The Lover Read Free Page B

rash. Definitely not herself. This man seemed to bring out the worst in her.
    “My temper is usually considered quite serene.”
    “I confess surprise. For a wallflower you lack a decided meekness.”
    “For a hedonist, you possess an amazing degree of frankness. I expected more subtlety.”
    His slow smile was wickedly disarming. “Is that what you think me? A hedonist?”
    “Hedonist, pleasure-seeker, libertine…Rumor paints you in rather unflattering terms.”
    He laughed with careless amusement. “Rumor claims that I regularly engage in perversions and bacchanalian orgies as well, but not every tale you hear is true.”
    “I’m not aware of any specific perversions. Merely that you seduce every woman you meet.”
    “Now
that
is a bald untruth. I only seduce the ones who interest me, I assure you.” He paused, gazing down at her, a speculative gleam in his deep blue eyes. “I wager I could seduce you, little mouse.”
    Sabrina caught her breath. She could not possibly interest a man such as he. He was merely amusing himself at her expense. “I sincerely doubt it. I have a great regard for my virtue.”
    “How tiresome.”
    She wanted to laugh, but she forced it back.
    Lazily he adjusted the froth of lace at his cuff. “’Tis just as well, I warrant. Despite my vaunted reputation, I have yet to be accused of deflowering prudish maidens.”
    Strangely Sabrina felt disappointed. “I own relief to know I am safe.”
    “Did I say ‘safe’?”
    He took a step closer. “It seems a pity to waste such a braw evening.” His tone was casual, but all her senses went on full alert. “I think I could truthfully promise you would enjoy my attentions, mistress.” His sudden smile, part wolfish, was wholly enticing.
    Sabrina took a step backward, feeling very much the vulnerable lamb. He was far taller than she, broad of shoulder and powerfully muscled, and when he turned the full force of his charm on her, she felt overwhelmed. He was remarkably good at this game of seduction, but that was all it was to him, a game. He knew very well his power over women. Over
her
. Sabrina felt a mutinous flash of stubbornness course through her. “You’ll not have any effect on me, I promise you.”
    “No?”
    How did he manage to invest so much sensual promise, such beguiling tenderness, in a single word? In a glance? There was something warm and exciting in his eyes. Dangerous.
    Suddenly the night seemed alive with sound and sensation. Sabrina was overwhelmingly conscious of how alone they were, of how hazardous this situation had become. What idiocy was she indulging in, remaining out here with such a man? She lacked the experience needed to bandy words with a celebrated rake. His earlier banter with Lady Chivington had obviously been a sophisticated game between carnal equals, but she was no match for him in that regard.
    Evidently she’d taken leave of her senses—or been bewitched by the moonlight and this legendary rogue.
    “I should go…” she said rather too breathlessly.
    “No…stay.” He reached up to touch her cheek, a featherlight caress.
    “This…isn’t wise,” she murmured, startled by the delicate sensation.
    “And do you always do what is wise, sweeting?”
    “Y-Yes…always…”
    “Surely you cannot fear me.”
    Sabrina bit her lip. What she feared was the temptation he offered. The timbre of his voice had changed; it was low, muted, as liquid silver as moonlight. She couldn’t stop the warmth that suffused her body at that enchanting voice.
    She watched, spellbound, as his sensual lashes lowered lazily to shadow even more sensual eyes. “It would be the work of a moment to kindle your passion, sweet mouse.”
    Sabrina felt herself tremble to realize she’d become the target of his seduction. He was close enough for her to share his fluid warmth, to detect his scent, a faint natural fragrance that was disturbingly male. It made her feel disturbingly feminine and fragile.
    He moved even