Lady of Desire by Gaelen Foley

“You are such a bad influence on me,” she whispered.

“Give me my necklace, you rogue.” Stifling a giggle, she reached into his coat pocket, but he captured her hand, whirling her around gently so that she found herself backed up against the closed door. She narrowed her eyes at him, fighting a smile. “What are you up to now?”

Lean and tall, all compact muscle beneath his formal black evening clothes, he braced one hand on the door by her head and leaned toward her, dangling the necklace before her eyes. “Want it? Come and get it.”

She tried to snatch it out of his grasp, but he lifted it higher with a taunting smile.

“Billy!”

“Don’t you want this fine bit o’ sparkle?” He bent his head closer, the moonlight casting a silvery glow along his finely chiseled profile and the narrow plane of his cheek. “Give me a kiss and it’s yours.”

“It already is mine.”

“No, no, my lady, you gave it to me.” His emerald eyes gleamed as he slung the diamond strand around his fingers and swung it before her face, mesmerizing her. “But if you kiss me, I will give it back to you again.”

“But, Lord Rackford, we have agreed that we are only friends.”

“A friendly kiss,” he whispered, moving closer, tilting his head slightly.

She felt herself weakening under the potency of his charm. “Perhaps…one…”