Improperly Wed (Aristocratic Grooms #3)(25)
Author: Anna DePalo

“You’re the one wearing red.”

“Yes, it was clever of you to lend me jewels that are magnificent as well as a flashing fire alarm right over my cle**age.”

He choked back a laugh. “Someone needs to put a warning sign on you.”

“More like a stamp of ownership—”

He inclined his head and didn’t deny it—so she had understood his intentions with his gift.

“—As well as a clever excuse for you to stare at my br**sts.”

He looked down just to annoy her. They still hadn’t broken a step of the dance, and she kept a smile fixed firmly on her face.

“It is a stunning ruby,” he murmured, “surrounded as it is by diamonds and the pillow of your creamy br**sts. I was imagining the same when I chose the necklace and the tiara from among the jewelry in the family safe. The earrings, however, I picked out myself this week at Garrard.”

She shot him a look of liquid fire that nevertheless said she didn’t know how to react. Should she be angry with him for his sexual banter, thank him for his gift or give in to the attraction that was undeniable between them?

The dance came to an end at that moment. He reluctantly loosened his hold on her, and stepped back.

“Walk with me in the garden.”

She looked at him in surprise. “What? It’s cold outside.”

“Hawk has a greenhouse. It’s where the head gardener works his magic for the estate grounds.”

“I hardly think—”

“We’re supposed to convince people tonight that we’ve decided to make a real go of our marriage.”

It was a weak excuse. Still, she could not have missed the curious looks they’d received throughout the day. She sighed.

“You know you want a breather. It’s become a terrible crush in here.” Particularly for them—a couple who was one of the interesting sideshows of the evening.

She contemplated him for a second, and then a look of resignation crossed her face. “Fine. I’ll make a dignified exit with you.”

They walked through the ballroom and out the French doors to a terrace warmed by heated lamps. From there, it was a short stroll to the greenhouse.

They discovered that Hawk’s heated sanctuary had drawn other curious guests. They had come to admire some of the estate’s more exotic plants and small blooms.

He and Belinda wandered along, stopping occasionally for her to appreciate a particular plant species—and for him to pretend to.

The greenhouse door opened and closed a couple of times until Colin glanced around to discover that he and Belinda were alone except for another couple at the other end of the glass building. He could barely hear their voices.

“I believe Hawk’s gardener has been experimenting to create hybrid roses,” Belinda remarked.

She was looking down at a wood work table strewn with various gardening tools, plants and neatly marked glass jars.

He studied her profile. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Max, my gardener, has done the same at Halstead Hall.”

She cast him a look from under her lashes, as if wondering whether his comment was meant to be a reproach—his house, which was now her own as well, had the same cottage industry in place and she didn’t seem to know it—or whether it was yet another meaning-laden invitation to make herself at home in his life.

The scent of roses and other blooms hung around them in the warm, humid air. Colin would never have thought that a greenhouse would be a sexually stimulating environment, but it was.

He let his fingertips trail up Belinda’s arm in a light caress, and watched goose bumps appear. Fascinating.

She didn’t look up at him, but there was a new stillness to her.

Testing, he stepped closer and cupped her upper arms from behind her. He bent and breathed in the soft air by her temple.

“What are you doing?” There was a catch in her voice.

“What does it seem as if I’m doing?” he responded, his voice laced with laughter and seduction. “I’m trying to determine your scent.”

“There are other people here.”

“Surely they won’t mind if I try to distinguish my wife’s scent from among those intermingled in the air.”

“They’ll misconstrue your actions.”

“Is that my fault?” he murmured, teasing.

The greenhouse door opened and closed again, and this time, they were well and truly alone.

He stroked her arms. Belinda had the softest skin. He’d thought so before, but now, touching her, the tactile sensation brought the realization rushing back to him. Blood rushed to his head and other parts of his anatomy.

He let his lips skim the column of her neck.

“I don’t think you’ll be able to pick up my scent in a place as aromatic as this.”

“Tiger lily,” he announced, and then breathed in deep. “It’s soap or body wash or some type of lotion.”

She glanced back at him, her look astonished. “How did you guess?”

He crinkled his eyes as he held back a grin. “It’s not a shy scent—”

“Oh.”

“—and I noticed some tiger-lily products among your cosmetic products back at the hotel.”

“Oh!” Her eyebrows drew together.

“I’m not nearly so omniscient about taste, however.”

“Clearly.”

“For that, there’s only one way for me to find out.”

Before she could react, he turned her toward him.

He settled his lips on hers and tasted her as if he had all the time in the world. He explored with his tongue, coaxing a reaction from her and inviting her to be a full participant with him.

After a moment, she relaxed in his arms, though she still didn’t give him the uninhibited reaction he was looking for.

She tasted faintly of sweet wine and delicacy.

He worked hard to lower her defenses. His hands smoothed over her back, molding her to him.

She was a fantastic kisser. He’d learned that back in Vegas, and he got further glimmerings of her potential now.

He skimmed his hands above the back of her dress. He pressed and rubbed her muscles, soothing her.

Belinda made a low sound of pleasure.

Of course, he’d suggested the greenhouse in order to have a private moment, but he knew, even in his current aroused state, that he couldn’t simply lower her to the floor here and make love to her.

Then again, he could lock the greenhouse door…

He undid the hook at the back of her dress and then lowered the zipper, relaxing her bodice.