“You misunderstand, little Badger.”His breathing ragged, he struggled to control himself. “I cannot believethat a woman with your intelligence fails to notice all the signs of a man whodesires her.” His kissed her hard. “And I find you most beautiful.”He wrapped his arms completely around her. She fit against himperfectly. “Mostbeautiful.”
He heard her gasp at his words.His mouth brushed lightly against her neck, nipping at the tenderflesh. His lips traced a trail back to the corner of hermouth and she let out a small moan, as he ran his tongue over her bottomlip. Virgin she may be, but Alexandra’s body held a wealth ofsensuality. Sutton could think of nothing but encouraging thatsensuality. He imagined the things he would teach her. Of wholedays spent in bed. He wanted to pleasure her endlessly. She tentativelyopened her mouth, and her tongue darted out shyly, seeking his.
Sutton groaned and pulled hercloser. A book fell from the shelf and the title glared up at him.DearGod, hewasseducing her against a stack of etiquette books.
His fingers massaged her buttocks,caressing them through her gown, feeling for the crevice that split them apart.He grunted and pushed her slight form against his arousal more firmly. Hehad been hard since he’d spied her through the book stacks. If he reached underher skirts to the slit in her drawers, he knew she would be wet and ready forhim.
Alex pulled her face away from his.Her eyes were heavy-lidded, erotic. One small hand reached up to caresshis cheek, then moved to his ear to touch the piece of jade. She brushed herlips against his. Her fingers tickled his scalp.
Sutton shuddered. Athought came to him, something he had never offered to any woman.“Alex. I would not misuse you. I will buy you a lovely apartmentanywhere you wish. We can travel, even to Macao if you like. Ishall buy you more books than you could read in a lifetime. I –“
She stiffened in his arms like aboard. Her face full of shocked hurt, she gave him a look of distaste.“How dare you.” The words were rough with emotion. Her mouth wasset in a grim line.
“Cam? Cam? Where are you?”Miranda’s voice floated from one aisle over.
“Put me down!” Alexandra hissed.She pushed at him, twisting from his embrace. Her face turned from his, but notbefore he noticed the sheen of tears in her eyes.
He put her down, reluctant to end theircontact. Alexandra stood and straightened her skirt, her hands jerkingquickly over her wrinkled gown. Hostility emanated from her. Andhurt. The Badger apparently did not find his asking her to be hismistress quite the boon that Sutton thought it to be. His wanting of her consumedhim, and the words popped out of his mouth, unbidden. Sutton spent yearsin control of his emotions, particularly around women, but not thisonewoman. The thought confused and unnerved him.
Alex shook, struggling to kneel, and pickup her books. She refused to look at him. He could hear her gulping inair. The thought that he’d injured her enough to make her nearly sob outloud gave him a physical ache.
“Alex,” he said contritely, “I’msorry I –“ He reached for her. If she would just let himexplain. Let him hold her.
She shied from him like a dog afraid tobe kicked.
“I don’t need your help, LordReynolds. You might dirty your fancy breeches.”
He flinched from the sarcasm in her tone.
Miranda rounded the corner. “Oh,there you are! I’m in shock! You won’t believe who is here, calmlyreading the newspaper as if –“ She stopped, spying Alexandra on thefloor.
“Miss Dunforth? Alexandra? Whateverare you doing here? What happened? Let me help you.” Mirandashot a pointed look at him as she went to Alex.
Sutton watched Alex in agony while shepicked up her books. Her shaky shoulders and stilted movements told himhow his words had hurt her. Alexandra was a decent woman whodeserved marriage. Expected marriage. No matter hernonchalant attitude towards the institution. He wished fervently he couldtake back his words.
NINE
Alexandra thought she would burst intotears right in the middle of Thrumbadge’s. She rarely cried. SuttonReynolds, that conceited, titled ass, made her chest ache and tears well in hereyes. He didn’t deserve to see her cry. Rake! Dear God, she’dpractically allowed him to ruin her! How could she have allowed himsuch liberties? His mistress! Did he know how incredibly insultingthat was?I deserve some respect! I realize I am only a spinsterfrom Hampshire, with no great connections to recommend me, but does he reallythink so little of me? That’s what hurt the most. He’d almostconvinced her that he desired her. Liked her even. Aunt Eloise had warned herabout men like Lord Reynolds.
“Miss Dunforth? It’s time we left.”
Oh no.Alexandra, still trying to stack her books, heard Mr.Runyon approach. His footsteps stopped abruptly. He cleared histhroat.
She looked up in time to see Mr. Runyonturn pale, and his features harden into a mask of cold dislike. Thecordial gentleman who escorted her to Thrumbadge’s earlier, disappeared.A vein in his temple pulsed, bulging a dark blue. His lips curled into amurderous sneer.
“Well hello, Archie. What asurprise to seeyouhere. In London. I thought you hadexiled yourself to the Continent,” Lord Reynolds drawled in a voice thick withdistaste.
A chill ran down Alexandra’s arms.Lord Reynolds sounded so foreign.
Mr. Runyon’s fingers grasped herupper arm.
“I missed being in the bosom of myfamily, Cam.” Mr. Runyon looked down at Alexandra. “I wondered where youhad gotten off to mydear.” He emphasized the last word, making it soundintimate.
“I see you know the delightful MissDunforth.” Lord Reynolds raised a dark brow at her. “Howinteresting.” His body tensed like a deadly jungle cat about to pounce onits prey.
Miranda’s mouth hung open. Her gazenever left Mr. Runyon. She clutched her brother’s forearm tightly.
“Yes, Miss Dunforth and I are birds of afeather.”Mr. Runyon smiled at Lord Reynolds, a smile that did not reach his eyes.
