Her Wicked Proposal novel Chapter 33

Ashton's patience was on a razor's edge. With one hand on Lady Rosalind Melbourne's arm, he'd seized the opportunity to tow her into the seclusion of a nearby alcove. He feared what he might do now that he had her here.

Every muscle was tense, every sense heightened with excitement and, to be honest, arousal. It made no sense. He was furious with the lady. Anger and arousal had never gone hand in hand with him before, so why did he want to push this particular woman up against a wall and ravish her until she couldn't remember her name?

"I must speak with you, madam," he said, his tone dark and full of warning.

Rosalind struggled against his grip, and to his surprise Ashton found her difficult to hold down. With a rebellious toss of her head, her raven-hued locks flew loose over one shoulder. That didn't help with the problem of his rising desire. This Scottish hellion needed a good bedding to tame that wildness. He wanted it to be his bed she fell into.

Damnation! Gain control, Lennox. This is business. Now is not the time to let passion rule you.

"We have nothing to say to each other. Now release me." Rosalind refused to look at him. She kept her pointed chin aimed away from him. Her resistance was charming.

Charming? What the bloody hell was he thinking? He never liked it when people refused to do as he asked. He did not take no as an acceptable response. In the world of shipping he was as relentless as he was calculating and precise, something his competitors respected, even if they loathed him for it.

"Oh my dear, on that count you are mistaken. We have much to discuss." Ashton's free hand caught her chin and forced her to face him. She blinked in surprise, her eyes luminous in the shadows.

"You've been a naughty girl."

The rich timbre of his voice caused her to pale. Frightened a little, perhaps? Good. Why did the idea of catching her like this, of holding her captive, heat his blood? Was this how Godric had felt when dominating his darling Emily? Was that why his friend half lost his mind wherever Emily was concerned?

I cannot be feeling that. Certainly not for this woman.

The thought, chilling as it was, couldn't penetrate his predatory urge to settle the matter between them.

"I don't know what you mean." The hesitancy in her tone told him everything he needed to know.

"Is there any particular reason that you've been stealing my merchant shipping contracts? Or will you merely claim it is just business?"

Rosalind tried to pull her face away, but Ashton backed her into the corner of the alcove. He knew his encroaching stance was predatory, like an animal ready to attack. Her lovely eyes widened and she tried to back away, but couldn't. He had her trapped against the wall, exactly where he wanted her...

"Well? Answer me." Ashton slid his hand down her neck. His fingers shaped themselves around the column of her throat, and Rosalind felt a twinge of fear. But rather than throttle her, he caressed her. Her skin broke out into gooseflesh as a sense of anticipation began to rise in her body. Rosalind knew of Ashton's reputation. He was more than capable of compromising her. But here? Would he dare?

They'd crossed paths once before. Last December they had engaged in a bidding war for a shipping line. She'd conceded to him only because of her curiosity regarding how he'd wounded his arm. In exchange for the truth, she had relented and let him win his bid for the shipping line.

But she hadn't agreed to relinquish her other interests. Her late husband's business was important to her, her means of remaining independent. If he thought for one moment she would abandon it because he had the same interests, he was very much mistaken.

"I have just as much right to go after those contracts as you do," she argued.

His gaze leapt from her eyes to her lips. "If you wanted to get my attention, pet, I assure you that you have it."

"I'm not your pet," Rosalind snapped.