path through the exhibit hall.The silence was so complete he heard each breath she took. His fingerslingered over the buttons.
“I wish you to call me Sutton.” Thewords hovered in the quiet.
Why didn’t she say something? Moveaway?
Sutton blew a puff of air on her neck,unable to resist the tiny curls at the base. The curls swayed as ifbuffeted in a breeze. He tugged the long curl that fell over his hand.
The Badger moaned softly. Shearched her back, lowering her head slightly to give him access to herneck.
Sutton’s heart thudded. He pressed his lipsto her skin and nibbled, teasing a path with his tongue. Hewanted to devour her.
Her hands grabbed the bars of the cage infront of her, as if she would fall without support. She gasped.
Sutton thought of throwing her skirts upand taking her here, in the exhibition hall while she grabbed the cage. Agrowl escaped his throat.
“Please.” Alex gave a smoky whisper.
“Please what, Alex? Please take youhere? Please kiss you? Tumble you until you are senseless?”
He heard her intake of breath at thecrudity of his words, but she didn’t flinch. He was nearly blind with thelust he felt for this woman. Sutton wanted nothing in his life as much ashe wanted Alex. His bookish badger from Hampshire.
Alex made a small cry like a trappedbird. She turned slightly as if to flee him.
“No.” His lips whispered againsther neck. His arm wrapped around her waist. “I want you.”
“Lord Reynolds.” She panted.“Sutton,” she implored. “Please let me go. We cannot. Icannot.”
“Don’t be afraid of me. Badgers arefearless, are they not? Certainly not afraid of peacocks.” Sutton swiftlyturned her to face him.
Gray eyes, full of trepidation and want,looked up at him.
His eyes fell to her breasts, hermagnificent breasts, and he imagined he could see the nipples tighten beneathhis gaze.
“Come with me, little one.” Hisarousal was uncomfortably hard in his breeches. He pulled heragainst him and brushed a kiss against her lips. “Please, Alex.”
A gloved finger reached up and ran downhis face. Like the kiss of a butterfly. Fear warred with desire. Hecould see it in her face.
She gave a hesitant nod.
Sutton’s mind chided him for taking undueadvantage of the Badger in her distress. He didn’t care. His handclosed around her wrist tightly, giving her no opportunity to flee.Sutton pulled her down the exhibit hall to a small door he noticedearlier. A maid’s closet. Grabbing her by the waist, he nudged herinto the small space ahead of him. He pulled the door shut, plunging thecloset into darkness. The room smelled of lye and beeswax. Suttonkicked a pail aside with his foot and hauled Alex up against him.
***
I have lost my mind. Alexandra wondered at heractions. A bit of light filtered underneath the door, enough so that shecould see Sutton’s outline, if not his features. She could smelllye. He’d pulled her into a cleaning closet. She should open thedoor and run as fast and as far from this man as she could. But shehadn’t the strength or the will. She wanted him. Just for a moment.Before she faced reality. Mr. Runyon. Betrothal. Marriage.
Strong hands moved down her arms from hershoulders. Heat shot out from his fingers as he caressed and molded herflesh.
A shaky breath escaped her lips.She must tell him. Tell him the thing that now hung around her neck likesome ill-gotten albatross. “I shouldn’t be here with you, LordReynolds.”
“Sutton.”
“Sutton,” she pleaded. “I will bemissed.”
“You won’t be missed for a time.”
“There are circumstances that you may notbe-“The rest of her sentence was cut off by the warmth of his mouth. Hislips pressed against hers, insisting and demanding a response. Tenderly,he forced her mouth open. The tip of his tongue touched her own. Her lipsresponded as her tongue twined around his.
