Sabrina Jeffries - To Pleasure a Prince (The Royal Brotherhood) (v. 2)

Miss Cicely Tremaine,The Ideal Chaperone

Out of the frying pan into the fire,Regina thought, as Henry led her up the crowded stairs. She should have insisted that her other cousins come along, but shed been in too much of a hurry to escape her so-called friends and their evisceration of Marcus. If only Henry hadnt stepped in when shed asked Richard to take her back to her box. Henry was the last person she wanted to be alone with. Sure enough, at the top of the stairs, he tugged her toward the right. She tugged him toward the left. The box is this way.

I want to talk to you. Alone. Your brothers box is empty at the moment, and you and I never got to finish our last discussion.

She sighed. Theyhad finished it. He simply refused to accept it, which was why shed avoided him ever since. She needed to put an end to his assumptions once and for all. She let him lead her into Simons spacious box, but stopped him when he started to close the door. No need for that. With the lights going down in the house, it would be very dark in here with the door closed. Too dark.

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html He faced her with a sullen expression. You said youd consider my offer.

No, I said I couldnt marry a man whom I regard as a brother.

Thats ridiculous. Its been years since we gamboled about in your familys deer park like little savages. God knows I dont think of you as a sister.

Perhaps its time that you do.

Why? I have everything you could require in a husband, including a substantial fortune. You have no sensible reason for refusing me.

Except that she found him pretentious and boring. Henrys idea of a riveting evening was to gossip about everyone in his acquaintance. He probably gossiped abouther when she wasnt around. Im sorry, Henry, I simply dont bear those sorts of feelings for you. And I never shall.

You havent given me a chance, thats all. Taking her by surprise, he shut the box door and dragged her into his arms. But if youd let me show you

He kissed her before she could stop him. She didnt resist, first stunned, then curious to see if his kiss would affect her as profoundly as Marcuss. But like the few other men whod dared to kiss her, hed honed his skills on many a pretty woman, and his calculated talent left her cold. She wrenched her mouth from his. Thats enough, Henry. I am not interested in you that way.

Nonsense. He gripped her so that she could not escape his embrace. Give it a chance.

Panic shook her when she couldnt wrestle free. Let go of me now, drat it!

His face turned ugly. Theyre right about you, he hissed in her ear, as she struggled against his hold.

Youre a cold little bitch, arent you? You tease and flirt, but when a man shows you any genuine affection

Release her, or Ill make you regret it, a voice growled. Marcus! The door was now open and his massive form filled the doorway. Henry let her go with a speed that would have been insulting if she hadnt known what a coward he was. He faced Marcus warily. This is none of your concern, sir, so if you will leave us

Do you want me to leave, Lady Regina? Marcus asked, without shifting his gaze from Henry. Behold the dragon. His clenched fists, powerful bulk, and fiery face were the very picture of dragonly fury, a barely leashed force awaiting only her word to fly out and destroy everything in its path. Other men had sworn to fight for her. This was the first man she believed might actually do it. A thrill shot down her spine. Please stay, Lord Draker. Henry was just leaving.

Henry whirled on her. Regina, you cant mean you prefer

You heard her. Marcus stepped into the box. I believe your friends are looking for you downstairs.

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Henry hesitated. Fortunately, the idiots brain actually functioned once in a while. With a tight little bow, he exited the box, leaving Marcus and Regina alone.

Now that Henry was gone, she didnt know whether to be delighted that Marcus had shown up or annoyed that hed taken it upon himself to interfere. How did you find me?

I followed you. I didnt trust your cousins.

Or me, apparently. I could have handled Henry myself, you know.

With a glance at the rest of the boxes in the house, he closed the door, then stepped closer. I could see how well you were handling him.

You didnt give me the chance. When you came in, I was about to use my strong right arm on him. That would have stopped him.

It didnt stop me from kissing you on your doorstep last night, he murmured into the darkness. He was much closer now.

She shivered deliciously, but didnt move. She had two choices. The wise one was to rebuff him as swiftly as shed rebuffed Henry. The foolish one was to see where this led. Earlier this evening, she would have made the wise choice. But Henrys pathetic kiss had shown her one basic truth. Shed never been attracted to any man as powerfully as she was to this one. Despite his grousing. Despite the beard and rude manners and the way he always kept her unsettled. Or perhaps the unsettled part was what attracted her. I could have stopped you last night if Id wanted to, she admitted.

So why didnt you?

I didnt want to.

His eyes glittered dangerously in the semidarkness. But tonight you wanted to stop me. Tonight you wouldnt even let me hold your hand.

Because I-I wanted to teach you some manners, she lied.

Im rather thickheaded sometimes. Suddenly his hands were on her waist, drawing her behind the curtains at the back of the box, giving her a chance to resist. Perhaps we should repeat the lesson.

The husky words sent a thrill of anticipation coursing through her rapidly heating blood. Breathless, she slid her hands up the mighty arms that engulfed her. Perhaps we should.

That was all it took to have him kissing her. And it was every bit as wonderful as she remembered, hot and sweet and silky. His mouth consumed hers, taking everything with that amazing boldness he showed in all that he did. But where Henrys boldness had appalled her, Marcuss only made her want more. She clutched eagerly at his brawny shoulders. How nice to be out of control for a change. And this was so very out of control. They were alone in the dark; no one could see them behind the curtains. Certainly no one could hear them, with the noisy patrons conversing over the performers. If anyone did hear, they Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html would probably assume some doxy and her companion were making use of an empty box. At times like this she wished she were his doxy, especially when he plundered her mouth like a marauder, possessing it so thoroughly that she felt melded to him like wax to a wick, the two of them erupting into flames together.

His mouth left hers to burn a path of fire along her jaw. You defended me to them downstairs. Why?

You heard us? she whispered, cursing her friends for their snide tongues.

I heard them behaving like asses. I heard you defending me.

They dont even know you, she choked out, though it was hard to speak when he was nibbling her earlobe and laving her ear with his heated tongue.

I dont know you, either, he whispered against her ear. I thought I had you figured out. I thought it was only the public nature of our association that bothered you. I thought that was why you acted as if you disliked me. But then you defended me to your friends.

I dont dislike you. I never disliked you.

He nuzzled her neck, his beard tickling her sensitive flesh. Then why have you been so cool to me tonight?

Because this is unwiseyouand me.