Page 12 of Not His Usual Style (Diamonds of London #10)

“Yet you didn’t think to accept someone else’s suit? Surely your father paid for Seasons to help you circulate within the ton .”

“He did, when there was coin to do so, and just this afternoon he told me that I had been an Incomparable in those early Seasons. According to him, I had offers.”

“Why did you take none of them? Your future could have been quite different than it is now. I assume you work with him?”

“I serve as his business and social secretary.” She nodded and then drained her cup. “As to why I didn’t accept any other man’s suit? Well, for quite a long time after Louis died, my heart was broken. One doesn’t put such a love behind them that easily.”

“Surely eight years is enough time, though.”

“It is obvious that you have never been in love… Montague.” If there was ever a time to utilize his given name, it was now, with such subject matter. “Love, when you find it, is a small miracle, indeed. You should hold onto it with both hands as tightly as you can, because it is also so fleeting.”

“I shall take your word for it.” One of his brown eyebrows rose. “Honestly, I am not certain love is for the titled in society, those with legacies or those who have made promises to the people who have gone before.”

“That is a horrible outlook, and my heart goes out to you as well as Lady Sarah. A marriage should at least have proper heated feelings for one another.”

With a grunt, he took the teacup from her fingers and then laid both on the table in front of them. “I don’t want your damned pity, Victoria.”

The sound of her name in his deep, rumbling voice tickled through her chest. “I wasn’t giving it. I simply find it sad you intend to wed without substance behind the union. What does Lady Sarah feel about that?”

“That is a private matter.” In that response, he was every inch the earl. “And what is more, I fully believe you are a coward, hiding behind grief.”

“It seems you didn’t leave your arrogance in the garden.” Not to let the insult lie, she verbally fought back, and in doing so, she felt a bit heated. “You are the same but hiding behind duty. Pot calling the kettle black, then?”

Shock reflected in his eyes then they darkened with the same desire that flooded her body since the moment he’d carried her into his carriage. “Awfully bold of you to prod a dragon, isn’t it?”

She snorted. “Do you think you are a dragon? Perhaps a bear or—”

“Christ, don’t blame me if you reap the consequences of irritating me.” Then his hand was in her hair—when had he scooted so close?—and he dragged her roughly to him, claimed her lips in a kiss with much more intent behind it than what he’d given her before.

Good heavens, this man is quite something!

Tori didn’t mind the heavy-handed treatment, for they had both passed a wild and heart-pounding evening, and he had taken on much responsibility because of her, but being in such an embrace?

It exceeded her wildest dreams and fanciful notions, completely obliterated the memories she’d had of exchanging kisses with Louis.

As her fingers curled into the lapels of his tailcoat, she returned his embrace as best she could, for she didn’t plan on being as still as a lamppost this time ‘round.

“Damn.” As Greystone wrenched away, his breathing was as ragged as hers. His eyes were as dark as strong coffee now, but there was a certain hunger deep in those depths that made her shiver. “We cannot do this.”

“I quite agree.” Yet she didn’t release her hold on him and neither did he move.

“I’ll be naught but a scoundrel if I continue kissing you, yet I haven’t felt such desire or heat in my engagement at all.” Emotion graveled his words, and seconds later, he kneeled on the floor at her side.

“You and Sarah don’t kiss?” That boggled her mind, for it was a lovely experience.

“Not much. She has other interests who aren’t me.” With a slight growl, he leaned into her, put his hands to her shoulders, hooked his fingers beneath the bodice of her gown, and then he yanked the upper portion of the garment down.

While her throat went dry, Tori shivered. Seconds later, he’d manipulated the laces of her stays enough that her breasts popped free of her clothing. No man had ever looked upon them before, not even when she was briefly engaged. “Oh, she has a lo—”

“Do shut up. If I’m going to sin, I don’t want to be reminded of what my fiancée has done as well.”

“So this is tit for tat, then?” That was somewhat disappointing.

“Yes. No. Right now? I’m not sure of anything except that you have captivated me since the library, and I need to know why or else evict you from my blood.”

“Oh.” Well then, in for a penny and all of that. Daring much, she grabbed his cravat and tugged him closer. “If we are telling the truth, I haven’t felt so… invigorated since I lost Louis. There is just something about you, past the arrogance, that I can’t figure out but wish to.”

“Well, then, since we have nothing but time just now…” Interest flickered in his eyes as he caressed her form with his gaze. “Let us see how far we both dare to go.” He took her breasts in his hands, and the warmth of his skin against hers made her gasp.

The more he massaged those globes, the more fires erupted in her blood, worked to further confuse her, but when he brushed the pads of his thumbs over her nipples, they immediately hardened into tight little buds, and wild sensation streaked through her body to lodge in her core.

“Oh!” Never had she experienced anything quite like this.

“Involving myself with an innocent is a properly bad idea,” he whispered as if to himself, but that didn’t distract him from continuing to tease her breasts.

“How did you know I’m an innocent?” Tori managed to pant out while pleasurable feelings coursed through her body.

“It’s difficult to explain. A man just knows, but the fact you don’t know how to kiss gave it away.”

“Oh, how deflating.” Did it matter how he’d found out, when every strum of his fingers on those sensitive tips ushered her closer to heaven? “And should a man who has no attraction to his fiancée truly need to insult the woman he’s currently fondling?”

“Such a tart mouth you have. Another surprise about you.” The shock in his eyes was noticeable before he shuttered it behind a blank expression, but she’d gotten beneath his skin, for he applied himself to teasing and torturing her nipples all the more.

“This is wrong,” she gasped when he closed his lips around one turgid tip, and as he swiped his tongue along the surface of that nipple, she nearly lost her grip on reality. “No matter what you feel, you are pledged to Lady Sarah.”

“I am certain she isn’t worrying about the same just now, for she’s probably in her lover’s arms finding solace.”

“I’m so sorry…” Then her words dissolved into moans as she concentrated on what he was doing to her.

“It is the way of things,” he said in a low voice as he rolled her nipples in his fingers.

This was beyond scandalous, but she didn’t have the strength to bid him nay even if she’d wanted to… which she did not.

“Don’t assume you know me, Victoria. I know what is expected of me, know my responsibilities, and I will face them regardless of what that means for me personally.

It is what my father wanted.” The longer he worried her nipples with his teeth and tongue, the more unrelenting pressure built and stacked low in her belly.

The unfamiliar sensations left her adrift, stole away her breath. “Then that will make for a miserable life, and perhaps destroy yours and hers in the process.”

“What the hell would you have me do about it? I was born knowing this, engaged by one and twenty. It is my fate.” With a hand about her nape, he drew her against him and plundered her mouth with another string of deep, drugging kisses while the other hand continued to roll and pinch one of her nipples until she was gasping for breath, drowning in a myriad of sensations she couldn’t quite keep ahead of.

Slowly, he drew up her taffeta skirting while nipping her overly sensitive nipples.

“You must leave off,” she gasped out, for if he didn’t, she would surely dissolve into a melted puddle on the floor. “I will not be used because you’re angry at your fiancée.” Even if it would mean a surcease of the lovely things he was doing to her.

“I’m not, but we’re a bit beyond that now, and I will send you flying before we’re done,” he said as he pushed her backward on the sofa and encouraged her legs to part.

The fabric of her skirting bunched about her waist, which put the lower portion of her body on full display.

“And besides, there is a strong connection between us that vexes me. I want to know why.”

“Desire or just the oddness of the evening, or a misplaced sense of protection.” She shivered in anticipation. “After all, you still have the diamonds.”

“I don’t know, but I need to do this, merely to remind myself that I’m still wanted by someone even if Sarah doesn’t.” He shrugged, and the shadows were back in his eyes. “It might be the only thing that will render you speechless.”

Tori snorted even has she trembled with anticipation. “Are you bragging, Greystone?”

He grinned, and for fleeting seconds, the gesture took years from his face.

Truly, he was criminally handsome when he forgot to be a prick.

“You can make that assessment in a bit.” The dratted man glided his fingers along her flesh made slick from his teasing her breasts, back and forth in a mesmerizing rhythm. “You’re all too ready.”

“For what?” Then it occurred to her that he wasn’t going to couple with her.

“This is a good time for you to be silent and enjoy.” He coaxed her swelling nubbin out of hiding, and rubbed it.

“Oh!” Perhaps she should slap his face for the effrontery and perhaps insult, but with each pass of those talented fingers, shivers of raw need danced over her skin, fracturing throughout her body into every nerve ending.