Rakes Vow

dinner. Everyone else did, but all were understandably subdued.'

'Even Henry?'

'Even Henry. Whitticombe preserved a censorious silence. The General spent the entire time grumbling, and snapping at anyone who loomed in his path. Edgar and Edith kept their heads down, together for the most part, whispering. About what I know not.' Vane's fingers closed about the buttons of his waistcoat. Patience drew a tight breath. 'Edmond's succumbed to his muse again. Angela is quietly happy because she got her comb back. Henry, however, was idling about because he couldn't find anyone with whom to play billiards.'

Patience shifted, giving Vane space to strip off his waistcoat. 'Oh-there was one point of interest-Mrs. Chadwick quietly asked Minnie and me if she could search Gerrard's bureau for her missing earring. Poor dear, it seemed the least we could do. I went with her-we searched high and low, and through all the other drawers, too. There was no sign of it anywhere.'

She turned to Vane-just as he freed his cravat and drew the long strip from his neck. His gaze on her, he held it between his hands. 'So,' he murmured, his tone deep, 'nothing of any moment happened here.'

Her gaze transfixed by the long strip of linen, Patience tried to speak and couldn't-she shook her head.

'Good.' The word was a feral purr. With a negligent flick, Vane sent the cravat to join his coat. 'So there's nothing to distract you.'

Patience dragged her gaze up to his face. 'Distract me?'

'From the subject we need to discuss.'

'You want to discuss something?' She hauled in a breath and tried to steady her giddy head.

Vane trapped her gaze. 'You. Me.' His face hardened. 'Us.'

With a supreme effort, Patience raised her brows. 'What about 'us'?'

A muscle in his jaw flickered. From the corner of her eye, she saw his fist clench. 'I,' he declared, 'have reached the end of my tether.'

He stepped toward her; she took a sliding step back.

'I do not approve of any situation that leaves you a target for the likes of such as the Colbys-regardless of whether said situation arises from my actions or otherwise.' His lips a thin line, he stepped forward; Patience instinctively edged back. 'I cannot, and will not, condone any scenario whereby your reputation is in any way sullied-even by me with the best of intentions.'

He continued to stalk her; she continued to retreat. Patience longed to whirl around and scurry out of his reach, but she didn't dare take her eyes from his. 'What are you doing here then?'

She was trapped, mesmerized-she knew he'd soon pounce. As if to confirm that, his eyes narrowed, and he tugged his shirt from his waistband. Without taking his eyes from her, he started undoing the buttons, still advancing, still forcing her to retreat. Toward the bed.

'I'm here'-he bit the words off-'because I can't see any sense in being anywhere else. You're mine-henceforth, you sleep with me. As you're sleeping here at the moment, ergo, so do I. If my bed is not yet yours, then yours will have to be mine.'

'You just said you didn't want my reputation sullied.'

His shirt fell fully open. He continued to advance. Patience didn't know where to look. Where she most wanted to look.

'Precisely. So you'll have to marry me. Soon. Which is what we need to discuss.' With that, he looked down, and unlaced his cuffs.

Poised to seize the moment to dash to safety, Patience froze. 'I don't have to marry you.'

He looked up, and stripped off his shirt. 'Not in that sense, no. But for you, marriage to me is inevitable. All we need to determine-what we are going to determine-tonight-is what it's going to take to make you agree.'

His shirt hit the floor-he stepped forward.

Belatedly, Patience scurried three steps back-and fetched up against the bedpost. Before she could whisk around it, Vane was there, reaching around her, hands locking about the post behind her. Trapping her within the circle of his arms, facing him, and his bare chest.

Dragging in a desperate breath, Patience locked her eyes on his. 'I told you-I will not simply marry you.'

'I think I can guarantee there'll be nothing simple about our marriage.'

Patience opened her lips on an acid retort-he sealed them, with a kiss so potent by the time he raised his head, she was clinging for dear life to the bedpost.

'Just listen.' He said the words against her lips, as if they were forced from him.

Patience stilled. Her heart thumping wildly, she waited. He didn't straighten, or draw away. Lids lowered, her gaze fixed on his lips, she watched the words form as he spoke.

'I'm renowned within the ton as being cool under fire-around you, I'm never cool. I'm heated-I seethe-I burn with desire. If I'm in the same room, all I can think about is heat-your heat-and how you'll feel around me.'

Patience felt the heat rise, a real force between them.

'I've gained the reputation of being the soul of discretion-now look at me. I've seduced my godmother's niece-and been seduced by her. I share her bed openly, even under my godmother's roof.' His lips twisted wryly. 'So much for discretion.''

He drew a deep breath; his chest brushed her breasts.

'And as for my vaunted, up-until-you legendary control-the instant I'm inside you that evaporates like water on hot steel.'

What prompted her Patience never knew. His lips were so close-with her teeth, she nipped the lower. 'I told you to let go-I won't break.'

The tension, pouring off him in waves, eased, just a little. He sighed, and rested his forehead on hers. 'It's not that.' After a moment, he went on, 'I don't like losing control-it's like losing myself-in you.'

She felt him gather himself, felt the tension swell and coalesce about them.

'It's giving myself to you-so that I'm in your keeping.'

The words, low and gravelly, rolled through her; closing her eyes, she drew in a shallow breath. 'And you don't like doing that.'

'I don't like it-but I crave it. I don't approve of it, yet I yearn for it.' His words feathered her cheek, then his lips touched hers. 'Do you understand? I haven't any choice.'

Patience felt his chest swell as he drew a deep breath.

'I love you.'

She shivered, eyes shut tight, and felt the world shift about her.

'Losing myself in you-giving my heart and soul into your keeping-is part of that.'

His lips brushed hers in an inexpressibly tender caress.

'Trusting you is part of that. Telling you I love you is part of that.'

His lips touched hers again; Patience didn't wait for more. She kissed him. Letting go of the post, she slid her hands up, framing his face, so she could let him know-let him feel-her response to all he'd said.

He felt it, sensed it-and reacted; his arms locked tight about her. She couldn't breathe, but she didn't care. All she cared about was the emotion that held them, that flowed so effortlessly between them.

Silver and gold, it wound about them, investing each touch with its magic. Silver and gold, it shimmered about them, and quivered in their fractured breaths. It was immediate compulsion and future promise, heavenly delight and earthly pleasure. It was here and now-and forever.

With a soft oath, Vane drew back and stripped off his trousers. Released, Patience lowered her arms and let her shawl fall, then tugged the tie of her nightgown free. A quick shift and a shrug sent the silk sliding to the floor.

Vane straightened-she stepped into his arms, setting her naked limbs to his.

He sucked in a breath, then let it out in a groan as she stretched sinuously against him. He wrapped her in his arms and bent his head to hers; their lips met, and desire ran free.

He lifted her and laid her on the sheets, and followed her down. She welcomed him to her, took him into her body with joyous abandon.