Page 72 of Tempting the Earl

After counting to three hundred as slowly as she could manage with her heart racing so wildly at what she intended, Ainsworth peeked her head out to scan the hall for any sign of movement. Once she felt secure that the way was clear, she quietly slipped from her bedroom and made her way to the earl’s private suite.

Stopping outside the closed door, she listened. Eavesdropping, of course, was unforgiveable, unless it was necessary. And this morning, it most definitely was the latter. She didn’t want to just charge right into his bedroom if a servant might be present.

When she determined there were no sounds of stirring from beyond the door, she straightened her spine, took a quick glance down the hall to verify once again that no one else was about, then turned the doorknob and entered before quickly closing the door behind her.

The bedroom was large—enormous, actually—and was drenched in the glow of soft candlelight.

Ainsworth’s belly tightened as her gaze flew to the impressive four-poster bed only to find it empty. The earl was gone. The smooth bedding indicated he hadn’t yet slipped between the covers.

She scanned the rest of the room. It was empty. Where in bluidy hell had he gone?

Before she could decide what to do next, she heard a bit of noise coming from beyond an open door located between the bed and a large mahogany wardrobe.

A wee bit shocked at her own boldness, she strode swiftly across the room. She’d made a plan to see him tonight—to tell him she did not want last night to be a singular occurrence—and she wasn’t going to go back on it. If the only chance she had for a private conversation was late at night in his bedroom, so be it.

Tightening the belt of her robe, Ainsworth stepped into the open doorway of what was clearly a bathing room and came to a swift halt.

She received an impression of gleaming white marble made hazy with steam and the wonderful scent of sandalwood. Any other details escaped her notice as her attention was immediately enthralled by the nude man standing in the center of the room.

The earl was facing away from her as he roughed a towel over his head to dry his hair, which gave her a wonderfully unimpeded view of his gorgeous backside.

He was astonishing.

Long, muscled legs, firm buttocks, a trim waist and hips, those powerful shoulders and strong arms, and a back that was as sculpted and defined as his chest and abdomen. Just utter perfection, really. All Ainsworth could do was stand with her lips parted and her eyes wide as he ran the towel over his body in purposeful strokes. But when he bent forward to dry his legs and she caught sight of his shadowed manhood, a choked little sound slid from her tight throat.

He immediately tensed and turned to look over his shoulder. His expression was impossible to read and she worried she might have angered or discomfited him by her intrusion and inexcusable voyeurism.

But then...she saw a flicker of light in his eyes and a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Slowly and deliberately, he turned to face her with the towel held casually at his side.

Her insides gave a fierce fluttering lurch as she was forced to acknowledge she’d been wrong. He was beyond perfection. He was every sensual fantasy she might have ever had the courage to imagine formed into one man.

She couldn’t speak. And he didn’t bother to. So, they stood like that for a moment or two.

Her gaze fell to his groin. Though his cock had initially rested peacefully against dark gold curls, it now started to grow. Lengthening, thickening, hardening.

Her body responded with a rush of liquid heat to her sex, making her ache and shiver.

Finally, he spoke. “Is there something you need, Miss Morgan?”

Your hands on my body. Your mouth on mine. And your...

She shot her gaze back up to meet his. There was a true question in his eyes, along with so much more. She had to clear her throat—twice—in order to reply, and even then, her voice sounded strained and breathless. “I think you could call me Ainsworth considering our current...situation, don’t you?”

His mouth twitched again and curved gently into a smile as he lowered his chin. It was one of the loveliest things she’d ever seen.

“Ainsworth.” Warmth infused his voice as he formed her name and his blue eyes stared intently into hers. “No doubt you came to my rooms for a reason. What can I do for you?”

Unable to stop herself, she glanced downward once again. Just a quick peek. Desire unfurled, full and wanting, low in her body.

She had come here for a reason. She just couldn’t seem to remember what it was.

Oh, right.

Forcing her attention back to his handsome face, she set her hands firmly on her hips. “There are just a few things I’d like to make clear between us.”

His tentative smile slipped away. Nodding his head, he secured the towel around his waist—to her deep disappointment. Then he gestured toward the doorway. “Shall we step into the other room?”

His bedroom? It was slightly more appropriate than the bathing room, she supposed. Or was it slightly more inappropriate?

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