Page 39

Scowling, Andrew drew his winnings in.

“With that glower, Waters, one would never know you’ve been winning,” the Duke of Rothesby drawled around the cheroot clamped between his teeth as Lord Meadows quit their table, conceding defeat and leaving him with Rothesby, Landon, and Lord Templeton.

Lord Templeton chortled with laughter, and ignoring him, Andrew scowled at Rothesby. “I’m not glowering.”

The duke looked to Landon.

“Oh, you’re definitely glowering,” the marquess said and then shot an arm up.

Almost instantly, a blonde beauty appeared. She looked between Rothesby and Landon.

Simultaneously, the two men pointed Andrew’s way.

The voluptuous creature sashayed over and perched herself on Andrew’s lap.

“Hullo, my lord,” she purred, wasting no time as she placed kisses upon his neck.

As his friends dealt the next hand, he stared blankly out at the crowded floors.

This was what Marcia had wished to be part of and also thelastplace she should ever be.

Rejecting her request had been the absolute right decision. The honorable, respectable one. And he’d made it, a man who was known for being anything but.

It’d been two days since she’d snuck into that alcove and put her favor to him. Two days since he’d sent her on her way. And since he’d seen her.

What Marcia had proposed had been trouble wrapped up with a big crimson bow and was therefore the last thing he needed in his life.

Now, he was free to pursue his own pleasures, and…

And he couldn’t keep from thinking that he’d failed her.

And even accustomed as he was to failing others, this felt… different.

Grabbing his snifter, Andrew tossed back a long swallow of brandy.

The young beauty used that as an opportunity to climb closer, straddling his lap so that her filmy skirts climbed about her thighs. Angling her head in the crook of his shoulder, she kissed his neck, nipping firmly.

His body responded as it should.

This was perfect.

This was precisely what he needed.

His breathing grew slightly shallower. Slightly quicker.

She reached between his legs and rubbed the flesh there.

His manhood stirred, as it invariably did, and yet…

His gaze locked on her blonde curls.

They weren’t quite golden enough. They weren’t sun-kissed shades of—

Cursing under his breath, he disentangled the determined creature’s fingers from his person. “Not tonight, sweet.”

Mayhap if her hair had been any other shade. A dark brown. A light brown. Auburn. Red. Anything. Just not blonde.

The young woman pouted. “You’re sure, my lord?” she breathed, lowering her head to cover his mouth with hers.