Page 41 of One Scandal Too Many
“What would you like to do?” she asked.
He grinned. There was only one play he could make.
She held up her hand before he could answer. “Before you decide...” Her lips tilted upward into a smile that sent a shot of desire down his body. “I think perhaps we should do something more than play a simple game of vingt-et-un.”
“Oh?” He lifted a brow. “And what do you suggest?”
“That we make this game much, much more interesting.” Her tone was sensual, and his cock hardened with each word she uttered. God help him, because he didn’t think he would be able to stop himself from seducing her. Not that she was trying to put any distance between them.
“And how would we do that?” he asked.
“There are many ways we can,” she told him. She stroked her fingers over the deck next to her two cards. “We don’t know what this card is.” She tapped the card that was still turned over. If it was an ace, then she would have twenty-one and automatically win. Unless he could get his cards to equal that. “And we don’t know what your cards will be.”
“That’s correct,” he said. “But I still don’t understand what it is you wish to do.”
She licked her lips. “Darling,” she began. “There’s much I wish to do.” Charlotte grinned. “But in this instance... I think we can up the stakes of our game.”
“And what will these stakes be?” He liked a good wager. Declan had a feeling that even if he lost in this game, he’d win. “Don’t leave any details out.”
“I will explain everything.” Charlotte leaned a little closer. “If I win...” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I want you to kiss me.”
“Is that all?”
“Isn’t that enough?” She lifted a brow.
“And what if you lose?” he asked. “What will I get?”
“What do you want?” she asked.
Declan had her exactly where he wanted her. Oh, he’d kiss her. Either way, he would gladly press his lips to hers. But Declan wanted far more than that. He wanted her. All of her. “If we are going to make this more interesting,” he said. “Then we should offer up something of ours to the other.” He winked. “Kisses can come later.”
“Then what should we play for?”
“Why, that’s the easy part.” Declan’s grin widened. “There is only one currency we have in abundance.” He leaned closer until there was barely any distance between them. Her breath hitched, and he was tempted to kiss her but refrained. He winked and said in a roguish tone, “Our clothes.”
Chapter Nineteen
Charlotte had tohave heard him incorrectly. Did he actually mean they should wager their clothing? If she lost, then she would have to give him something she was wearing. Did she dare play this game with him? Something warm pooled inside her belly that she didn’t quite understand. She... wanted this. Her lips quirked in anticipation. She leaned back and met his heated gaze. “You already removed my boots and stockings,” she began. “It hardly seems fair that yours still remain on your feet.”
“Well,” he said as he continued to stare into her eyes. “We have to be fair, don’t we?” He sat back and went to work removing his own boots. When his feet were as bare as hers, he grinned. “Are there any other objections?”
She couldn’t think of one. “Are we really going to do this?”
“Only if you want to,” he said huskily. “I would never encourage you to do something you’re uncomfortable with.”
Charlotte was a little uncomfortable. Not in the way he suggested. Her body seemed more alive somehow. As if every action sent tingles all over her and she grew heavy with anticipation. This was a risk, and normally she might not even consider any of this. But the entire day had taken an unusual turn, one that she’d never have considered. When she’d left on the hunt she’d expected a pleasant morning. Instead she’d been thrown from her horse and nearly bitten by a snake, then taken to a secluded cabin to escape a storm. This time alone withDeclan was more a gift than anything else. Besides, this wasn’t really a risk. It felt as if this moment was always supposed to happen. She had been the one that had suggested they make the game more interesting. He’d just taken it a step further than she had considered going. “Are you trying to discourage me from playing?”
“Not at all,” he said. Declan smiled, and it sent those shivers all over her again. “There’s nothing I want more.”
“Nothing?” she asked coyly.
“All right,” he conceded. “Perhaps there are a few things I’d like, but I can wait.” He lifted his hand and caressed her cheek. “I’m a patient man.”
Damn him. How was she supposed to combat her feelings for him when he was acting like this? The answer was simple. She wasn’t supposed to resist him. It was time to give in and take that leap of faith she was so terrified to take. “Let’s get back to this game.” She tapped the deck. “It’s your move.”
“You’re correct,” he said. Declan glanced back down at his cards. “I’d like another card.”
Charlotte flipped the card over and grinned. An eight. “What would you like to do now?”
