Her Reluctant Viscount (Rakes and Rogues) Read Free Page B

shoved her down, took her pad, and ran out the door.”
     
    “No need to explain it to him, Clara. Lord Wilkes will always believe the worst of me. Let us go and offend him no more with my hoydenish presence.”
     
    Fingers clenching around the knob of his walking stick, he frowned at Jo, who consequently had begun to walk away. Gesturing for Clara to wait, he caught up to Jo and grabbed her arm, spinning her back to him.
     
    “Do not walk away from me.”
     
    “Why not? Because I did not bob like a good proper woman would while I flutter my lashes and call you Lord Wilkes?”
     
    Something had her back up and while he did not know exactly what it was, he knew it was more than just the incident in the museum. The attack had only riled her.
     
    “Perhaps you would like me on my knees awaiting your next command.”
     
    He came fully erect at that mental image her words painted. Her on her knees before him, hair unbound, eyes full of passion. Waiting. For him. For him to slide his length between her rosy lips.
     
    “Oh, trust me, hellcat. I would love you on your knees before me.”
     
    Her blue eyes deepened as her breaths came faster. She was aroused. He had expected his words to embarrass her. I should have known better.
     
    Her gaze darted about, as if ensuring this remained a private conversation between only the two of them. Then she stepped closer, head tilted to maintain eye contact, and smiled.
     
    “I would love to be there. Something I suspect you know. Just like I know you will not do anything about it.” Her gaze flashed to the obvious ridge in his breeches and back to his eyes. “No matter how much you want it as well.” Then she walked away, joining Clara, and leaving the museum.
     
    He stood rooted to the spot for a while trying to comprehend and digest the fact she had just come on to him. Never had he wanted to take anyone so bad.
     
    “You okay, Tryst?”
     
    The question snapped him from his shock. He glanced to his right to spy Colin Faulkner, Earl of Clifton, his best friend standing there with Pug at his side. The lad was now in his teens and no longer resembled the skinny street urchin he had been when he first entered Colin’s life. His blue eyes had darkened and there was more than a hint of rake and rogue when he peered out from behind the thick lashes. His hair hung longer than most and Trystan knew Pug had taken after Colin in many ways.
     
    “Colin. It is good to see you,” he said, smiling. “And you, Pug.”
     
    “Lord Wilkes,” the lad replied.
     
    He arched a brow at that but made no mention of it. Pug walked off, leaving them alone. Shaking hands, he gave a slight frown.
     
    “Where is Najja?”
     
    Trystan felt a stab of envy at the look of love and contentment, which filled Colin’s face at the mention of his wife. He wanted that.
     
    “Outside with Jo and Clara.”
     
    Jo. Just the mention of her name sent arousal fissuring through him. “I saw her earlier.”
     
    “We know. She told me you were in here.”
     
    The men stared at one another. Colin’s green gaze was sharp and saw much. Much more then Trystan wanted to share.
     
    “Hurt her, Tryst, and I will make you wish I had killed you in Africa.”
     
    How did he know?
     
    “No, you will not, Colin,” Najja’s soft voice entered the conversation.
     
    She stood behind the man who she loved more than anything and everything. The look they shared with one another made Trystan feel as if he were intruding. Colin drew her close and brushed a kiss over her cheek. She put her cool glance on Trystan. He took her hand and kissed the back of it.
     
    “I always liked you best, Najja.”
     
    “How sweet. I meant what I told you as well, Lord Wilkes.”
     
    Her warning hit harder than Colin’s. His friend would beat on him, yes, but he had absolute belief that Najja would do as she said and flay flesh from bone. His.
     
    He kissed her hand again. “I still like you best.” He