Page 581 of From Rakes to Riches

She would stay, she knew, because it was he who asked.

She nodded, and a flash of relief passed behind his eyes.

What was happening between them?

Or was the correct question…what had already happened between them?

Past tense.

That was the feeling behind this feeling—both as if newly sprung into existence and as if it had always been there. As if it had snuck in when she wasn’t looking and become part of her—now integral.

If she left, a core part of her would cease to exist entirely.

So, she would stay.

Tonight.

Then in a week, once she’d ridden Hannibal to certain victory, she would cut off this integral part of herself and go.

But, tonight yet remained.

She touched his face, the day’s growth of stubble rough beneath her fingertips. “Won’t your guests wonder at your absence?” Even as she asked the question, her gaze fell to his lips.

She needed them upon her again.

“Perhaps.” His eyes told her he cared, not about his guests, but about…

Her.

Her hand slid around his neck, her fingers weaving through thick, silky hair that curled at the ends. His head angled down, and her face tipped up. His breath skated across her mouth and their lips met.

Her body pulled—begged—to deepen the kiss, to descend directly into the carnal.

But other parts of her wanted something more.

She pulled away and met a question in his eyes. But he left it at that. This powerful, impressive man was ceding control and letting her take the reins. He could easily have all the power in this moment, but he was acknowledging her power.

Now, what to do with it?

What did she want?

Him.

An easy enough answer.

The real question was…

How?

Howdid she want this powerful, caring man?

She slipped her hands beneath his coat and pushed it off his shoulders. She wasn’t sure exactly how she wanted him, but it was certainly with fewer articles of clothing. She unknotted his cravat and flung it away. As white silk fluttered to the floor, a smile twitched about his mouth, but his gaze remained serious and centered entirely on her.

She found the short row of buttons on his midnight blue waistcoat and made fumbly work of them. Then it was tossed aside, and his white muslin shirt flopped open in a V, revealing the dark fuzz of hair on his chest and the dense muscles beneath.

So…male.

A molten feeling slipped through her veins, pooling in her sex, making her thighs squeeze together. She could take him like this, the thick bulge straining against his trousers told her as much. Only a few flicks of the buttons of his falls separated her from what she wanted…craved.

---