Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (201 page)

Chapter 5

Sophie won the first hand easily. "Take off your coat, Julian." He would think twice about giving her

to use his first name when she was

done.

No need to

the experience. She would

win plenty of points today. She

to savor

this disrobing. Julian Burke's arrogance needed to be taken down a notch and she was glad to be the one to do it. In turn, she'd be able to quench her growing curiosity about what was under those clothes.

For the second hand, she said, "Roll up sleeves, Julian." She was going to play the dilettante and enjoy each moment of this. She had plenty of clothes to lose and

the looks of it,

he had far fewer.

He did so without flinching, his gray eyes ever fixed on her while he flicked back the cuffs of his shirt and rolled the sleeves to the elbow,

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Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

revealing tanned forearms sprinkled with dark hair, a strikingly masculine contrast against the pristine backdrop of his immaculate white shirt.

Sophie bit her lip, fighting the

of desire

that

through her at the sight. She'd always found a man in rolled shirtsleeves so very appealing. But this man was more than simply appealing. Even

this first win, she was

tempted to skip the whole game and.. . No. she couldn't do that.

"I

you're not disappointed?" Julian said coolly, dealing another hand.

"Not at all." Sophie dimpled.

She wasn't disappointed but she was, unfortunately, distracted. When she triumphantly played a ten thinking to take the trick, she was surprised to see him overplay her with a jack; she'd made an error in her counting.

"My turn at last." Julian heaved a sigh and relaxed back in his chair, studying her with his gray eyes. Just the feel of his eyes on her, roaming at their leisure, sparked something wanton in her.

The length of his

unnerved her. She

fought the urge to fidget.

Scott

After

an

interminable

amount

of

consideration, which

her feeling naked

already, Julian drawled in low,

tones, "Take

down your hair, Sophie."

splendid shiver shot

through her as he added, "Slowly."

Two could play this game of allure. If she was going to risk distraction at the sight of his perhaps he would find her hair just as distracting. Sophie held his gaze and reached for the comb holding her hair in a loose twist, knowing that as she did so the fabric of her gown drew tightly across the breasts he'd adored the previous night. She shook her hair letting it

fall about her shoulders and down her back in an unrestrained cascade of gold waves. Julian drew a sharp breath. "Be

what you play

at, Sophie," he cautioned in a predator's growl.

Sophie tossed him a sly look through the curtain of her hair, undeterred by his take your shirt next and your trousers will follow."

"Probably should take my boots first," he quipped. "For convenience sake, you easier to get the trousers off."

"As you wish," Sophie said smoothly, picking up her cards and sorting her hand with

42

Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

expert

She felt his eyes on her, and

looked up. "What?"

"Don't you want to know what take

next?"

Sophie feigned indifference and

her

hand. "You can tell me if you like. Seems you have your heart set on sharing."

have that pretty yellow dress of yours, Miss I'll-have-your-shirt-first-and-your-trousers-next

"It's always good to have dreams, I think. It gives us something to work for." There was so much on the line; the diamonds, her

But

as serious as the stakes were, she hadn't had this much

in ages. Sparring with Julian Burke was good sport. He was

witty and positively

while he lost. It was hard to remember why she had to keep her guard up. It was hard to remember the game was about more than divesting the handsome man across her of

his clothing.

Julian chuckled at her sassy retort. "Just in case, you might want to build up the fire in here."

He shot a pointed look at her breasts. Sophie fought the ridiculous urge to cross her and

shield herself. She wouldn't let him see that he