Read Online Pleasuring the Lady (The Pleasure Wars) by Jess Michaels - Free Book Online Page B

at her, his dark eyes sweeping over her and giving no indication of what he thought. “Why were you there?”
    Portia caught her breath at his abrupt question. “Wh-what?”
    His lips thinned in irritation. “You heard me. Why were you at the Donville Masquerade, Portia?”
    She swallowed. There was no way to explain what she did not fully understand herself.
    “Because of your friend’s brother. The Earl of Windbury? Liam?” he pressed, his tone suddenly cold. “You said that you were looking for him.”
    Portia hesitated and then nodded slowly. “I-I was.”
    Miles frowned. “Are you his lover?”
    Portia staggered back from that stunning question. “How dare you?” she whispered, barely able to elevate her voice to a level that would carry.
    He frowned, and she could see he took as little pleasure in these questions as she did. And yet he continued, unwavering.
    “You pretend shock at such a suggestion, Portia, but you were very willing to fall into my arms.”
    She drew back. “Do you accuse me of having a lover or of being little better than a whore willing to give herself to any man?”
    He shook his head. “I don’t know what to accuse you of, my dear. You were in a place you did not belong and when I approached you, you offered none of the resistance I would have expected from a woman in your position. I have no idea why you would do what you did unless…”
    He trailed off and stared at her.
    She swallowed. “Unless?”
    “Unless you were hoping for entrapment.”
    Entrapment . The word hung in the room between them like a slap and Portia took a moment to regain her composure before she responded.  
    “You believe I purposefully deceived you,” she said. “With the intention of forcing a scandal.”
    He shrugged. “Your brother came very quickly to find us. And made a scene. I do not think it is beyond the realm of possibility.”
    Portia sighed. “You do not know the relationship my brother and I have, obviously. He would not help me cross a street, let alone plan something so elaborate as to entrap a man to wed. And as for my part in such a thing, Miles, you have known me for years. Do you truly think me capable of such deceit?”
    “I think if a woman was desperate enough, she might be capable of anything,” he retorted softly.
    She flinched. Desperate. That was how people saw her. A desperate , sad spinster.  
    “I don’t want this,” she said, pushing each word out with enough clarity that they could not be misunderstood.
    “Thank you,” he said, hard.
    She glared at him. “Is it what you want?”
    He folded his arms, but before he could reply, the door flew open to bounce against the thin wall behind it and Hammond stepped inside.
    “At least I do not find you two wrapped in some disgusting embrace,” he barked as he glared at them. “But I do question why you are alone together.”
    Miles stepped in front of Portia and gave her brother as dark a look as Hammond had on his own face. “I arrived early, you ass, and was talking to your sister.”
    “What is there to talk about with her?” Hammond asked as he poured himself tea and ate one of Portia’s few remaining cakes. “Your negotiations are with me.”
    “There are no negotiations,” Miles snapped. “We will marry in a week. My people are already making the arrangements.”
    Portia took a long step toward him. “A-a week, Miles?”
    He met her gaze and for the first time she saw a flash of softness there. Of kindness.  
    “It is the only way, Portia. The faster we do this, the sooner it will be out of the minds of those around us.”
    Her brother maneuvered between them and cut off her line of sight. “Very good, very acceptable,” he gushed as he reached into his pocket and withdrew a paper. “Now, if you will just sign this paper that you have agreed to marry my sister, I would appreciate it.”  
    Miles stared first at him, then at the sheet Hammond held out toward him. “You do not trust my word, even