Page 12 of The Viscount and the Vixen
“Damn you.”
“You can’t deny there’s an attraction between us, so we’ll have that at least. I can assure you that within my bed you will find pleasure.”
“Not arrogant, are you.”
“I’ve traveled the world. I’ve learned a good many things. You’ll benefit from the knowledge.”
“And outside of the bed?”
“We’ll be polite to each other. Respectful. The day will be yours to do with as you please. The night will belong to me.”
The way his eyes darkened with the last few words told her exactly how the night would belong to him. She didn’t dread what he might do to her; she dreaded only that she might not be able to resist falling under his spell. Once before she’d tumbled head over heels for a man who exhibited confidence, boldness, assertiveness, but every aspect of him paled when compared with Locksley. He not only knew his place in the world, but he owned it, commanded it. She suspected he never had doubts, never questioned himself. She was drawn to that self-assurance like a moth to a bright flickering flame. He could destroy her so easily if she weren’t careful. But without him she hadn’t even a glimmer of hope for survival.
“Will I have an allowance?”
He grinned darkly. “Naturally, my little mercenary.”
“How much?”
“What would please you?”
“A million quid a month.”
He laughed, a deep rich sound that circled around her, through her, and took up residence in her soul. “Fifty.”
“One hundred.”
“Seventy-five.”
She could make do with that, set aside enough to ensure she would never be penniless again, wouldn’t be totally dependent on his kindness.
He cradled her face, and this time she stayed as she was, gave him leave to touch her. “You’ll never suffer at my hands. I can be quite generous.”
She almost scoffed. She’d heard that before, lies painted so prettily, only then she’d been young and naïve enough to believe the falsehoods, to embrace them, to pin all her hopes and dreams on them. Never again would she fall under any man’s spell to such an extent that she lost sight of herself.
“Then, in case you need a reminder, there is always this.”
He blanketed her mouth with his, urging her lips to part, then his tongue was slowly stroking hers, creating sensations that she wanted to deny brought her any sort of joy. But what was to be gained?
She’d already lost her advantage. He wasn’t going to step aside and allow her to marry Marsden. And she couldn’t risk leaving here with nothing. He was suddenly her only hope. If she didn’t anger him further, if she pleased him as a wife, perhaps he would protect her with as much vigilance and determination as he did his father.
So she rose up on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and flattened her breasts to his chest. He knew her to be a widow. No sense in playing the shy miss. She knew how to pleasure a man. It would certainly be no hardship to be intimate with him.
With a growl, he crushed her to him, angled his head slightly, took the kiss deeper. Hunger thrummed through him. Need. He wanted her. She could feel just how badly he did pressed against her belly. She understood it was reckless, dangerous to accept his terms when she knew so little about him except for what she’d heard from the gossips. But he was the lesser of two unfavorable choices.
Drawing back, breathing heavily, he skimmed his thumb over her swollen, tingling lips. “Take a day to think about it. It’s worth a hundred quid to me for you to be sure.”
With that he released her abruptly, causing her to stagger back, and headed for the door. For some strange reason, his words erased all her doubts.
“I don’t need a day.”
That stopped him in his tracks. He swung back around. “You’ve made your decision?”
She’d made it the moment she answered the advert. She had no choice. She’d never had any choice. “I’ll marry you.”
Locke was taken aback by the sharp relief sweeping swiftly through him. He hadn’t realized how desperately he wanted her to say yes. Not that he wanted a wife, but he did want her in his bed, with her luscious mouth and her tart words and her whiskey eyes. He liked the way she challenged him, suspected she’d be challenging him every night. They could have fun with each other. Not ideal for a marriage but not the worst reason either.
He held out his hand to her, watched as she inhaled deeply before crossing over to him and placing her hand in his. He squeezed her fingers before wrapping her arm around the crook of his elbow and patting her hand where it now rested on his forearm.
