Enticing Eve: Scandalous Secrets, Book 2 (26 page)

“She used me.” His words tasted like the ash of countless letters burning in his damned grate. “She lied by omission every time I discussed Colin with her, during every conversation about my investigations into the whereabouts of my missing brother. Eve could have admitted the truth a thousand times over yet made a conscious choice not to.”

Victoria placed the ring back in the box and set it down on the sofa before walking in silence to Tristan’s side. “You were guided by your need to be her savior. She and her grandmother were all but destitute, relying upon the kindness of you and Sebastian. You were Eve’s knight in shining armor.”

“No, I was her court jester,” he gripped the mantel tighter until he thought he might pull the damned thing off the wall.

“You are being much too hard on yourself,” Tori said, her voice devoid of any censure, her kindness too much for him to bear.

“Don’t tell me how to feel,” he growled, his tone low and dangerous.

Instead of Victoria heeding his warning or even cowering as most sane men did when they heard his commands, the woman standing beside him steeled her shoulders in defiance.
 

Dressed in a gown of crimson satin and brocade with a jacquard print, she was the embodiment of regal nobility, even down to her square neckline, trimmed with matching gold lace. Yet there was a fire within the woman and, once that spark ignited, her luminous effervescence lit up the room.
 

Of course, Tori always possessed an engaging personality but she had become beguiling, with her sarcastic wit, keen observations and courageous insolence. When the hell had Tori, the young woman he’d known for what felt like a lifetime, grown into such a seductive siren?

The fact that Tristan was studying her so intently seemed to incite further fury as her resplendent azure eyes flashed with unabashed ferocity. “Don’t you lash out at me, Tristan MacAlistair. I’m not the person you wish to confront.”

She then proceeded to the table, picked up her tumbler again, and took two hefty gulps of the bourbon she detested upon her first sip mere moments before. Tristan stood anchored by the mantel, utterly impressed by her ability to hold his liquor.

“You and Eve,” she said, her glass now half-full, liquor sloshing about, her tone laced with ire. “You both think that I should act as your sparring partner, taking aim at me instead of those you truly wish to tackle. Well, I have news for you both – I will not be the object of your anger and frustration.”
 

Victoria took one more swallow before setting the glass upon the table with force then grabbing her purse and reticule as if she were about to take her leave.

Blame it on the alcohol or Victoria’s newfound hellion demeanor and downright stubbornness, but for some unfathomable reason, he couldn’t allow her to leave. Instead, Tristan grabbed her by the elbow and turned her to face him.
 

“Don’t go,” he chided. “I’ll be good. I promise.”

She took a couple of steps back as if suddenly feeling the effects of the alcohol she had quickly consumed. Tristan matched her step for step, placing his hands on Victoria’s waist to steady her until she backed into the mahogany paneled wall behind her.
 

He stood less than an inch away noting with an overwhelming intensity the heat emanating from her sultry form.

What had taken him so long to notice that her gown of crimson and gold perfectly accentuated her thick auburn tresses? In the warm glow of the firelight, her hair shone like dazzling flames and her azure eyes, those same eyes he had seen countless times before, suddenly became more expressive and more exquisite than he had ever noted.
 

Without a single word, she commanded his complete attention. It was as if Tristan were viewing Victoria for the very first time. No, it was more than that – his vision had cleared at last and he was witnessing the splendor that was Victoria.

He silently cursed himself for failing to notice sooner.

Tristan pried her gloves and reticule from her delicate fingers, flinging them haphazardly over his shoulder onto what he knew to be the sofa behind them, his intent stare fixed upon hers a few more moments. He then lifted her arms upwards, pinning her hands against the wall behind them. Her penetrating azure gaze showed no sign of anxiety by his close proximity or his touch.
 

No, this woman was anything but meek. She was strong-willed and independent, facing him as his equal.

“Well, hello,” he leaned against her, his hands still pinning her wrists to the wall behind her, noting with a thrill that her creamy flesh above her voluptuous bodice rose and fell with every breath. The gentle rhythm incited a desperate hunger within him.

Tristan’s gaze traveled upwards, to the beauty mark above her full, heart-shaped lips and
 
her high cheekbones tinged with the soft pink hue of a sunset. At last his perusal reached her indigo eyes, now smoky with desire.
 

“Where did you come from?” he quizzed, more to himself than Victoria.

Her eyes remained fixed with his, piercing his very soul. “I’ve been in front of you this entire time. You were too preoccupied to notice.”

Her response, her bravery and spellbinding beauty made his pulse quicken. “Have you always been this magnificent?” He was stupefied.
 

Why had he never before noticed?

“Yes,” Victoria’s answer was simple.

She hadn’t tried to break free from his grasp, he noted, reveling in the fact that she was still so close, still under his control and so very courageous.

Had he ever truly known this woman? Evidently not for why else would Victoria surprise him so on this particular day?
 

Tristan bent his head, inhaling deeply as the intoxicating scent of her perfume caused his pulse to quicken. Gardenia had never before had such an effect on him. He leaned into her, his lips hovering above the crook of her neck. Her scent was divine, and he yearned to taste her. He thirsted for her, in fact. “I’m going to kiss you,” he said the words before he could filter them. “If you stay here one moment longer I will kiss you.”

It took every ounce of effort he possessed to push away from her, but he did indeed do just that. Content with the fact that he had offered her an out, Tristan released her, taking a few steps backwards, allowing his guest to take her leave while refusing to meet her gaze.
 

Victoria failed to move, choosing instead to stay put.

The fact that she didn’t budge, that she wanted him to kiss her, exhilarated him causing his entire body to react violently. Molten blood pulsated through his veins as he quickly bridged the distance between them, placing his hands on her waist, crushing her against him. His fingers skillfully traveled up her torso, past her bodice then to her neck where his thumb idly caressed the soft, creamy flesh at the nape of her neck. God, her flesh was even softer than the fine satin fabric that swathed her, he noted with delight, his fingers trembling ever so slightly from the realization.
 

Slowly, he traced a path to her face, tipping her chin up, meeting her piercing gaze. Her eyes were now the deep indigo of a stormy sea and just as rough with desire.

Tristan took great care to kiss her gently as he claimed her lips with his own. He had unwittingly met his match, for Victoria leaned into him, her soft fingertips tracing a path up his arms to the nape of his neck where she curled them through his hair.
 

Waves of yearning jolted him as if struck by a bolt of lightning.
 

Her kisses, soft as velvet, drove him insane. Tristan wanted more, ached for it in fact, but he hadn’t consumed enough alcohol to forget that that such an attraction to Victoria would be precarious, to say the least. Christ, Victoria was his twin’s sister-in-law! Though it all but killed him, Tristan took great pains to slow their kiss.

Victoria could tell that his mood had taken a more thoughtful direction and could feel him pulling away. Though her body was on fire with desire the likes of which she had never known, she understood their actions were wrong. That was her reasoning for extracting her lips from his, ever so gently.
 

Her breathing was erratic as she stood inches from Tristan and his soft yet demanding lips, the mere thought of his commanding kisses leaving her breathless.
 

Inhaling deeply to calm her racing pulse, Victoria released her breath, unintentionally fanning his face. It was as if the floodgates had opened within him again, that innocent gesture causing him to recapture her lips with savage intensity, his tongue probing for entrance.

Instinctively, she parted her lips for him as her body responded with waves of heat, hotter than the flames alight in the grate.
 

This man’s kisses were like nothing she ever imagined. He tasted like a mixture of bourbon and sheer heaven.

His firm lips and tongue traced a fiery path down her neck, towards her bodice. “Tristan,” she whispered. The mere word, the mere whisper of his given name, seemed to sober him. He immediately halted, dousing her previous euphoria.

“Damn it to hell,” he muttered, leaning into her once more as if trying to shore up his resolve to release her. His breathing was labored, and Victoria sensed that he was just as surprised as she at the intense passion that ignited between them.
 

Victoria was certain that he had never kissed Eve the way he just kissed her for, if he had, how could Eve ever have chosen someone else?
 

Tristan was studying her, she noted with a pang of excitement. In fact, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her, still leaning against her as if his conscience was waging a silent war with his intense desire for her.

“God Almighty,” he muttered again, releasing Victoria at last.

It took all the self-restraint he possessed to tear himself from her. This woman was like a drug to him. Breathless, Victoria leaned her head back against the wall for support. The sight of this siren in crimson and gold before him was almost enough to cause him to reconsider releasing her.

Almost.

He was at a loss for words, a catastrophic event for any barrister, especially Tristan. He always had an argument, a form of reasoning or some sort of calculation – on every day but this one. No, on this day someone he had known for years had rendered him mute. He forced a sharp intake of breath, his body shuddering. How did Victoria have this effect on him?

Tristan shook his head, aware that Victoria hadn’t spoken since he released her from his embrace. “This should never have occurred, Tori.”

Victoria nodded.
 

He wondered if her entire body shivered from his touch and passionate kisses the way his reacted to hers?

“This should never have happened,” he repeated, this time more gently. “One scandal in our families is enough.”

“I understand,” Victoria’s cadence was low and breathless.

Thinking clearly at last, Tristan grabbed her reticule and gloves before handing them to Tori. He watched as she placed her gloves in her reticule, allowing himself one more moment to catch his breath.

“Thank you for visiting me,” he said simply, his calm demeanor in complete contradiction to his pounding heart and throbbing loins.
 

Their encounter had affected him much more than he would ever admit. Hell, he never kissed his betrothed with such passion. “We shall blame it on the alcohol and forget any of this ever happened.”

Yes, that sounded like a perfectly feasible plan.

Victoria shook her skirts then smoothed the fabric that accentuated her hourglass figure. God, this woman was killing him, slowly forcing his resolve to waver.
 

“Blame it on the wicked bourbon,” she said at last, studying him intently.

Taking her hand in his, noting one last time how soft her flesh felt against his fingers, Tristan kissed the back of her hand. “Thank you for thinking of me today.”

“Your sister and Sebastian may be attending today’s nuptials, but you haven’t now nor will you ever be replaced by Colin. I hope you know that,” her concern was etched in her usually serene features, the same features that were alight with desire mere moments before.

Tristan knew nothing of the sort but nodded nonetheless unable to fathom just how much he wanted Victoria as she exited his office then his home.

With every beat of his heart, he felt the intensity of his hunger amplify. He peered from behind his drapes, watching as Victoria ascended the steps of her brother’s sleek carriage until she was out of his reach.

His feelings were spiraling out of control. First, his anger towards Eve and Colin had surfaced. That was nothing compared to his overwhelming lust for Victoria.
 

Had they been caught …

Tristan rang for his butler, refusing to entertain such thoughts. Instead, he would prepare for immediate departure and visit his grandfather posthaste, escaping England all together.

He wanted to blame today’s turn of events on the alcohol but, truth be told, he hadn’t consumed nearly enough. No, it was not the alcohol that caused him to all but devour Tori.