Shaking his head, he stepped away from her. “I can’t.”
She advanced, cornering him until the backs of his calves hit the green velvet sofa. With a fingertip on each shoulder, she pushed him to sit down.
“That’s all you ever say.”
“Because it’s true.” He shouldn’t be here now, locked in her sitting room with her. Anyone could walk by or hear them. But the call of her kiss was too strong to refuse.
And she was breathtaking—like a goddess with flushed cheeks, reddened lips, and half-lidded eyes.
She lifted her skirts and straddled him. A carnal instinct surged in his blood, overpowering his reason. He brought her down to sit flush in his lap, capturing her lips in a bruising kiss. He ground her over his cloth-covered erection, pressing right where she needed him. Her breath hitched, and he loved the sound so much he did it again.
Sweet heavens, he could unfasten a few buttons and be inside her.
The night breeze from the window behind the sofa cooled his burning neck, providing enough of a distraction for him to hold on to a shred of sanity.
“I can’t take you to my factory.”
“Yes, you can. You have a bed there, don’t you?” She pleaded with him with each slow roll of her hips. “A sofa, or a desk?”
He whimpered at the image of taking her over hisdesk. Growling, he stilled her movements, taking back control.
“You drive me mad. You told me to protect our reputations,” he reminded her. “And now you want me to take you to the docks? You’re asking me to throw gunpowder into a furnace.”
“Matthew, I’m not asking.I amgoingto your factory tonight.” Shekissed his neck. “Either I’ll find my way through the dangerous streets alone, or you’ll take me there yourself.” She licked his pulse point, thenbit. Soothing the spot with a kiss, she murmured, “Up to you.”
He lifted her chin with his thumb, looking into her eyes. It was easy to accept scandal in a cloud of lust, but he had to make sure.
“You’ll accept the potential consequences of being caught?” he asked. “You’ll risk everything forone night?”
She nodded. Voice sure, she said, “Yes, because I know you’ll keep me safe.”
With the conviction in her eyes, the rest of his resolve fluttered to the wind. For too long, he had wished to taste every inch of her, touch deep inside her, and hear her cry out for him. Her body was hot over his, moving over him like he had always dreamed, and he could have her naked tonight.
Willing and eager.
A dark voice in his mind whispered, ‘What’s stopping you?’
The answer?
Nothing.
“You win,” he whispered.
A victorious smile lit Jasmine’s face.
“I knew you would agree.” With an awkward shimmy of her hips, she got off his lap and stood. “Meet me in the back garden at eleven.”
Holding his hand, she pulled him to his feet and brought him in for another kiss.
“You’re going to get me killed,” he muttered.
“I thought I was worth a thousand thrashings?” She smiled sweetly. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
After double-checking his clothing—and his state ofaffairs—Matthew proceeded to the door. He tried the handle, then remembered, “Jasmine, you locked us in.”
Her face paled. “I did what?”
“The door?” He pointed at it. “You have the key.”