One Night Scandal by Christie Kelley Page A

was wrong with him? He loved Jennette, and yet, he could not stop thinking about Sophie. Maybe she was the key to forgetting Jennette.
    He felt her resistance and almost smiled. She seemed to be trying not to respond to his persuasion, but as her lips parted, she failed. He should walk away from her, leave before things went too far, but as her velvety tongue touched his, he was lost. Drowning in the passion that flared when she was near, he drew his hand down her back and cupped her derrière.
    She moaned as he brought her roughly against his hard erection. He brought his fingers up the length of her back until he found the small buttons on her gown. Quickly unbuttoning her dress, he started to slide the silk down her body.
    “What are you doing?” she whispered frantically. “What are we doing?”
    Nicholas stared down at her trying to catch his breath. “Christ, what the hell is wrong with me?” he muttered, stepping away from her.
     
     
    Sophie stared at his strong back, silhouetted by the fire. She shoved the sleeves of her silk dress back up. “It wasn’t just you,” she whispered.
    “I realize that,” he said. “But I started it.”
    “This time.” Her heart still pounded in her chest. “I believe last time was all me.”
    “Well, Miss Matchmaker, what exactly does it mean when two people cannot seem to keep their hands off each other?” He moved to sit in the wingback chair by the fireplace.
    “Lust,” she whispered with a little shrug. “My mother was an actress and a mistress to several men. She told me all about lust and how both dangerous and powerful it can be.”
    “Powerful?” he said with a laugh.
    “You don’t believe me?” She strolled toward him intent on teaching him the power of lust. Placing her arms on his chair, she leaned over until her dress gaped. His gaze went to her breasts. His eyes darkened as he stared at her.
    “Perhaps I was wrong,” he said softly.
    “Oh?”
    His lips lifted in a large smile revealing deep dimples. “I would give just about anything to make love with you again.”
    “Would you?”
    “I would. But tell me,” he said, skimming a finger across the top of her breasts, “does this power work in both directions?”
    “What do you mean?” She attempted to ignore the shiver of desire that went directly toward her belly.
    He glided his hands lower until he cupped her breasts. His thumbs gently caressing them until they ached to be touched with his bare hands or better yet, his mouth. “Would I possess such power over you?”
    She should tell him that he would not, but as his hands slid behind her and brought her down to straddle his lap, she could only nod.
    His smile widened again. “So we appear to be exactly where we were five minutes ago.”
    Feeling his hard erection through her drawers made her moist and warm and unable to think about anything but him. She closed her eyes and swallowed, trying to draw some strength from a deep recess in her. But as she opened her eyes again, her weakness for his kisses overcame her again. She didn’t want to be strong. She wanted to feel his hands on her bare skin, feel his strength as he entered her, and watch his face as he succumbed to the pleasure they would both experience.
    She leaned in closer and brought her lips to his mouth. Instantly, his hand cupped her neck, bringing her tighter to him. His mouth opened to her and his tongue played with hers. With her desire rippling through her, she tugged at his cravat eager to feel his skin under her fingers.
    His hands moved to her gown and finally lowered the bodice to her waist. Their kisses became frantic as passion overtook them. She wanted him now, deep inside her, stroking her, sending her higher.
    With a groan, she broke away from his mouth and attacked the buttons on his waistcoat. As her fingers fumbled with the buttons, he pushed them aside and ripped at his clothing until he was bare chested with only his trousers in the way.
    “Sophie,” he