“I’m saying no,” she said quietly, “not to choose a life of spinsterhood over a life with you. That is what I’d always planned to do, what I’ve always believed would bring me joy. But joy is the last thing I feel when I decline the offer to be your duchess.”
He did not hide the hurt in his gaze. “Then why decline?”
“It’s the wrong offer,” she said simply. “I would marryyou, but you don’t want to marryme.”
He frowned in confusion. “I just said—”
“You want to change me,” she interrupted. “You want to fix me, mold me, marry a different version of me than the woman I am. I don’twantto stop being me. I don’t even think I could. So, no, I shan’t marry you. I’d bring scandal and embarrassment to your name, and ruin everything you’ve tried to build. Both of us would be worse together than apart.”
His shoulders tightened. “I disagree. Life is worse when we’re apart.”
“There is a way,” she agreed slowly, as a solution glimmered in the back of her mind.
She desired him, wanted tobewith him, but refused to be owned by him. Which meant they could never have forever. He would marry someday. She would not. But between now and then… there was no reason to deny themselves what they both desired: each other.
This time, when she rose to her feet, it was not to shake him by the shoulders but rather to settle herself on his lap.
“What are you…” he mumbled, even as his arms circled round to embrace her.
She lowered her mouth to the corner of his and gave it a feathery kiss. “We needn’t bother with marriage to reap the best benefits.”
“But…” he said between kisses. “If you don’t want to be my wife…”
“I can still be your mistress,” she finished, and touched the tip of her tongue to his.
“What?” he stammered against her lips, pulling back to stare at her without understanding. “Instead of a lifetime of marriage, you prefer a life as a mistress?”
She gave a lopsided smile. “I can be a temporary mistress if it makes you feel better.”
“It does not,” he said firmly.
“It could.” She pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth. “One year.”
“Diana… No… I want more than a mistress.”
She licked his lower lip. “One month.”
“I… You…” He kissed her as if he could not bear another moment without their bodies entwined, then jerked his head away gasping for air. “This is the opposite of haggling. You keep removing what I want—”
“One night.” She slid a finger beneath the hem of her bodice and gave a saucy tug. “Tonight.”
A few hours to do as they would. As theywished. To create as many memories as possible. To give into temptation… and to each other.
“Right here? Right now?” His voice was gravelly and tortured. He lowered his lips to the pulse point at the base of her neck, then glanced up, his gaze dark with desire. “This is not how most failed marriage proposals end.”
“One seduction.” She wrapped her arms about his neck and wriggled against his lap. “I dare you.”
He lifted her in his arms and pushed to his feet.
“Gentlemen don’t toss young ladies out in the street,” she whispered to him.
“I’m far from finished with you,” he growled as he strode toward the open door.
Rather than carry her out of his private parlor, Colehaven shut the door, engaged the lock, and stalked toward the fireplace.
“What are you doing?” she asked as he tossed her atop a plush chaise longue.
“One seduction.” He climbed on top and slanted his mouth over hers. “You dared me.”
