She shivered, despite herself. Because being this man’s lover was not nearly as unwanted a prospect as her pride told her it should be. Indeed, being this man’s lover made her ache in places she had not thought about since the last time he had pleasured them.
“Only until you have your heir,” she reminded him. “And even then, we need to have an arrangement in place.”
One that suited her peace of mind. She could not afford to allow this man free reign over her body. Never again.
“Is that what you have told yourself?” His fingertip moved, finding the hollow behind her ear before slipping along the cord of her throat.
He was touching her.
And she could not stop him.
Did not wish for him to stop. Heavens, if anything, she wanted more. She wanted him to carry on. To do everything he had before. What was the matter with her? She was stronger than this. She had prevailed for all this time. She could continue to do so now.
“That is our agreement,” she forced out, holding still beneath his slow caress.
She could not afford to allow him to see how much he affected her. How deeply she longed for him, despite everything that had come to pass between them.
His fingertip traveled across her clavicle, then nestled in the hollow at the base of her neck. “That is what you have told yourself, Julianna. Is it not? But your pounding heart tells a different story. As do your eyes. You always had the most expressive eyes I have ever seen. You still do. They tell me everything.”
Not everything. She was confident of that. But too much, she had no doubt.
“What are you seeking to prove, my lord?” she asked.
“Nothing.” His head lowered until his lips were perilously near to hers. “Not one.” His mouth brushed hers. “Single.” Another featherlight caress. “Thing.”
And then, his lips were firm and hot and demanding, taking her mouth in a kiss she wanted and hated, all at once. She let go of the chair. Her arms wound around his neck.
Two years fell away.
* * *
It had beena mistake to touch Julianna.
Because the moment he had, kissing her became inevitable. It was the driving need pulsing within him. He had to have her mouth beneath his more than he required his next breath.
Sidney had been waiting for this, wanting this. For far too long. The silken heat of her lips on his brought a flood of remembrance and an answering arrow of heat. His cockstand was immediate, his body a conduit for overwhelming desire. And flame. He was combustible as dry kindling.
She kissed him back, responsive as that first frantic meeting of mouths they had shared in the lake that long-ago, sun-drenched day. Her lips parted. His tongue swept inside. She tasted as sweet as he recalled.
Bittersweet.
Because this was Julianna,his Julianna, at last. Not a poor substitute. Not a redhaired beauty he had chosen because of her resemblance. ButJulianna.
And the frayed threads of his control broke.
He kissed her deeper, harder, fervent and desperate. Kissed her as he had longed to do while they had been apart. He moved them, backing her up to the chair she had been using as a shield. Pinning her against it with his body. Allowing her to feel every inch of him. Especially the part of him that was ready for her.
Hell of a thing, this curse she had placed upon him.
He did not love her; she had killed that love.
But he could not stop wanting her.
And if her kisses were any indication, she wanted him too. It was cold comfort, but still a triumph over her. One he would treasure. He had so few. And he had not forgiven her for the way she had left things. Nor had he forgiven her for stealing his daughter from him all this time.
Good God, if her uncle had not left her a fortune with the caveat she must be wed, would she have ever told him about Emily? He did not think so, and the reminder filled him with a renewed fury. His kiss turned punishing. He caught her lower lip in his teeth, tugging, then nipping her.
Not hard enough to draw blood, but with enough force to make her cry out.
