SubmittingtotheRake (8 page)

“Your lips will be the death of me, Miss Merrill,” he
murmured.

The hammering of her heart moved up into her head, making it
difficult for her to think. His touch recalled their night of passion, and her
body thrilled to it instantly. In his eyes, she now beheld a smoldering agony.
Did she dare hope…?

“My lips?”

“Yes. The vision of which has haunted me day and night.”

She closed her eyes and heard his words echo in her head.
Haunted
me day and night.
Just as he had haunted her thoughts and dreams. The
anguish melted from her and with it her calm.

A breeze wafted around them, blowing the scent of the
flowers into the air.

As if encouraged by the look in her eyes when she opened
them, Sebastian continued, “I came, Miss Merrill, to inform your uncle of my
intentions to court you.”

Dumbfounded, she could only stare at him. The words he had
uttered sounded almost ludicrous. Court her?

“I intend the courtship to bear all the markings of
respectability,” he assured her, unsettled by her silence, “though, damn me, it
will be no easy feat when my body burns with desire for you.”

Her mouth fell open again. If her heart could glow, she
would be brighter than a beacon. She recovered from the audacity of his
statement. “Respectability from you, Lord Cadwell?”

“It took me seven days to realize that I have no choice but
to attempt respectability if I ever hope to possess you in my arms once more.
You deserve no less. But I give you fair warning—you know me for what I am,
Miss Merrill.”

“I do not think I do,” she returned. “I thought our affair
confined to the château. Your departure made that quite clear, I think.”

“I was appalled,” he explained, “that you might be
discovered in a compromising situation.”

She flushed. “You may recall, sir, that you have not the
honor of having been the first.”

A muscle rippled along his jaw. “I will not discuss the
particulars of
that
. I thought that you would wake with remorse for what
had happened betwixt us and that you would be relieved for me to be gone.”

“Yet here you are,” she pointed out.

“Yes, here am I, for it is the nature of the male sex to
pursue, against all odds, until he has been bludgeoned and all recourse
dissolved. I want you, Miss Merrill, more than I have ever wanted most other
women. If the nature of such feelings should be love, I will not spurn it.”

She contemplated what he said, her gaze raking over him,
saying nothing. She felt mastery of the situation, for he had made clear his
feelings but she had yet to reveal hers. He was staring at her as if she were
prey he meant to devour. Desire lighted his eyes, and the look made her loins
warm and a familiar wetness begin to form. But she continued playing the
coquette through her silence for well he deserved it.

“You disappointed me, Lord Cadwell,” she said at last.

His brows rose.

“I had hoped to stay the full three nights at Lady
Follet’s,” she finished.

He beamed.

“As for respectability…” she continued, her eyes bright as
she leaned toward him, “that sounds rather boring.”

He groaned. “Miss Merrill, you would make a further rake of
me.”

“There is a part of the garden hidden from all view,” she
whispered with a sly smile.

“I could not, Miss Merrill,” he said after some hesitation.
“I may be a rake, but you will not find it so easy to question my resolve as
you had. I will be a gentleman.”

Not for long
, she thought to herself. She had no
qualms about seducing him. But she gave him her brightest smile and took the
arm he offered to escort her back to the house.

“How unfortunate,” she replied lightly, using his words.
“Perhaps that can be changed.”

The Earl of Blythe grinned. “My dear Miss Merrill, you are a
perfect rake.”

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