Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Helen asked the doorman to call her a carriage, choosing to wait in the fresh air of the small courtyard just outside the ballroom.

She wrapped a light cashmere shawl around her bare arms, feeling suddenly light-hearted now that she was free to relax. Happy, almost, as she stared up at the dark night sky. The sooty London air hid the stars she knew to be up there, but the knowledge did nothing to dim her enjoyment.

Soon.

Soon she would have enough put away in investments to leave places like this, and London town, behind forever. Find somewhere new to start afresh. Bath, or Brighton perhaps.

It felt like anything was possible at that moment.

A crunch on the gravel behind her alerted her to his presence, his form obscured in the gloom as the only light shone from inside, through the windows.

"I know you are there, I have felt your eyes on me the entire evening. Who are you, and what do you want?" said Helen, still looking up at the sky.

The man stepped out of the shadows, throwing a cheroot into the gravel next to the path and grinding it out with the heel of his boot.

"I think it's quite obvious, what I want," he drawled, his voice refined but with a rough edge to it that Helen couldn't quite place.

He took a languid sip of the drink which dangled nonchalantly from his fingers. "Who I am is of little consequence."

Helen laughed softly, a mere huff of breath, throwing propriety to the winds as she turned her head to shoot him an ironic look. "It might be of little consequence to you, but trust me, to a woman, who you are is of tantamount importance."

"Why," he asked, cocking his head. "Would it help matters along if you could judge the size of my annual income against the length of my cock?"

Helen stared, shocked at the blunt words. Although she hid her reaction automatically as she shuttered her expression into the bland look she normally wore.

"Oh, I see now what kind of man you are. Good evening to you," she answered with a tight smile.

She had had enough of men's insufferable ways to last her a lifetime. She wanted no more.

Just because this one stated his thoughts and desires boldly, did not mean he would be any different.

"Wait," he said, catching her arm as she moved to sail regally past him.

Helen twitched her skirts and sniffed, staring down at the place where his warm palm cupped her skin. "Unhand me, sir."

He dropped the hand, running it through his hair. Unbelievably, he only looked more handsome with that dark blond hair touseled and in disarray.

"My apologies, I am saying all the wrong things. It is a cursed habit of mine."

He flashed her an apologetic smile, but Helen sensed there was more to it than that.

"Let me introduce myself," he said, placing a hand to his chest and offering her a polite bow, as if they were in a formal drawing room and not standing in the dark outside a gaming hell.

"I am Captain Starling."

Helen eyed him warily, searching for the slightest hint of insincerity.

"Very well, I am-"

"I know who you are, Mrs Montrose."

His eyes glittered in the light of the torches, throwing the rugged curve of his jaw and the sensual cant of his lips in sharp relief.

Helen shivered, aware that he still stood extremely close. It was far more intimate than the game of glances they had played all evening, for some strange reason.

"And what do you want?"

"As I said, you know what I want."

Captain Starling was shockingly blunt, and for some irrational reason, it excited her, her body still tingling from their sensual game of glances.

She decided to meet his bluntness with a measure of her own.

Merely to see what he would do, she told herself firmly.

"You want to go home with me," she said, carefully enunciating each word. "To fuck me, I assume."

His pale blue eyes widened briefly, then narrowed on her with heated intensity.

"Yes. But I didn't intend to wait to get you home."

She gaped at him, her usual composure deserting her at the audacity of that simple statement.

"You are presumptions, Captain Starling," she gasped, her heart skipping in her chest.

"Yes. I suppose I am. But you have been driving me mad all evening, and my sense of propriety has deserted me. I want you. And I think you may want me in return."

"Arrogant too," she retorted, with a tight smile that was more teeth than sweetness.

Determinedly not allowing herself to acknowledge the frisson of excitement his words elicited in her.

They stared at each other for a long moment, neither seemingly in a hurry to be the first to break the silence, hot and thick with electric tension.

Helen made a decision.

Why should she not indulge herself for one brief moment?

She never let her control slip, it seemed. Perhaps, she could take her pleasure, and be done with it. Carry on as if it had never happened. Amelia did it all the time, why shouldn't Helen taste a different sort of excitement for once?

"Very well. You may have me. But no kissing."

"What if I want to kiss you?" Starling said, reaching up and tracing the curve of her lower lip with his thumb, pressing down on the dent in the centre so that she felt it brush the tip of her tongue.

Oh, he was good. Wicked in fact.

It suited her just fine, she found with surprise.

If she was to take a lover, he would do nicely.

"You may fuck me, or you may kiss me. Take your pick." She knew not where the words came from, but they tumbled boldly from her lips nonetheless.

"Very well," he growled, stepping close, placing the glass down carelessly on the low wall beside them and ducking his head to hover his mouth over hers for a brief, heart-stopping moment, then pressing his lips just to the side, to her cheek.

His scent washed over her, the masculine heat of him radiating through the thin silk dress to warm her skin as the shawl slipped from her shoulders.

Starling skated his lips along her jaw, tantalisingly slow, then down over her throat as Helen fought to draw breath against the rush of want that flared in the wake of his almost caress.

A large palm cupped the nape of her neck, drawing her head back for him as her hands rose of their own accord and dug themselves into his shoulders.

His mouth continued its sinful journey, kissing her pulse points with hot, open-mouthed kisses, the flick of his tongue against her skin sending a lick of heat straight to the place between her thighs.

Then he moved to her jaw again, teasing his mouth tantalisingly close to the corner of her lips, before retreating again.

It was maddening, how much she wanted to feel his mouth on hers , against all reason.

She didn't want to be kissed, did not want anything remotely close to tenderness.

Helen realised she wanted to be taken, ravished, and then left alone again.

Just the way she liked it.

His arm curved around her waist, bending her back against it as his mouth dipped to the bare skin of her shoulder, the length of her collarbone, his fingers splayed beneath the swell of her breasts.

So close, she could imagine how good it would feel to have him touch her there.

He pulled back, staring down at her for one charged moment, their chests heaving together, matching flames of desire flaring in their shared gaze.

"I want to kiss you," he said finally, even as she frowned in confusion, his lips wasting no time as they crashed into hers, stealing her breath with the passion of his mouth as it devoured with hot, sensual sips, his tongue tangling with hers with a raw sensuality that stole her breath and had her leaning in for more.

When their lips finally parted, she drew back, flustered and confused.

This was not how it was supposed to be.

He should be backing her into a shadowy corner, not kissing her as if he would die if he didn't.

It was too much. And yet, not enough.

Helen pulled away, her pulse hammering madly in her veins, and, without thought, she felt her palm connect with his cheek in a stinging slap.

"There. You have had your kiss," she hissed, angry beyond reason, both ashamed and embarrassed as she stumbled back from his arms. Starling sucked in a breath and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Good night, Captain," she muttered, then turned on her heel and walked away.