Page 40 of Road Trip With a Rogue

A surge of recklessness seized her. She’d thought about him all day, his closeness, his scent, his words. He was right; they didn’t need to be friends. Better to regret the things she’d done than the things she hadn’t.

She thought of all her childhood heroines: strong, fearless women like the warrior queen Boudica and the Amazons of myth. Women who took what they wanted, and followed their desires.

It was time to do the same.

Chapter Nineteen

“I lied.” She stared up into Vaughan’s face.

“About what?”

“I’ve imagined it. What we’d be like together.”

His eyes darkened. His lips parted as if he would speak, but she didn’t give him the chance. “I’ve thought about what would have happened if you hadn’t stopped, that night in your study.”

He leaned in, closing the distance between them. “And what was your conclusion?” His voice was low, almost a growl, and the sound made her knees weak.

“I think it would have been good.”

“‘Good’?” He spat the word as if it was an insult, but his lips curved up. “As in, average? Vaguely pleasant? A way to pass the time?”

He caught the front of her shirt in his fist, as if he were about to shake her, and Daisy’s heart pounded in dark delight as he pulled her up onto her toes. Yes! She wanted him frustrated and irritated too.

“I think I can do better than ‘good.’” His breath brushed her lips and her stomach somersaulted.

“Prove it.”

His eyes narrowed into threatening slits. “Don’t say things you don’t mean. I’m in no mood to play games.”

“I mean it. We’re both adults. I’ll be returning to London tomorrow, when I catch the runaways, but there’s no reason we can’t enjoy each other tonight.”

Daisy bit her lip, amazed at her own daring. She’d never propositioned anyone before, but her body was on fire, tingling with anticipation. Please, God, he hadn’t been teasing her yesterday when he’d given her all the reasons she should give in. If he refused her now, she’d never forgive him.

But there was no hint of gloating in his expression, only mild suspicion.

His fingers tightened on her shirt. “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Because if we start this, there’s no stopping.”

His warning tone only made her want him more. Was this some last-ditch attempt at being noble? She didn’t want noble. She wanted hot and fast andnow.

“You promised me ‘incredible,’” she taunted. “Afraid you won’t be able to deliver?”

His lips quirked in an arrogant smirk. “Afraid you won’t be able to get enough?”

That wasexactlywhat she was worried about.

She shrugged, feigning insouciance, trying to pretend this wasn’t the most exciting moment of her life. “It’s just bodies. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

She wasn’t sure which of them she was trying to convince, but she needed to get him out of her system. Reality—however good—could never match up with her fevered imagination. They’d do this, and she’d be free of him.

The grip on her shirt loosened as he slowly flattenedhis palm against her chest. His fingers splayed across her collarbones, then slid up to cradle her jaw.

“Hamilton.” It was both a threat and an endearment, and her stomach clenched in dark delight. “You’ll be the death of me.”

“There are worse ways to go.”