Page 24 of Beauty Tempts the Beast
He studied her as though striving to envision it. A woman who was a contradiction, who knew how to pleasure but had never been pleasured fully.
“As much as you want out of this business,” she said quietly, hoping her words could be heard over the thundering of her heart, “that is how badly I seek to master it.”
His magnificent jaw tightened, and she wondered if seduction might involve scraping a razor over it, listening to the rasp of the bristles as they were removed, then kissing the smooth skin that remained.
Finally, he gave a long, slow nod. “I have the ability to instruct you on how to be a temptress without violating my principles.”
He was rather certain that with those words, he’d just condemned himself to an early grave. Because satisfying the temptation of touching her without possessing her fully was going to kill him.
When she released a shaky, shuddering breath, slumped back against the chair, and jerked her gaze to the fire as though she wanted to spare him the sight of the relief that filled her eyes with tears, he knew for certain he had the right of it: he was a dead man.
He shot to his feet and strode to the corner in desperate need of more scotch. He would probably spend the remainder of his life wondering why the devil he’d agreed to her terms. Maybe it was because he couldn’t stand the thought of her seeking assistance elsewhere, and it had become increasingly clear that she was set on this path, and no argument he offered was going to sway her otherwise. Or perhaps it was simply that from the first moment his gaze had landed on her, he’d wanted her with a fierceness that defied all logic.
The irony was not lost on him. He wanted to get six women out of the business and to accomplish that, he had to introduce one more into it. At least she’d be more selective, more exclusive. He wondered if she’d change her mind if he paid her a salary of a thousand pounds. But then that would make him no different than the other men in her life, striving to control the direction she traveled.
He downed the scotch, poured some more, and turned back toward her. She’d returned to the window, the late-morning sunlight forming a halo around her. A delicate angel. That was what he’d thought the first time he saw her. But bloody hell, there was steel inside her, and a bit of a devilish nature as well.
“Would you like more sherry?”
“No, I have to report for work in a couple of hours.”
He wandered over to the window, placed his shoulder against the casing, welcomed the bite of its hard edge. “I’ll have my solicitor draw up the terms of our agreement.”
She peered over at him. “How will you word the additional arrangement we made?”
“Innocuously. I’ll give some thought to it. My main concern involves the financial arrangements so it’s clear and we can’t take advantage of each other.”
“I trust your word.”
He gave her an ironic twist of his lips. “Are you not the woman who just lamented that men are unreliable creatures when it comes to always doing good?”
She smiled, blushed, looked out the window. “I suppose I am. I’ll have to work tonight. They’re counting on me. But I’ll give my notice to Mac. Hopefully, beginning tomorrow, he can have one of the other girls step in for me.”
“I’ll pay five pounds for any of your shifts worked by someone else until he can find a replacement for you.”
Studying him, she bit her lower lip. “Could one of your ladies not take the position?”
“They earn more working here. That is one of the challenges you’ll face. Few occupations for women pay as well, so you’ll need to determine what each of them can be passionate about. Because if it’s not going to bring them as much money, it must bring them joy.”
“Perhaps I should have known that before I agreed to your terms.”
“Until the contract is signed, you can walk away.”
“I have no desire to walk away.” She glanced over at the clock. “I have to leave. I could move in tomorrow if that’s acceptable to you.”
“More than acceptable. I’d like to get the ladies started as soon as possible.”
“Good. Is there a particular time that would work best?”
“I could send a carriage round for you about ten.”
“You have a carriage?”
“No, but my brother does. I can borrow it. It’ll make it easier to transport your things.”
“I have very little to transport. They literally tossed usout with little save the clothes on our backs and a few personal items. I’ll take a hansom.”
He nodded. “Did you want to see your chamber before you leave? In case the sight of it changes your mind?”
