Too late, Wick realized that while she was spoken for in his head, she hadn’t yet agreed in reality. But, devil take it, the writing was on the wall. He’d taken her virginity, and she was a genteel lady—the sister of aduke, apparently. They’d shared pleasure not once, but twice, their lovemaking teaching him, a seasoned rake, new things about desire.
Marriage wasn’t a possibility: it was a forgoneconclusion.
He was aware of Knight watching on with an unreadable expression. As much as Wick wanted to spell out to the bastard precisely why Beatrice belonged to him, he could not. He would never dishonor her in that fashion.
“Precisely. No man has any claim on me,” Beatrice stated.
He couldn’t let that stand. “Perhaps our negotiations haven’t been completed, but I thought last night’s discussion was ratherproductive, wasn’t it?”
Three orgasmsproductive for her. And marking her lovely arse with his seed had been one of the most intensely erotic experiences of his life. Just the thought seared his groin with heat.
Her cheeks turned rosy, but she did not back down. “No promises were made. I refuse to be an obligation.”
Bloody hell, this again? “Why thedevildo you persist—”
“Ahem.”
They both swung their glances to Knight, who’d cleared his throat rather pointedly.
“Perhaps I should leave the two of you to iron out certain details?”
“Leaving would be an excellent idea,” Wick growled.
“I shall take myself back to the inn.” Knight bowed. “May I look forward to the pleasure of a future audience, my lady?”
“I should like that,” Beatrice said determinedly. “In point of fact, as you are a friend of the family, you must stay at the manor.”
“Now wait just one minute—” Wick thundered.
“You’ll be far more comfortable here than at the Pig & Whistle,” Bea cut him off. “With Lady Tottenham in residence, everything will be quite circumspect.”
Circumspect my arse, Wick fumed. Her bloody chaperone hadliterallydrunk herself under the table. He was certain Lady Tottie was still there, dozing peacefully on the Aubusson.
“Indeed.” Knight’s brows lifted. “Thank you for the invitation, my lady. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll bid you adieu for now and return tomorrow morning with my things.”
“Good night, Your Grace,” Bea said.
Knight bowed, casting a smug look at Wick as he strode off.
Holding onto his temper by his fingernails, Wick bit out, “What the devil are you doing?”
She faced him. “Being hospitable to my brother’s friend.”
“Are you trying to make me jealous?”Because it’s bloody working.
“I’m not trying to make you anything,” she said flatly. “I was going to have this conversation with you later, but since we are here, we might as well have it now.”
If her tone wasn’t enough to penetrate his rage, then her expression would have been. Gone was the Beatrice of last night, whose face had glowed with the joy of feminine surrender. Gone was the Beatrice of this morning, who’d let him help her, who’d wiped ash off his jaw with what had felt likewifelytenderness. Gone even was the Beatrice who verbally sparred with him, their bantering exchanges full of promise and heat.
Masked in cold silver moonlight, the woman before him might have been a stranger. The recognition was enough to take the edge off his haze of anger. Anger, he realized now, that had prevented him from thinking clearly.
He was no longer a hot-headed rake. He was a businessman known for his ability to identify his opponent’s motivations and weaknesses, to adjust his strategy to attain winning results. Why, then, was he charging like a maddened bull at Beatrice when that only made her dig her heels in deeper? He’d already discovered better ways of negotiating with her.
In the past few days, he’d seen that she was a fair and practical woman. When he’d gone about things in a way that respected her terms, the results had been rewarding. She’d let him make love to her last night, seemed appreciative when he’d helped her to fight the fire. Hecouldwin her trust…but he had to go about it the right way.
With her, it was about give and take. Knowing when to push and when to pull back.
Not only was Wick up to the challenge, hecravedit.
