James sat back, disappointed in her words though they only mirrored his own thoughts. “Then wh—”
“Let me finish,” she begged, holding up a hand. “Immediately following was dissatisfaction in myself. Those were the thoughts of a woman too overcome by the opinion of others to do as she pleased. The thoughts which have controlled my life for years. They came by rote, James, not because I actually believed them. Though nothing will come of it that society would approve of, I want you. For myself.”
And he wanted her, more than he’d ever imagined possible. But it was her assuredness that nothing would come of it that sealed his resolve. Nothing would come of it because she didn’t want it. She didn’t want marriage.
She didn’t want him.
With any other lady, James would have rejoiced at such a stalwart rejection of a permanent attachment. But not Prim. The one he wanted the demand of marriage from. How could he tell her he was now the one who wanted more? How could he convince her otherwise?
He wouldn’t force her by convention to his ways, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t do all that was in his power to persuade her otherwise.
“No regrets?”
“Not one.”
James opened the sliding door separating them from their driver who was probably wondering what kept them. “Once around the park, if you please.”
“James,” Prim protested.
“The long way, if you would,” he added, before sliding the door shut. He turned back to Prim’s frown.
“I said I had no regrets.”
“Well, I have my own reservations.”
“Reservations?”
“Aye, but in the meantime…”
* * *
Any disappointment welling within her hardly had a moment to surface before Jamie’s kiss drowned it out. His kiss which he had practiced so skillfully again and again, set her pulse racing and her head spinning more dizzily than any amount of alcohol might.
No, she had few qualms about giving in to her desire for Jamie. Surprisingly, it was any regrets James might have in the end that worried her most.
Prim eased back, fighting the urge to bite her lower lip as was her habit since he might think the gesture one of reservation or doubt.
“I know you’re doing all of this because of our bargain. Are you certain you really want—”
His mouth came down over hers, cutting off the question. Forcing her lips apart, his tongue dipped between them. Her back hit something hard, the carriage wall she realized vaguely. His arms wrapped around her, lifting her away, hauling her body tightly against his until she almost couldn’t breathe and the carriage swayed from side to side.
The stubble of his cheek raked across hers, his lips caught her earlobe and drew it into his mouth. Gripping her hand in his, he drew it between them. Prim gasped as her fingers grazed the hard bulge there. James wouldn’t allow her to withdraw her hand, but flattened her palm against his rigid erection.
“Ask that question again, lass,” his whispered harshly, close to her ear.
Prim swallowed hard at the powerful evidence of his desire. Her heart fluttered in her chest, torn between nervous excitement and eagerness.
“I was only going to ask you to hurry along,” she said with some bravado.
James pulled her closer, chuckling against her lips as he kissed her again. “Of course you were.”
“I was. The driver won’t circle the park indefinitely.”
“Mmm hmm,” he growled, burying his face in her neck
“I was,” she hummed under her breath as his lips found hers again.
“I believe you.”
