Page 30 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
The last thing Drake would expect was a brazen invitation from Millie.
He’d probably slam the door in my face and lock it against me.
Which was best. Engaging in her ever-growing desires for Drake would hardly encourage a distant marriage. Millie purposefully turned her back on the dratted door. She toed off her slippers and walked to the fireplace, letting the cheerful flames warm her.
The sound of her door opening and shutting alerted her to Penny’s arrival. ‘I hope you brought your salve, Penny. I want nothing more than to rid myself of this dress and go to sleep.’
‘What a splendid plan.’ The rough growl most decidedly didnotbelong to Penny.
Millie spun around to see Major General Drake still in his dinner jacket. He leaned against the door leading to the hall. All the moisture in her mouth dried in an instant, along with every logical thought in her brain.
Bloody hell.
‘For a gently bred lady, you certainly have a filthy mouth, Millicent.’
Millie felt her cheeks heat. ‘Oh dear. Did I say that out loud?’
‘You did.’
It was then she noticed the small pot in his hands. Penny’s salve.
‘What are you doing here? With that.’ She nodded to his hands.
‘Penny refused to tell me what ailed you. A loyal creature, that woman. Still, with my masterful skills at discerning truth from lies, I was able to deduce your injured state.’
Millie was at a loss. ‘Truly?’ A stupid response, but it was all she could think to say.
Drake shrugged, his powerful shoulders shifting under the fine material of his jacket. ‘Also, she accidentally dropped the salve when I intercepted her in the hall. I gave her the night off despite her protests. Her willingness to defy orders reminded me quite a bit of you, Millicent.’
Millie’s cheeks heated at the insult that felt remarkably closer to a compliment.
‘I’m to act as your lady’s maid tonight.’
8
Alarm coursed through Millie’s body like an electric current. She felt the tingle of anticipation tighten her skin as her stomach clenched and the tips of her breasts budded.
Incredibly inconvenient time to develop such sensitive nipples.
‘You can’t be serious. This is completely untoward. You cannot mean to?—’
‘I mean to do many things with you, Millicent. But don’t fret. I promise not to consummate our marriage until we are actually married.’ He bit his bottom lip and Millie almost melted into a puddle on the rug.
She stepped back, mindful of the fire crackling behind her. The last thing she needed to do was catch her skirt on fire. ‘C-consummate the marriage? But surely there is no need.’
Drake stepped closer, his icy gaze burning with a blue flame. ‘I admit I thought that too, but then we had that most enlightening discussion in my study and I reconsidered.’
‘You reconsidered?’ She felt like a rather dull-witted parrot repeating his words.
‘Yes. I reconsidered. Do you feel it? The tension pulling between us? The delicious heat?’
In lieu of a response, Millie attempted to breathe normally.
Drake continued, seemingly unconcerned with her difficulties aspirating. ‘It occurred to me at dinner the best way to rid oneself of a craving is to indulge in the temptation. Haven’t you ever gorged on cake until the very sight of frosting makes you ill?’
The air had certainly thinned since Major General Drake began speaking. Perhaps he was using it all up with his wild suggestions. Just the thought of him gorging on her was the most erotic thing Millie had ever heard. Her earlier determination to deny her lust for him fled right along with her wits.
Sweet baby Beelzebub!
