The innocent scent of lavender clung to her hair and her neck. She still wore her ball gown, which was modest, but far lower cut than her usual garb. The tops of her breasts plumped against his chest as he held her tightly, kissing her deeply.

His arousal was instant and impressively eager, twitching against his trousers, seeking a way to feel all that warm, sensual woman in a more intimate way.

He’d been thinking about doing this for days, weeks . . . possibly his whole life.

This woman in his arms, opening for him, winding her hands around his neck. It all felt so familiar . . . and yet completely different. Somehow more.

More desirable. More seductive.

More forbidden.

His mind reasserted itself. She was forbidden.

Employee. Teacher to his sisters. Living under his roof. Penniless.

He broke free, reluctantly ending the kiss. His breathing heavy, he took a moment before saying the words he knew he must say.

“I can’t. We can’t.” He wasn’t making sense. “What I mean is that we have to stop, Viola. It’s not right. I’m your employer. You’re companion to my sisters. You have moonbeams and fairy tales in your mind and I’m bad. I’m bad, tainted, and wicked. We shouldn’t be kissing.”

“Kiss me again,” she said, pulling his face down to her. “Kiss me until I can’t breathe.”

He very nearly did. He was so close to wrapping his arms around her and giving her exactly what she asked for, exactly what he craved so very badly. He could have her warmth, her brightness, her dimpled smile.

No, he couldn’t.

“Ha,” he said with a casualness he was far from feeling. “Did you just ask me for another kiss?” He crossed his arms over his chest to keep them from pulling her close. “I win. You have to perform at the musicale.”

The haze of desire left her green eyes and her cheeks turned bright pink. “Insufferable jackass!”

He raised his eyebrows. “Now that was slightly better. Keeping insults simple and straightforward is sometimes best.”

“This is all just a joke to you, isn’t it? Everything is a wager at the gaming table. You’re never serious about anything.” She straightened her bodice and smoothed stray tendrils of hair back into place. “It was only a challenge.”

He watched the emotions playing across her face. Anger, hurt, and desire. And then she schooled herself back to the placid, pleasant expression she customarily wore. “At least I accomplished my goal tonight, Your Grace.”

“Which was?”

“I promised Lady Blanche I’d keep you out of the gaming hells this evening so you wouldn’t heap further disgrace upon this family. And here you are, safe at home where you belong. See? You’ve already begun your campaign of reform.”

She spun around and left his room without a backward glance.