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She realized her mistake a half a second too late.
Emma and Michael lay tangled together upon the sofa, engaged in an act of startling intimacy. Michael s mouth was on Emma s bare breast and his hand was hidden
beneath her skirt. Emma s eyes were closed, a look of pure bliss on her face.
Jane drew in a quick, startled breath, but couldn t force herself to look away. She d never seen anything so shocking. Yet the intimately entwined couple presented a
strange beauty she found all too compelling.
Longing knifed through her. The innocent passion she d shared with Lucien a decade ago had never led to this. Never, except in her lonely, aching dreams.
Lucien came to an abrupt halt at her side. Heat suffused her face. She turned to leave, trying to push him out of the room before her.
He tore his gaze away from their friends and gave her a questioning glance. A choked laugh escaped him when he saw the look upon her face.
She elbowed him in the stomach, cutting off the sound.
But it was too late.
Michael lifted his head, and the dawning horror in his eyes eclipsed her embarrassment.
Oh, God, Michael groaned. He scrambled to shield Emma from view.
I m sorry, Jane whispered, backing away. I m so sorry.
Lucien cleared his throat and she knew he was doing his best to hold back even more laughter. We ll just wait out here until you re through.
Shutting the door firmly behind him, he shook his head and leaned against the wall, his dark eyes bright with amusement. What were you thinking, Jane? Did you
expect to find them having tea? Discussing china patterns?
I don t know. She pressed her hands against her hot cheeks, humiliated. I ll never be able to look Emma in the eyes again.
Why not? Lucien shoved off the wall and pulled her unwillingly into his embrace. It s only passion. Don t you remember what it was like to feel passion?
She remembered far too well. And trapped as she was, utterly surrounded by his lean strength, all she could think about was the rapturous look on Emma s face.
Oh, how she envied her friend for having the courage to risk her heart.
But as she stared up into Lucien s burning dark eyes, she knew she couldn t do this. She didn t have Emma s courage, or perhaps she d just been hurt too deeply to
ever trust him again.
I need some more time, she whispered, slipping out of his embrace. If you re really serious about courting me, you re going to have to prove you ve changed.
He stared at her, then raked his hands through his dark hair in frustration. What do you want from me? How can I prove such a thing?
She shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. I don t know, Lucien. I only know I m not ready to fall into your arms just yet.
Chapter Eight
Emma fumbled with the bodice of her gown, her fingers shaking with shame and embarrassment. She hated to even hazard a guess as to what Jane must think of her.
Michael covered her hands with his, stilling her frantic movements. Brushing her fingers away, he fastened her gown with calm efficiency, then hugged her. It s all
right, Emma. Everything will be all right.
She buried her face against the hard strength of his chest as he stroked her hair. His heart still raced beneath her cheek and his arousal still pressed hard against her
hip.
I m sorry, he whispered. This is my fault entirely. I knew I wasn t strong enough to keep from touching you if we were alone together.
It s my fault, too. He was such a gentleman, to try and claim full responsibility for their disastrous actions, but she had no intention of letting him feel bad about what
they d done.
He shook his head, his arms tightening around her. I wondered how Dylan could be so foolish, how he could have let passion rule him so completely he allowed
himself to get caught. He laughed, a low, lost sound. Now I understand all too well.
But this is different, she assured him. We re to be married, Michael. And I ve never belonged to anyone else, only to you.
He held her for a few more moments, then sighed and helped her stand. Shall we go and face our friends?
She nodded, but she feared something had changed between them. Michael seemed to regret his actions far more than she did.
****
Michael didn t know how he managed to get through the next two hours. Lucien, of course, was wickedly amused by the entire situation and tried to avert everyone s
embarrassment with levity. Michael was in no mood for his friend s good-humored jests.
It was no laughing matter.
His complete inability to control himself with Emma shamed him to the depths of his soul.
To make things even worse, Emma no longer seemed properly chagrined. She d recovered from her own embarrassment with remarkable ease and returned Lucien s
salacious jibes with wicked, witty remarks of her own.
Michael thought of the wild, immoral crowd she d associated with before he d met her, and dread filled him. The Prince and his set thought nothing of a woman taking
lovers once she d secured her husband s line with the requisite sons.
Did Emma feel as they did?
Unable to bear her bright gaiety any longer, he pretended that he needed to discuss something with Lucien and sent the two girls home in his coach. Unfortunately,
that meant stranding himself with his amused friend, which was almost as bad.
Well. After they d seen the girls off, Lucien hid a smile and poured them both a stiff drink. It seems as though you and Miss Marks courtship is proceeding
smashingly well.
Michael accepted the drink, though he shot Lucien a fulminating glare over the rim as he drained it. The brandy pooled in his stomach in a hot rush. He d never been
much of a drinker, but it seemed a fitting end to this evening s deplorable behavior.
A gentleman would let the matter rest, he snapped. He certainly wouldn t be sniffing around for more details.
Lucky for you I m not a gentleman then, isn t it? Lucien leaned forward and refilled Michael s glass, raising an eyebrow at the speed with which he d downed it.
Because I can t let this rest until I m certain you ve stopped feeling guilty about what happened. Hell, I m happy to see you re human. She s good for you. You know
that, don t you?
Michael shook his head. I was starting to think so, but now I m not so sure. Christ, I can t think of anything except bedding her.
Lucien laughed.
It s not funny. I completely lost control tonight. What if it had been someone other than you and Jane who opened that door?
Well, it wasn t, so stop berating yourself. Emma obviously isn t sorry about what happened, so why should you be?
That s another thing, Michael admitted, his need to keep his feelings to himself eclipsed by the need to talk to someone about what was truly bothering him. She s
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