Steamlust Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Dishonorable as ever, I see, Dominic Bartleby.”
    “Particularly where you are concerned, my beauty.” He ran the tip of his finely crafted blade into the torn fabric at her cleavage, as if daring her to move.

    In an attempt to stifle the rise and fall of her chest, she bit into her lower lip. When the blade skimmed over the surface of her corset, a quiet moan escaped her.
    Dominic raised an eyebrow, his mouth lifting in a faint smile.
    “You never did play fair,” she stated. Smarting, she pushed his blade aside and covered her torn gown with her cloak. “The least you can do is allow me to experience the Daedalus now that it has been built.”
    He stepped back and bowed, but his pleasured smile didn’t escape her notice. He wanted this—he wanted her to be needy and grateful for the chance to see it and touch her own creation. How infuriating it was to have been caught here. Even so, her body responded as it always did to his proximity and attitude, as if his very presence infected her blood with a fever of longing that she could neither deny nor ignore. Damn him . Bracing herself for his mockery and cheek, she took another look at the control area of the vessel, studiously avoiding the place where he stood. “Why did you do it? Why did you build it?”
    He took an age before he responded. “Because it was a superlative design.”
    She shot him a glance. He’d teased her about her designs, calling them impossible frippery. She’d always known that his engineering skills could make them solid and true, but he’d not taken her seriously when they’d been together. “The real reason.”
    He nodded, deferring to her skepticism. “Your design was outrageous…wild, and seemingly unattainable.” His gaze roved over her. “It was perfect in every other way.”
    He met her stare. She scowled at him.
    “The Crimean War raised many issues,” he continued in a more serious tone. “The world is changing. Britain may be
an empire and an island but our coastline is still vulnerable. I presented your design to Parliament and offered to build a prototype from my own funds. I suggested it could be used to guard shallow waters and low-lying areas such as the Romney Marshes, places that would be our frontline if invasion should threaten.” He gave a sardonic grin. “Given the problem we already have with smugglers here on the marshes, Parliament practically snatched the contract from my fingertips.”
    Nina’s fury built. The way he so blatantly told her what he’d done with her design was utterly galling.
    “Now that the minister of defense has seen it,” Dominic continued, “he wants more of your beautiful machines.” He paused, observing her reaction. “Imagine it, Nina, a frontline of Daedalus spiders, cunning workers observing our coastline, able to march through any terrain and confront the enemy.”
    Her emotions twisted and turned. Pride flared in her chest, but at the very same moment the sense of injustice she felt bit deep into her. If she had taken the project to Parliament she would have been cast out as a foolish woman. “I suppose you expect me to be grateful that you took charge of it?”
    “Of course not. You are far too contrary and stubborn to be grateful for anything.”
    The tone of his comment irked her even more.
    Then he licked his lips as if he was relishing his power over her. “I’ve engineered your design successfully, improved on it, made it solid and real and useful, but all you can do is glare at me.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I’m disappointed. Frankly, my dear, I expected more fire.” His handsome mouth lifted at one corner, as if he was daring her to lash out at him. He knew her rebellious spirit far too well.
    “I always knew it could be done,” she retorted. “What annoys me is that you stole my designs and you ruined my reputation,
and now you expect me to be pleased because you’ve sold it to Parliament, the very establishment I detest?”
    “What better