A Kiss of Lies by Bronwen Evans Page B

He’d appeal to her mentally. He’d develop, embrace, and admire her undoubted intelligence.
    It had been so long since he’d tried to seduce. Prior to his burns, women threw themselves at him. He was pleased to see his recall was exceptional. It was like riding a horse. If you fell off, you got back up and simply kept on riding. He felt his groin throb. He knew what he’d love to be riding right now.
    He smiled inwardly. He hadn’t been mistaken. He’d noted the look of desire in her eyes. For a few minutes she’d forgotten her position in his company. Unburdened from stifling formality, her personality shone, indicating a sense of mischief. Her banter was joyous andflirtatious. The warmth of her blue eyes indicated a sparkling joy for life that was contagious.
    The ferocity of his desire to catch it—to catch her—almost overwhelmed him.
    He flashed Sarah his smile of old. A smile the Christian of before the burns would have offered. A smile that was sensual in its nature and implication. “Come now, there’s just the two of us here. As you mentioned earlier, an intelligent woman would surely take the opportunity to learn all that she could from one of the infamous Libertine Scholars.”
    He watched her hand flutter to pick up her glass, then her tongue sliding from between her lips to wet them. “I’m sure there are many things you could teach me, my lord. However, I’d prefer to keep the lessons on topics that maintain propriety. If I am to be Lily’s governess, my reputation is everything.” She seemed to gather her wits, and her fingers firmed around her glass. She lifted it to her lips, almost in a toast, before saying, “After all, you did say that Lily has already had too many disruptions. I’d hate to be forced to resign my post once I reach England.”
    He didn’t like it that she’d reverted to addressing him formally. “Christian. My name is Christian,” he uttered coolly. “Let me assure you, Sarah, your reputation is quite safe with me. There is no reason I can think of that would ever force you to resign your post.” He paused, wanting the implication of this to sink in, before looking deep into her eyes. “And my wishes are all that count.”
    He watched the pulse beating at the base of her throat, and caught the tightness around her shoulders. He was pushing her too far, too quickly. He was out of practice.
    “Currently, my wish is to have a pleasant meal with an intelligent woman who will be sailing with me to England on a voyage of several weeks.” He cut into his meat and shrugged, not looking at her. “I simply thought to get to know you better.” He lifted his gaze to her. “Is that a crime? If so, I do apologize.”
    His diversion worked. Her shoulders relaxed, and she gave him a small smile. “I’m sorry. It’s just this job means a lot to me. I’m simply worried about losing it.”
    He resisted the urge to touch her again. “You can have this job for as long as you require it, or until Lily is married,” he said earnestly. “I give you my word. There, does that allay your fears?”
    She drew in a breath at the parameters of the promise. She was an intelligent woman, and so she understood it was not that simple. There was more behind his vow. If he could, Lord Markham would turn this into an altogether different arrangement; it would eventuate in anarrangement that saw her share his bed. Her body reacted with an alarming need to respond to the tempting idea.
    “I suppose so,” she agreed reluctantly.
    Her attraction to his lordship had not dissipated. If anything, the memories of last night, the vision of his nakedness, the feel of his muscled chest and his enticing kisses, flooded her body with an uncomfortable warmth.
    Her fork slipped through her fingers and clattered onto the table. Had he been awake last night? Had her wanton behavior set him down this path?
    Her face heated, and she glanced sideways at him from under her lowered eyelashes. He was still