The Sheik's Son(26)

“A savage,” Sophie hissed.

***

The concert was lovely and her father’s private box made it more enjoyable and intimate than sitting below with everyone jostling and moving about. She had begrudgingly introduced Sebastian to her father and grandmother as they seemed to travel in the same circles and he had a private box next to their own.

Sebastian had bowed slightly at the introduction and her father had smiled at the young man. He knew he was the secretary to the duke, who was also the British ambassador to France, and both were useful men to know.

Midway through the concert Sophie felt her corset biting into her. She was uncomfortable and needed to walk a bit to release the tension. She whispered to Lizette that she would get some air and quietly left the box to walk along the corridor.

The building itself was large and as she moved about she saw no one else. She could hear the music inside the theater and she closed her eyes. It was such a lovely composition. Handel was one of her favorite composers.

Sophie found herself outside in the brisk air walking along the pillars. She saw the carriage drivers smoking outside and congregating with each other and their horses.

She had left her hooded cloak inside, and shivered as the air had turned cold. She turned back inside and walked accidentally into the small cloakroom. It was not attended and not well lit, except for one small candle on a wooden table.

“Are you lost?” Sebastian asked, coming in behind her.

Sophie sighed. Turning to him she asked, “Are you following me?”

“I was outside smoking and have now come back inside to rejoin my party,” Sebastian shrugged and explained. “Nothing more.”

He looked impeccably dressed in a deep blue coat with silver embroidery along the cuffs, pockets and along the collar. His breeches were also blue but with no adornment and his white hose and black shoes were simple, while his hair was clubbed back. Sophie thought he looked more handsome than those men who dandied themselves up in silk and satins but never would have told him so.

“No, I’m not lost. I was taking some air.” She tried to be polite.

“I’ll return you to your party, then,” he said graciously.

“No thank you.” She went to move past him in the small cloakroom.

“It’s my duty,” he said simply.

Sophie stopped. “I see. You kiss an unwilling woman and flirt when it isn’t wanted. Now you are the perfect gentleman escorting me back to my family because it’s your duty?”

“You were unwilling, mademoiselle?” He smiled.

“Of course,” Sophie assured him.

“So if you suspected I was going to kiss you now, what then?” He advanced upon her, backing her up against the cloakroom wall.

“I would say, ‘No thank you, you don’t interest me.’” Sophie’s heart was pounding.

“I don’t interest you?” Sebastian asked, his brown eyes so dark in the low light.

“Not in the least.” Sophie’s hazel eyes seemed almost green.

“Indeed?”

“I know this may shock you, Monsieur Fairfax, but I have no interest in being one of your Devil’s notches,” she returned.

He knew she spoke of the nickname, Dorset’s Devils, which the scandal sheets had given to him and his friends after the duke’s notorious and flagrant associations became known.

“Notches, mademoiselle?” Sebastian asked innocently.

“Yes, notches, monsieur.” Sophie swallowed lightly as she felt the wall behind her.

“What is a notch?” he asked again.

“You know very well.”

He had her pinned against the wall. “Notches…” he asked her, his head dipping to touch her ear and his hands framed either side of her head, “…as in a sexual conquest?”

Sophie felt her heart pounding as she pressed her hands against his chest to separate them. “I know about you. I know about your friends and your liaisons. If you think to add me to them, you’re sadly mistaken.”

“You think I want to add you to my…?” he asked, letting the question hang there.

“Liaisons,” she finished for him.

There was a beat of silence and then he said, “I do.”

With that his mouth dipped to find hers and found the taste of champagne and innocence on her lush lips. He almost groaned. She was sweet and lovely and he wanted to kiss her breasts and pull her into him.

Sophie had known this was going to happen. The minute she had come upon him she should have turned the other way. She would never be alone with him again. But as his mouth touched hers and his dangerous tongue met hers, it was too much. She wanted to pull her arms around his neck and at the same time, she wanted to scratch his eyes out.