The Man in the Buff Breeches Read Free Page B

the second time he has made me feel hot and foolish this evening. I want to slap him.
    I decide to ignore the security idiot and turn to search for Nick. He is coming towards me, holding my belongings over one arm. The other he offers to me.
    “I will escort you to your room and make sure you are safely installed before I leave.”
    I just love his Regency manners.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I see security is heading back to the events room. The man is really beginning to spook me, and I gladly accept Nick’s arm as he steers me towards the lifts.

    We are outside my hotel room which is situated at the end of a corridor on the third floor. Nick takes the key card, opens the door, and then smiles down at me.
    “Thanks for a lovely evening, Shona.”
    “It certainly has been. The Regency ball didn’t turn out to be the trial I thought it would be,” I say, wondering if he really intends to leave. Should I invite him in? I have my rules—no sex on the first date. I hate rules . But to spend the night with someone you have only known for a few hours seems a bit of a sluttish thing to do. I don’t want to appear easy and eager even if, as far as tonight is concerned, it is true.
    I stop thinking altogether as he leans down and lands a soft kiss on my lips. He pauses and looks into my eyes, seeking approval, and then his lips are back. This time they linger and explore. Clearly he is in no hurry to leave, and I’m in no hurry to release him. He trails a delicious line of kisses down the curve of my neck and then draws back. There is a hungry look in his eyes, and my unprincipled body is aching with the need to satisfy it. His hands travel from my waist down the curve of my hips, moulding my body to his. He is backing me slowly into the room. Or is it me pulling him? I’m not sure.
    My brain shouts out no ; everything else clenches in anticipation. The promise of a night of unbridled passion is clearly for the taking. I hear him emit a low desperate groan.
    “I don’t think I can bear this much longer,” he whispers in my ear.
    Oh! I cannot hide my surprise and disappointment; but then relief dawns as he yanks off his neck cloth. “Being a Regency gent is fraught with restrictions,” he says, before he gathers me back.
    Now he is all tongue, hands, and hardness. Something is pulsating against my skin, and I hear him groan again. He releases me, takes a step back, and extracts his mobile from his pocket. Frowning he glances at the screen.
    “Excuse me a moment.”
    He stands in the doorway reading a message. His frown deepens and is accompanied by an impatient sigh as he types a reply. When he finally looks back at me, the passion in the cobalt eyes has turned to regret, and I know my moral decision has been made for me. Bugger!
    “Sorry, Shona, I have to go. Something has come up and I need to get hold of a few people before my breakfast meeting.”
    Breakfast meeting. It is one o’clock on a Sunday morning.
    To my embarrassment, he senses my frustration and then adds to it by flashing that ever so sexy grin.
    “I would really like to stay and take some time to know you better. But right now I am on an incredible tight deadline—and there are some pleasures in life that shouldn’t be rushed.”
    He pulls me close and gives me a short, sweet, goodbye sort of kiss. My insides slouch in disappointment, but I remain smiling.
    “I really have enjoyed myself, Nick.”
    “Me too.” He traces a finger down my cheek and pushes a lock of hair back behind my ear.
    “Let me have your number. I will ring you,” he says.
    Will you?
    I rattle off my number and watch him punch it in to his mobile. One last devastating smile and he is gone. Perhaps he was the ghost from Regency past .
    I’m too tired to work out if I will ever hear from him again. I can’t bear to dwell on the negative probability, but he didn’t leave me his number. My bubble of romantic ecstasy slowly deflates. I peel off my Regency dress and head