He shifted his stance slightly and felt the back of his hand slide against one aroused, hardened nipple.
A shiver went through her at the touch and she glanced down at their linked hands. She’d finally noticed. Her eyes darkened and flickered back up to him. She moistened her lips.
His body instantly reacted. So did she.
She moved, trying to tug her hand free, but he didn’t let go and all her movement did was drag his knuckle back across the thrusting nipple. She gasped.
“You’re determined on this kiss, aren’t you?” Her breathing made her bosom rise and fall.
“Yes.” The slight, teasing movement of each breath against the back of his hand drove him wild. He fought to control his body.
“Why? You agreed this would be just a paper marriage.”
“To the world, this has to look genuine,” he reminded her. “If we want people to rally around to support us against Count Anton’s legal petition, we’ll need to gain their sympathy.”
Her brow puckered as she considered his words.
“There’s bound to be a lot of comment on the hurried nature of this wedding. Opinion will fall into two camps; either I have impregnated you and am making an honest woman of you, or we are so madly in love we cannot wait. Either way it will be regarded as a love match, and the world adores lovers.”
Her body had softened unconsciously against him as she accepted the truth of his interpretation. He continued, “However once the news of Count Anton’s petition to have your son returned is out—and it will get out—the sharper minds among thetonwill wonder about this sudden and convenient marriage. So we must convince them—all of them—I am talking about Aunt Maude, and my friends, and everyone—that this is real and that we are in love. Lovers under threat are even more romantic. Count Anton won’t stand a chance.”
“Your brother knows it’s false.”
“Nash is a diplomat. He can keep his mouth shut,” Gabe said, hoping it was true. He barely knew his brother but he was generally a good judge of character. Despite their bitter history, Nash as an adult had surprised him.
She bit her lip and he tried not to groan. She said, “So we need to pretend to be in love?”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Gabe said in a dispassionate voice. His body was racked and aching with desire.
“And we start from this moment? With a kiss? To seal the bargain?”
“Yes, and to help us to get into the spirit of things,” Gabe said, amazed at how disinterested his voice sounded. Now! his body was roaring silently. Take her now!
She swallowed. “Very well.” She licked her lips and raised herself on tiptoe. Gabe lowered his head to meet her, but though it cost him every shred of control at his command, he didn’t take her mouth; he wanted her to come to him.
She hesitated, her mouth a bare inch from his. He could feel her soft breath on his skin; she was panting gently. She gazed into his eyes, searching, wondering, uncertain. She was aroused, he could sense it, smell it, but she showed no awareness of it.
She pressed her lips lightly against his and pulled back, watching for his reaction. He didn’t move, didn’t release her, just waited. And tried to remember to breathe.
She touched her lips to his again, and this time she didn’t pull away. He felt the light touch of her tongue and he opened for her. She wasn’t ready for anything more yet and didn’t take up his silent invitation but she kissed him hard, pressing her lips openmouthed against his, mouth to mouth and breath to breath. And body to body.
It was enough. It was more than enough considering he couldn’t take her here and now.
His knuckles were trapped between them, pressed against her breast. He kissed her back, forcing himself not to take control. His knuckle moved lightly back and forth against her rock-hard nipple and she shuddered and recoiled and pulled back.
He released her instantly. She staggered and he caught her by the waist and steadied her.
She stared at him wide-eyed. Looking shocked and on the verge of panic.
“So that’s it,” he said in his driest, dullest voice. “The bargain is settled. We will make a convenient marriage and do our best to fool thetoninto believing we are lovers.”
At his mundane response she calmed visibly. Yes, that’s what frightened her, he thought. Passion. Prince Rupert must have been a clumsy oaf indeed to treat this treasure of a woman carelessly.
Gabe was not such a fool. He knew a priceless gift when he fished it off a cliff top. He would lavish care on her.
Once she was his, he would seduce her with every shred of power in him. He would do his damnedest to burn this paper marriage in the flames of passion and forge it into something precious and enduring.
He had to teach her to love him.
