“I should be embarrassed, shouldn’t I?” Her question, in part, illustrated only one of the characteristics he lo—appreciated about her.
“Not with me. Never with me,” he answered.
Knowing how she would have been raised, he’d imagined she would be more proper lady than woman.
Idiot that he was.
But he’d understood that genteel ladies kept their feelings well in check—that any admission to desire, to wanting physical love, was beneath them.
But Nia… She surprised him. She’d come to him both lady and woman. The courage and passion she hid behind a perfect smile and posture had slayed him. But she was more.
There weren’t enough words to describe her.
He normally prided himself on his control—on his ability to draw out the act of lovemaking, slowly building to the crescendo until his lover found completion.
But Nia hadn’t required anything deliberate. He’d barely withdrawn in time to protect her. Hell, he’d barely remembered to withdraw at all.
Jasper nudged her knee and then held the cloth between her legs.
“Is it painful?” he asked.
He’d never made love to a virgin. He’d barely stopped to consider it as he’d poised his cock at her entrance. Even so, he’d intended on going slow. He would have stopped if she’d shown signs of pain or reluctance.
But when she’d nudged her hips forward—when she’d tightened her legs around him—he’d practically forgotten his own name.
“It was.” Twin lines furrowed between her eyes. “But in a good way. Does that make sense?”
“Yes.” Jasper bent forward, wanting nothing more than to climb into that bed beside her. But if he did, he’d want her again. She’d not stop him.
God, he was a brute.
He forced himself to stand, tucked his shirt all the way in, and straightened his jacket.
And not trusting himself to touch her again, he crossed the room to the door.
Only then did he turn around. “Lock this behind me, Princess.”
He stepped outside and closed the door. Only then could he breathe.
And as luck would have it, the innkeeper had managed to save him a room. But it didn’t matter. He spent most of the night wide awake, torn between the desire to return to her chamber and another niggling instinct to flee the country.
Because he’d made his choice. It was done. He was going to marry her. He’d lost control, and in saving her from her father, he’d allowed himself to be caught.
And for the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure that that was a bad thing.
Ask Please
By the time Jasper knocked on her door the next morning, Nia was already awake, dressed, and her stomach had tied itself into a million knots.
“Coachman Will is ready to leave—” Jasper cut himself off.
Because the pink valise he’d purchased sat ready on the floor beside her. She’d done herself up to the best of her ability, smoothing the wrinkles out of her gown and pinning her hair into a serviceable coiffure. It must be obvious she had been waiting for him. He wouldn’t know that she’d been awake.
And now that he was here, Nia didn’t know where to look. She gestured to the small case that held all her belongings, keeping her gaze on anything but him. They’d made love, and afterward, he’d treated her with unexpected tenderness.
And then he’d left.
“Nia—”
