‘Lucy,’ he whispered. ‘We cannot wed. This only causes pain.’
She looked into his eyes. ‘Kiss me,’ she said.
He tried to be honourable. He knew his thoughts were going into a very dangerous place. But another part of him liked the idea.
If he ruined her, if they were caught together, would Lord Wenshire insist they marry? And would he dower her? Would that be a way to force her father’s hand?
‘Kiss me!’ her words were a command, but still he resisted. He counted himself an honourable person. He did not want a wife by trickery, even one who fired his blood so fiercely.
He stroked his thumb across her cheek. He looked into her eyes and hungered. And he resisted.
‘No,’ he said.
‘Yes,’ she said.
Then she dragged his head down to hers and kissed him. More shocking still, she thrust her tongue into his mouth. It was like taking a knife to all his restraint. His basest desires broke free.