Devils Bride

her fingers; beneath her palms, he burned.

Devil felt her yank his shirt free of his waistband, felt her small hands slide about him, reaching to caress the broad muscles of his back. He raised his head. She tightened her hold-the twin peaks of her breasts pressed against his bare chest; the heat between her thighs scalded him. That naked embrace left him shaking, gasping, struggling to regain any glimmer of control. Every instinct he possessed urged him on, urged him to take all she offered, to sink into her slick heat and take her, claim her beyond recall. The pressure of that instinct was overwhelming; his fingers were on the buttons of his trousers, his rake's instincts running a final cursory check- when he remembered her fear.

Her reason for not marrying.

He stilled. Then blinked. He heard his ragged breathing, felt his chest swell. Raging desire pounded at his senses; passion, unleashed, fought for release. But… In that crazed instant, lust and will collided. The shock was almost physical. The wrenching effort required to draw his hands from Honoria, to roll away and sit up, left him giddy.

With a whimper, Honoria pulled him back. Or tried to. She couldn't get a grip on his body-clenching her hands in his loose shirt, she tugged desperately. All she did was rock herself.

Devil didn't shift. Gently, he caught her hands and disengaged her fingers. 'No.'

'No?' The question came out as a muted wail; in utter disbelief, Honoria stared at him. 'You're a rake-rakes don't say 'No'!'

He had the grace to grimace. 'This isn't right.'

Honoria drew a deep breath; her senses were whirling, clamoring with need. 'You've been bedding women for God knows how long-you must by now know what to do!'

The look Devil cast her was exceedingly sharp. 'What I meant was, this isn't how I intend bedding you.'

Honoria opened her eyes wide. 'Does it matter?'

'Yes!' His expression grim, he shook his head. 'This wasn't supposed to happen yet!'

Her hands still trapped in his, Honoria stared at him. 'Why did you bring me down here, then?'

'Believe it or not, I had merely envisaged an illicit waltz-not a full-scale seduction.'

'Then what are we doing on this daybed?'

Devil clenched his jaw. 'I got carried away-by you!'

'I see.' She narrowed her eyes. 'You're allowed to seduce me, but I'm not allowed the reciprocal privilege?'

The eyes that met hers were mere green shards. 'Precisely. Seduction is an art best left to the experts.'

'I'm obviously a quick learner-I've had an excellent teacher.' Her hands immobilized in his, she tugged, trying to topple him back down; if she could just get him back on the bed alongside her…

'No!' Abruptly, Devil let go of her hands and stood; grimly, he looked down at her. She hadn't seduced him-something in him had accomplished that. Whatever it was, he didn't trust it-that force that whispered within him, urging him to capitulate, to toss aside his careful plans and fall in, lustily, with hers. 'When you come to me as my wife, I want you to come of your own free will. Because you've made the decision to become my duchess. That's not a decision you've yet made.'

Staggered, Honoria stared at him. 'What do you imagine this is all about?' Her gesture encompassed her seminaked sprawl.

Devil narrowed his eyes. 'Curiosity.'

'Curi…?' Honoria's mouth fell open, then shut; lips setting ominously, she came up on one elbow.

Devil spoke before she could. 'Even if it wasn't-even if you'd made up your mind in cold blood-how the hell could I tell now, when you're so heated you're almost simmering?'

Honoria met his eyes-and wished she had an answer.

'You're all but drunk with passion-don't try to deny it.'

She didn't-couldn't; just sitting up had nearly made her swoon. Her pulse thundered in her ears; she felt flushed one instant, then desperate for heat-his heat-the next. There was a curious, molten void pulsing within her; her breathing was so shallow it was difficult to think.

Devil's gaze, on her face, became more intent, then flicked down, swiftly scanning. The folds of her gown had slipped down, the hem floating on her thighs. Instantly, his eyes switched back to her face; she saw his jaw set, saw the iron shackles of his control lock.

He spoke through clenched teeth, frustration in his voice. 'It's important to me to know that you've made a conscious decision-that you've decided to become my wife, the mother of my children, for your own reasons, not because I've seduced, coerced, or manipulated you into it.'

'I've made my decision.' Honoria struggled to her knees. 'How can I convince you?'

'I need to hear you say it-state it-when you're fully compos mentis.' Devil held her gaze. 'I want to hear you declare that you'll be my duchess, that you want to bear my children.'

Through the haze of her passion, Honoria glimpsed an unexpected light. She narrowed her eyes. 'Just why do you need this declaration?'

Devil looked down at her-and narrowed his eyes back.

'Can you deny you've avoided marrying because of your decision not to risk losing children-like you lost your brother and sister?'

Stunned, she stared at him. 'How did you know?'

Devil's jaw firmed. 'Michael told me about your brother and sister. The rest's obvious. You must have had a reason for not marrying-you avoid young children.'

His presumption in guessing her most private fear-correctly-was infuriating; Honoria knew she should react-do something to put him in his place. Instead, their talk of children had evoked a far stronger response, a surging, primitive urge to put him in his place, in quite a different way.

Their discussion had done nothing to quench the desire beating steady in her veins. They were both half- naked, both breathing rapidly; passion still throbbed between them. His every muscle was sharply defined, locked against that driving need. She had no such defense.

Realization swept her-and left her quivering. 'I…' She searched his eyes, her own widening. She spread her arms helplessly. 'You can't leave me like this.'

Devil looked into her eyes-and mentally cursed-himself, her-and Celestine's damned gown, gathered in sheening folds about her waist, draping her thighs in silken splendor. As he watched, a telltale shiver racked her, an almost-imperceptible quiver rippling beneath her skin.

Reaching out, she locked her fingers in his shirt and pulled. Reluctantly, he shifted closer. He'd purposely aroused her, deliberately pushed her to a state bordering on the frantic.

'Please?' The soft plea lay on her bruised lips; it glowed in her eyes.

What could a gentleman do? With one last mental curse, Devil gathered her into his arms and set his lips to hers.

She opened to him instantly, sinking against him. He gave her what she wanted, steadily fanning her flames, holding himself rigidly aloof. His demons were once more under his control-he wasn't about to let the reins slip again.

Honoria sensed his decision; the muscles that surrounded her remained locked and unyielding. She would not be his wife tonight. But she had no will left to rail against fate-her entire being was focused on the fire that raged within her. Wave upon flaming wave it seared through her, leaving her empty and yearning, weak with need. How he was going to sate her hunger she did not know; adrift, she gave herself up to his kisses, surrendered to the inferno and put herself in his hands.

When he lifted his head she was reeling, and hotter than she'd been in her life. Her whole being was one heated, aching void. Gasping, she clung to his shoulders.

'Trust me.'