“Tonight, were it possible, solely to prevent you from disappearing from my life.” His tongue darted out, sliding along the seam of her lips. “However, I have two conditions before I propose.”
“Mmm,” she managed, her brain short-circuiting.
“Promise that you will never lie to me again.” He pulled away, his eyes searching hers. “I can’t assist you if I don’t know the truth.”
“I swear,” she said, placing her hand over her heart. “I have no other secrets.”
His mouth crushed hers, his tongue pushing past her parted lips and sliding along hers. The hand cupping her jaw glided through her hair and grasped the back of her head as he deepened the kiss, stealing her breath.
Head swimming, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body into him, and moaned, matching his passionate assault with her own.
He groaned and walked her backward across the room, missing the bed and causing her to bump into the door. It closed with a soft click. The Duke of Lennox tightened his grip and lifted Eveline, pinning her against the hard wood with his hips.
Palming her breast, he ground his hardening member into her soft center, sending a cascade of shivers rippling down her spine. In the back of her mind, a tiny voice resembling that of her brother whispered that her current scandalous position violated her promise to keep the chamber door open.
“Levi,” she murmured against his mouth, her body screaming in protest. “The door is closed.”
He leaned back, his blank face giving no indication of his thoughts. Then he slid her the length of his body, set her feet on the floor, and stepped backward, allowing her half the chamber’s space between them.
“Open it,” he said, adjusting his coat.
“Levi…” She started toward him.
He stopped her by holding up his hand. “If you’re concerned about my premature death, leaving that door shut would ensure it comes to pass.”
“I—”
“I don’t have a sister. However, I suspect it’s quite the chore to protect them from men like me.” He grinned and gestured to the door. “Please. Before your brother appears with pistols.”
“But…” She blushed and glanced down.
He tilted his head. “Eveline, tell me your thoughts.”
“You won’t kiss me like that with the door open,” she blurted out.
Fire blazing in his eyes, he crossed the room and backed her against the wall, eliminating the distance between them. Leaning down, he stopped less than an inch from her mouth, reached over, grasped the door handle, and opened the door.
“You’re correct,” he murmured, the heat from his skin singing her lips. “Angering your brother is counterproductive to my plan.”
“Your plan?”
“I intend to seduce you at every chance afforded me prior to our wedding and every day after that happy occasion.” He touched his forehead to hers. “However, if your brother shoots me dead before that occurs, I’ll lose out on that pleasure.”
“He’s already imagined the worst about you,” Eveline said, her eyes dropping to the Duke of Lennox’s mouth.
“Then, we need to ease your brother’s mind.” He broke the intimacy between them and moved into the doorway. “And we should inform him and Warwick of the extent of Miss Drummond’s extortion.”
“Am I going to be arrested?” She drew away from him.
“I have no intention of pressing charges against my future wife,” he chuckled and held out his elbow.
“And your friends?” Eveline licked her lips.
She hadn’t stolen from the Duke of Warwick, but both the Duke of Beaufort and the Duke of Mansfield lost items to her nimble fingers.
“They’ll receive monetary compensation for their loss.” The Duke of Lennox offered her a half-smile. “Or they could consider the watch fobs as early wedding gifts.”
“I don’t understand why,” she said, twisting her fingers into knots.
