Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (135 page)

Scott

up in pins. She drew another length of fabric from the drawer and draped it around his neck. Standing in such proximity, he could inhale the delicate scent of her.

Tonight, she smelled divinely of English lavender. If serenity and softness had a scent, this would be it.

Somehow, the smell suited her to perfection.

She reached up to straighten the linen length and the overlarge robe gaped, affording him an unadulterated glimpse of her breasts. Blood heated in his groin instantly.

After all their love play this morning and the night prior, he thought he'd be at least momentarily sated, that his body wouldn't be capable of rousing again so thoroughly or so soon. Evidence to the contrary made an auspicious tent in his dark trousers. Apparently he was wrong.

Intent on carrying out the intricacies of the knot, Julia was oblivious to his new state. Beyond a terse

'Keep your chin up', the linen held all her concentration. 'Make a single knot, place one end of the fabric over the knot to hide it, spread the remainder out and turn down into the waistcoat.' She bit her lower lip adorably while she muttered the 'recipe' for his knot, competent hands deftly shaping the fabric and smoothing it beneath the claret silk of his waistcoat.

'There.' Julia said with satisfaction, stepping back to survey her work. 'Much better.'

Paine peered into the looking glass above the cabinet holding his personal accessories. 'This is not the

d
'amour.'

'No. That was half your problem.' Julia flounced smugly on to the bed, a smile twitching at her lips,

80

Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady

unaware how the robe strategically gaped. 'Your cravats aren't nearly starched enough for that knot and rightly so.

Minimal starch in the cravats is all the rage these days.'

'How do you know so much about men's fashion?'

Paine cocked his head to study the innocently provocative woman on the bed. She could rouse him without as the simple act of tying his cravat had proved.

'Three male cousins, two of whom fancy themselves to be pinks of the ton.' Julia gave him a wide smile. 'You need a valet.'

'I have a valet.' It was embarrassing to admit how heavily he'd come to rely on his valet, Jacobs, in the year he'd been home. During his sojourn abroad he'd managed to dress quite well on his own. But it had been out of the question to send for Jacobs with Julia present.

He'd sent a note earlier in the day to Jacobs at his Jermyn Street rooms, telling the valet to stay away.

The fewer people who knew about her being here, the better. Until he could ascertain the current level of gossip surrounding her disappearance, it would be best to keep her hidden. That was why he felt it was so imperative he spent the evening at the club. The way Julia was looking at him right now though, he wondered if she'd ever let him leave.

She rose up on her knees on the bed, her eyes dancing with light mischief. 'I said the cravat starch was your problem. Do you want to know the other half?'

'Absolutely,' Paine sensed a game afoot and stepped towards her in anticipation of her gambit. In China, girls learned the art of seduction from pillow books, but

Scott

Julia had unerring instincts that couldn't be taught when it came to arousing a man. 'There's an ancient Chinese proverb that says "learning is a treasure that follows its owner everywhere". He encouraged in husky tones, 'I think you'll find me an excellent student.'

'Then I feel compelled to tell you that the other half of your problem was your trousers. They were
and
are too tight.'

She said it with such straightforwardness that Paine did not immediately understand until her hand reached for him, cupping him through his trousers. He gasped, the friction of the cloth against his member creating an exquisite set of sensations that made him simultaneously want to end and prolong the moment.

There was nothing for it. He'd be of no use at the club around in this frustrated state all night. The club's legitimate owner would have to make do without him tonight, at least for a while.

'Take my trousers off, Julia.' He managed a hoarse whisper and, in terms of words, that was all he managed for a good long while.