Veronica watched Sebastian leave the bath chamber and close the door behind him. She couldn’t tear her eyes off his enticing backside. The man had been blessed with an unmercifully fit body and this afternoon she’d had the chance to see it once more. See it. Touch it. And feel it. A shudder ran down her spine. She hadn’t been hallucinating in the bath chamber at his town house the other night. He was godlike and the muscles on his abdomen were even more impressive when she was running her fingers along them.

He was also a master with his fingers and his mouth. That was all there was to it. He’d broken down her defenses and made her feel…everything again in just minutes. But oh, God, the best part. The best part hadn’t even been when she’d shattered into a million little pieces against his fingertip…the best part was when he’d pumped into her again and again, sweat beading on his brow, apologizing for his performance because he couldn’t control himself. That had been the best part, and she’d squeezed him with her inner muscles as tightly as she could while she raked her nails down his strong back because she knew that drove him mad.

It had been…magnificent. Only…she hadn’t planned to enjoy herself so much.

Tears sprang to her eyes. But not tears of sadness. Tears of anger. She was angry at herself. It was so good with him. She’d allowed him to break down her defenses so quickly. He’d always been able to do that to her. How? Why? She wanted him with an intensity that frightened her. Again. Already.

Dear God. This was going to be the longest fortnight of her life.

Chapter Eight

Over an hour later, Sebastian was finishing his own bath when a knock sounded on the door. His valet entered, bearing a note atop a silver salver.

I’ve just arrived. Meet me in the billiards room for a game before dinner.

The message was unsigned, but Sebastian would know Justin’s scrawling handwriting anywhere. Sebastian had seen it often enough during their school days. He hurried through the rest of his dressing. Veronica had already dressed and left. In fact, the moment Sebastian had ordered the tub refilled, she’d made her excuses and fled from the room. No doubt she was downstairs having a pleasant visit with her mother, perhaps her grandmother as well.

By the time Sebastian made it to the billiards’ room, dusk had settled over the snowy landscape. The fires had all been stoked, and the icy windowpanes inside the billiards’ room reflected the glow.

Sebastian knocked once and at his old friend’s reply, he stepped into the room.

“Edgefield,” Whitmore called, a bright smile on his face. He was opening an ornate wooden box containing the three ivory billiard balls. “Just in time for me to trounce you before dinner.”