Read Online Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell - Free Book Online Page A

against the bed head. Good God, he didn’t intend to frighten her. He fisted his hands so hard, his arms ached. He sucked in a deep breath to beat back his unraveling temper.
    So she could be in no doubt of his meaning, he turned to look at her and spoke slowly and clearly. “I’m awake to your game. You don’t have to lie anymore.”
    The blood seeped from her face, leaving her pale as milk. The pretty little mole beside her mouth stood out like a black dot painted on a white canvas. “If I give you pleasure, that covers our contract.”
    Bitterness frayed his voice. “I paid for a lover, Olivia. Not a skilled actress with no real interest in the role.”
    He hadn’t meant to be cruel but she winced nonetheless. Her chin lifted in quick resentment. “Surely I’m not the first woman who doesn’t melt into the great Earl of Erith’s arms,” she said acidly.
    â€œYou’re the first woman I’ve slept with who keeps a jar of ointment by the bed to ease a man’s passage.” He ignored her dismayed gasp and continued ruthlessly, “That’s what the unguent is for, isn’t it? It supplies the moisture your body doesn’t.”
    As swiftly as a snake uncoiling, she straightened and dived for the edge of the mattress. He grabbed her arm, rolling so he loomed over her. “I haven’t finished.”
    She arched her eyebrows and her damnably knowledgeable eyes dropped to where his staff rose so emphatically. “I can see that.”
    â€œDo you like women? Is that the problem?”
    A scornful laugh escaped her. “It’s simpler than that. I don’t like you.”
    Her bluntness didn’t anger him, just made him insatiably curious. Perhaps she didn’t like him, but something told himthe difficulty was more serious than antipathy for an uncongenial keeper. “Are you frigid?”
    He felt her tiny start. “Does your conceit know no bounds?”
    â€œI’m trying to understand.”
    â€œYou’re making this too complicated. Now, release me, if you please. I’ll dress and return to Perry’s.”
    â€œDon’t go, Olivia,” he said softly. “The game has just started.”
    Under his fingers, she trembled. Anger? Or fear? Her voice was brittle with sarcasm. “You haven’t had your money’s worth? My apologies. All isn’t lost. At least some other woman you purchase can move into the house.”
    â€œI don’t want another woman,” he said calmly, disregarding her jibes. “I want you.”
    â€œWell, I don’t want you.”
    â€œFor now.”
    â€œThe arrogance of the upper-class English male never fails to amaze me.” She surveyed him with cold eyes. When she spoke, her voice was steady, almost prosaic. “You can have me before I go if you like.”
    His mind shattered into a thousand shards of excitement. All moisture evaporated from his mouth.
    She was his for the taking. His.
    â€œNo, Olivia.” His response was husky with sorrow. “I’m a large man and you’re not ready. I’ll hurt you.”
    She shrugged. He began to recognize it as a characteristic gesture. A slight hardness entered her face and her voice was expressionless. For a moment he’d touched the real woman inside the ravishing shell. Now she looked like the self-possessed courtesan he’d met in Montjoy’s salon. “Then we’ll have to see what else we can do for you.”
    She shook free but only because he let her go. He could tell that for the moment she wasn’t going anywhere.
    Departure would look too much like defeat, and if he’d learned anything about her, it was that his mistress had apride to equal his own. He guessed at the effort and style and sheer courage she’d needed over the years to create the legend of irresistible, invincible Olivia Raines. She wouldn’t sacrifice that hard-won reputation