Page 92 of The Trouble with Tigers
“If you wish to hear the words, I want you.”
And she wanted him. But it was no good. A haze of pain clouded her vision. She batted at his hands suddenly desperate to get away from him.
He put a stop to her flailing by grasping her wrists, one in each of his hands. His thumbs coursed over the tender underside of her wrists.
“Kitty,” he said in a low tone. “Marry me.”
His words caused her heart to crack into a million little pieces, as yearning and reality clashed within her. “I’ve already explained why I can’t do that.”
His jaw hardened. “Yes, and your stubbornness borders on the ludicrous. It’s high time you faced reality, lady.”
She laughed with derision and tugged her wrists free of his scorching ing hold. “Of all the—”
“Point one. You have to marry—at least you do if you want to have a family. I assume that’s a priority for you, but if I’m wrong…” He left off with a shrug.
“Well, of course I want a family, but I—”
“Why not marry someone you’re wildly attracted to? It would certainly make the process pleasurable.”
She opened her mouth to refute his arrogant, albeit true, assumption, but he held his hand, palm out. “Please don’t try to deny the obvious, and thereby insult both our intelligences.”
She closed her mouth with a snap.
“Imagine the alternative. If you don’t marry me, you’ll likely end up with some elderly, decrepit, boring sot.”
She threw up her hands in exasperation. “I hardly think a boring old sot is my only option.”
He appeared to give her words serious consideration. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I am,” she said in triumph, even as disappointment filled her at his too-easy capitulation.
His eyes fixed on her mouth and his tone turned gruff. “But will your numerous suitors’ kisses make you want to forget you’re a lady the way mine do?”
Her breath caught, and without thinking she drew her fingertips to her lips.
He gave a huff of laughter and crowded in on her, pressing forward till her backside came up against the wall. He planted his forearms on either side of her.
“Point two. Forget your so-called majority. You won’t be free of James until you’re well and truly wed. You know that, don’t you?”
He didn’t give her a chance to answer, but instead continued to make his case.
“Point three. The earl enjoys your company, and you enjoy his.” He angled his face over hers, and his eyelids went to half-mast. “Do you know how badly I want to kiss you, Kitty?”
Her legs turned to jelly. She struggled to focus.
His lips brushed hers in a feather light kiss. “So sweet,” he whispered.
She bit back a moan as her eyes drifted shut. “W-what does the earl have to do with our hypothetical marriage?” she asked, breathless. His lips almost,almostcovered hers. Everything in her wanted to grab his lapels and pull him closer.
“You’ll keep each other company while”—Finally, he pressed a tender kiss on her lips—“I’m away.”
He may as well have tossed a bucket of ice-cold water on her. Her eyelids flew open, then narrowed to slits.
He wanted to marry her so he could wash his hands of both his grandfather and her in one fell swoop? She placed her palms on his waistcoat lapels and pushed.
He sighed and allowed her to put an inch or so between them before putting on the brakes. “What have I said to cause you to bare your claws, Kitten?”
“You want someone to stay with the earl so you don’t have to feel guilty for leaving him alone? You selfish blackguard.”
