The Untouchable Earl by Amy Sandas

Author:Amy Sandas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2016-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

Lily walked with him toward the bedroom, her heart pounding wildly.

There was something different about him tonight. It was not obvious, but it was there in his quiet intensity. If their last encounter had been a test of sorts, tonight felt like an initiation.

Just inside the door of the bedroom, he released her hand and strode ahead of her toward a row of candles set in a gothic wrought iron stand. His shoulders were broad and strong beneath the white of his shirt. She had noticed when she had removed his coat and waistcoat that his shirt was made of silk rather than cotton or linen. It was not a common choice, and each time her fingers had brushed the decadent material, a thrill had passed through her.

As he lit the candles one by one, the room became gently illuminated by the flickering golden light.

The bedroom was smaller than the sitting room, but it was far more dramatic in its decor. The walls were covered in black and silver brocade. The bed was large and imposing, with a high, scrolled headboard that gleamed a cherry red in the candlelight. Black velvets, silks, and satins mingled on its surface.

Her gaze swung away from the bed to the center of the room, where a chaise was placed conspicuously by itself in the open space. Something about the odd piece of furniture gave Lily pause, and she found herself staring at it. It stood on elegantly curved legs and was upholstered in a sleek red leather that made her want to run her hand over its surface. Unlike most chaises, it did not have a raised end for reclining, and aside from two rolled pillows on either end, it did not possess any sort of head or arm rests. In truth, it was nothing more than a large cushioned bench.

A low-standing chest containing dozens of little drawers was set against the far wall. Beside the chest was a large captain’s chair upholstered in the same cherry-red leather as the bench.

“Lily.”

Her gaze swung back to him at the sound of her name in his rich-toned voice.

He stood stiffly in front of the candelabra. The light at his back cast his features into severe shadow.

“I am sorry for the way I left you at our last encounter.”

Lily’s body heated at the memory of being on the verge of something beautiful and stunning, only to fall short.

“I was not properly prepared,” he continued. “It will not happen again.”

Lily was not sure she understood. “Prepared for what, my lord?”

There was a long pause during which she wondered if he would answer.

“How you made me feel.”

His reply sent a rush of longing through her, filling the hollowness at her center.

“Are you prepared now, my lord?”

Instead of answering her question, he asked one of his own. “Do you recall your promise to do as I say?”

His tone had become cold and distant, but Lily believed she knew what that meant. The more rigid and icy his demeanor, the more intensely his passions burned beneath.

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