“What proposition?”
His tone was as un-loverlike as possible, Lily noticed, her lips trembling with nervous amusement. “I know it is normally the gentleman’s prerogative to initiate an affair, but…I want you for my lover.”
His brows snapped together. “Is that so?”
“Yes. You were right, Heath. I don’t want to remain a virginal spinster all my life. And that is all your fault. You gave me a mere taste of passion when I want the full experience. But you have tantalized me long enough.”
“You don’t honestly expect me to deflower you?” he retorted. “You are supposed to be a lady.”
“True,” Lily agreed, a humorous smile hovering around her mouth. “But you know I have never conformed to the proper rules of society. And you said you wanted me in your bed.”
“As my wife, not my paramour.” Heath’s frown deepened. “What is this, Lily? Your next move in our game? Because Fleur and Chantel are likely to take away points from my total if they learn I have despoiled you?”
She shook her head. “I have no intention of telling them. And this has nothing to do with the game. It has to do with desire.” Lily stood slowly, holding his gaze. “I want you Heath. I want to be y
our lover.”
Unmoved, he crossed his arms over his chest. “You know my terms, Lily.”
She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Tess warned me that I might have to seduce you.”
At her blithe admission, one dark eyebrow shot up, but otherwise he didn’t respond.
“Although I suspect,” Lily went on, “you won’t like it if I ape all those other women who have chased you from the time you were out of short coats.” As she spoke, Lily reached up to pull the pins from her hair. She was gratified when Heath’s eyes followed her movements as she let down the dark tresses and combed them out with her fingers.
“Don’t you want me, Heath?” she asked in a pouting voice.
“You know damn well I do.”
“And I want you. So what is the difficulty? I am willing, even eager to become a scarlet woman.”
“I have no intention of making love to you until you agree to wed me, you know that.”
“Why not?”
“I won’t risk getting you with child, for one thing.”
“Ah, but I have a solution. Sponges soaked in brandy or vinegar are deemed most effective, I am told. Peg gave me some to use tonight.”
His gaze sharpened, but he stood there obdurately, his jaw set.
Bending, Lily drew off her evening slippers one by one. Then reaching behind her, she unfastened the hooks at the back of her gown. When she let the garment slip to the floor and stepped out of it, she was left wearing only a delicate lawn chemise and silk stockings.
Sensation danced over her skin as Heath’s golden gaze fixed on her breasts. Her nipples had hardened and the rosy aureoles showed through the thin fabric of her chemise. When his gaze dropped lower, she knew he could see the shadows of the dark curls below her belly. The desire that flashed in his eyes was unmistakable, and it encouraged her a measure.
With a casualness she wasn’t feeling, she leaned down and undid the ribbons of her garters, then slowly peeled the silk down her legs.
“Lily, stop right now.” The command was low but husky.
“I don’t believe I will, Heath. If you won’t make love to me, then I shall have to be the aggressor.”
A muscle jumped in his jaw. He was making an obvious effort to resist the temptation she presented, Lily realized.
When Heath didn’t speak, she moved around the room, turning down the lamps until only a faint glow remained from one on the bedside table. While there, she drew back the bed curtains. Then silently, she went to the door to lock it and withdrew the key.
Turning, she dangled the key from one finger provocatively. “You will have to take this from me if you want to escape.”
“Lily…” There was exasperation in his voice along with a faint note of dismay. Yet he didn’t look as if escape was on his mind. Instead, he stood rooted to the floor, watching her every move.