“Phalluses?” he supplied.
“Exactly. Now there’s just books. How disappointing.”
“Rafe is reformed.”
“Well, that’s no fun now, is it?”
“I thought you were a champion of reform.”
“I was . . . I am. Only not for tonight,” she said, flouncing away from him. “Tonight I’m wicked.At least there’s still a bed,” she called from the next room.
And that was his cue to leave.
Just leave her here and instruct the coachman to take her home when she emerged. Walk away and never look back. If he followed her into that bedroom all would be lost.
He unlocked the hidden drawer inside the cabinet and located the small leather-bound notebook that Rafe had asked him to post to Geneva. He’d said he needed it to solve a mystery. “I found what I came for,” he called to Viola. “It’s time to leave.”
She didn’t answer.
“Viola?”
Still no answer.
“Damn it, Viola. It’s time to leave.”
What was she doing in there? He stalked to the bedchamber door and flung it open. He nearly slammed it shut again.
Viola was seated in the center of the bed, knees off to one side, red silk swirling around her bare toes. “Are you coming to bed?”
“Viola,” West groaned, clenching his hands into fists to stop from spreading his hands all over her tempting body. “Do you know what you’re doing to me?”
“I know exactly what I’m doing.” She lifted her arms and began removing hairpins from her coiffure.
“Stop that. Don’t remove any more pins.”
“Why not?”
“Because all I want most in the world is to seeyour hair falling around your shoulders, touch it, run my fingers through it, use it to pull your neck back to take my kiss.”
“Then do it,” she whispered.
“I can’t.”
“We’re alone.” She pulled more pins out of her hair and shook it free. “There.”
“You are so incredibly beautiful. Look at you. Glowing like flame in that gown, your lips lush and begging to be kissed. Your eyes daring me to break all the rules. I never meant to drag you down into my world. You’re not meant for fleeting pleasures. You’re a forever kind of girl. You’re sunshine and buttered toast. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m not fragile, West. I won’t break easily. I know exactly what I’m doing to you. I’m seducing you.” She pulled her gown down one shoulder so slowly that his heart nearly stopped beating. “We’re not at Westbury House. I’m not companion to your sisters after tonight. And I’m not your employee anymore. You’re not even a duke here, with the weight of all that anger and regret attached to the title. Here we can be West and Viola.”
“I want you so badly.” The words were wrested from his throat on a growl. He fought desperately for the control he required to walk away.
“You told me to want things for myself, and to take what I want. You said I lived only in service to others and claimed nothing for myself.”
“You know why this is a terrible idea.”
“Maybe so, but it doesn’t change how I feel. I want you, West. For me. Now come to bed,” shesaid, lowering the other sleeve of her gown until her breasts bounced free.
There was no chance in hell that he could resist.