To Seduce a Bride

starved for him, it had been so long since she had last kissed him, last touched him. His ardent passion banished the last of her fears and kindled her desire to a heated urgency-

To her dismay, however, Heath abruptly broke off and peeled her arms away from his neck. “Not so fast, love. We need to settle some issues before we indulge in pleasure.”

“What issues?”

“When you will actually marry me, for one.”

Breathless and frowning, Lily allowed Heath to lead her over to the sofa. “The date matters little to me,” she said once they were settled with his arm around her.

“It damn well matters to me. I want to hold the ceremony as soon as possible-this week, before you decide to change your mind.”

She smiled up at him. “I promise you, I will never change my mind.”

“I’m not risking it. Do you want a large wedding like your sisters had?”

“Heaven forbid.” Lily mimicked a shudder. “I would much rather save the expense and contribute the funds to establishing our new women’s home. The same goes for wedding gifts. You needn’t give me any exorbitantly lavish presents like that ship, Heath.”

“Very well, no more lavish gifts…as long as you agree to accept the Zephyr as a token of my love.”

Her smile turned impish. “I think I could be persuaded. I am not so stubborn as to refuse your most alluring offer to sail the world with you. I once dreamed of having a life of excitement and adventure, but I was willing to give up that dream when I discovered my new cause.”

“Fortunately as a wealthy marchioness, you can do both.”

“Yes,” Lily agreed with an amazed laugh. “I can do both.”

“And anytime you feel the need to escape the shackles of matrimony, you will have the ship at your disposal. You can leave me whenever you wish, at any time, for any reason.”

Lily’s expression sobered a little as she finally realized the significance of Heath’s gift. “So that is why you gave me the ship,” she said slowly. “Not to win points in our game, but so I would have the means to escape. So I would feel free to leave if I risked wedding you.”

“Yes, sweetheart,” Heath answered.

She cocked her head, considering him. “I doubt I will ever want to escape you, my dearest Heath. And I don’t want to sail anywhere without you. But thank you.”

“You are quite welcome. Now…” he said, changing the subject, “where would you like to go first? I suggest we take our wedding trip to the Mediterranean. We can visit your mother in Brittany, if you like.”

“Oh, Heath, I would love that. I have always wanted to see France. And Italy and Spain-”

“Whatever my beautiful bride desires,” he said gallantly.

His lips lowered to hers to bestow a lingering kiss. Lily sighed in delight at the heart-soaring thrill his tender gesture gave her.

“So we are agreed?” Heath asked when he allowed her up for air. “We will marry on Saturday. We can hold the wedding on board the Zephyr and have a man of the cloth perform the ceremony.”

“Saturday should serve well enough. It will allow us time to call Roslyn back from her wedding trip with Arden. I don’t think she will object, since they didn’t intend to leave Kent until next week. I want my sisters to attend my wedding, Heath. And Winifred and Tess. And Fanny, of course. And Fleur and Chantel.”

“Of course, since they played such a large role in bringing us together. And I would like Eleanor there as well.”

Lily’s gaze sought his. “As long as she relinquishes any claim to you, she is welcome.”

One corner of Heath’s beautiful mouth quirked upward. “There was never any question of my marrying her. You have no reason to be jealous, although I admit to being gratified. I think you could become fast friends with Eleanor if you gave her the chance.”

“I like Lady Eleanor exceedingly well now, but I was ready to run her through when I thought you meant for her to take my place.”

“No one could ever take your place, my enchanting virago.”

“Good,” Lily said firmly. “For I have absolutely no intention of sharing you.”

Heath gave her a considering look. “I trust I have no reason to be jealous of your friend Eddowes?”

“Basil?” Lily almost laughed. “Not in the least. Basil is like a brother to me. Besides, he is head over heels in love with Fanny.”

“I suspected something of the sort when he kept risking a pummeling in order to save her.”

“I do hope they are able to solve their difficulties and find happiness together,” Lily said softly.

“Is that so?” Heath asked in a voice laced with amusement. “Pray don’t tell me that you intend to turn matchmaker, angel.”

She felt her cheeks coloring. “At least now I can understand Winifred’s compulsion to bring couples together.”

Heath chuckled. “I would say you have been transformed as much as I have.”

“More so.”

Exhaling a dreamy sigh, Lily leaned her head on his shoulder. Love had changed her, very much for the better, she believed. The protective shell around her heart had melted, all because of Heath’s relentless, unwavering pursuit of her. He had steadily chipped away at her defenses until she had no choice but to surrender.

And now the love she felt for him was powerful and irrefutable.

No one could be as fortunate as she, Lily thought, wordlessly raising her mouth to his. She had the love of an amazing man, and the promise of a remarkable future together.

Just as silently, Heath favored her with the kind of soul-deep kiss she had grown addicted to. His enchanting mouth possessed hers thoroughly, making her feel the dizzy rush of desire and need she only knew with him.

When she reached up blindly to untie his cravat, though, Heath stayed her hand. “What do you think you are doing, sweetheart?”

“I want to make love to you,” she said huskily. “I thought to give you a wedding gift. Myself.”

He held her hand away. “That is a gift I will treasure always, but I won’t accept it until we are irrevocably married.”

“Heath,” she began, her tone exasperated and imploring at the same time.

“I am as impatient as you are, but I am not letting you seduce me until you are my bride.”

“I am perfectly willing to let you seduce me.”

“You will have to be satisfied with kisses until Saturday.”

“Only kisses?” Highly disappointed, Lily assumed a pout. “You know it will be torture, waiting until our wedding night.”

A devilish gleam entered his hazel eyes. “The wait will be worth it, I promise you.”

“Indeed?” She trailed a tantalizing finger over his lower lip, but Heath refused to surrender.

“We will have a lifetime of wedding nights together,” he insisted.

“Very well,” she finally conceded. “But I intend to hold you to your promise.”

“I trust you will, love. Until then”-Heath surprised her by reaching up to pull the pins from her hair-“I mean to see how inventive we can be with mere kisses.”

The magical warmth of his smile set her pulse soaring. And when he bent to capture her mouth again, laughter and desire welled up in Lily in equal measures as she gave herself up to Heath’s enchanting caresses.

Epilogue

You were right, dearest Fanny. My happiness does lie in marriage to Lord Claybourne. A lifetime of love and fulfillment with the most wonderful man I know. What more could I ever want?

– Lily to Fanny