A Rogues Proposal

Couldn't hear them over the sudden pounding of his blood, the sudden roar of his needs. Her lips were open under his; before he'd even thought, he was deep inside, tasting her, exulting in the sweet mystery of her, drinking her deep.

And she met him-not tentatively or shyly, but with a demand so flagrant it left him giddy.

He pulled back from the kiss to draw in a huge breath, conscious to his toes of the firm swells of her breasts compressed against his expanding chest. He straightened; hands sliding to his nape, she held tight. Eyes glinting under heavy lids, she drew his lips back to hers.

He went readily, urgently hungry for more heady kisses, his pulse pounding in anticipation of the deeper satiation her body, pressed to his in sweet abandon, promised. His arms had locked about her, but it was she who sank against him, a simple surrender so evocative he shook.

Pulling back, he dragged in a breath; dazed, he looked into her face, subtly lit by the moonlight. From under heavy lids, she studied him, then with one finger, traced his lower lip.

'Lady Osbaldestone said you've been keeping your distance because that's what society demands.' She arched one fine brow. 'Is that right?'

'Yes.' He went back for another taste of her, so sweetly intoxicating she was making him drunk. She gave her mouth freely, sliding her tongue around his, then drawing back.

'She said by driving me in the park you made a declaration.' She whispered the words against his lips, then kissed him.

This time, it was he who gave, then drew back, rakish senses alert to some subtle shift in the scene. He blinked down at her. Inwardly swearing, he fought to realign his spinning wits. She was, as usual, setting the pace. And he was left scrambling in her wake.

Reaching up, she drew his lips down to hers for another slow, intimate kiss that left them both simmering.

'Did you intend the drive in the park as a declaration?'

'Yes.'

His lips were back on hers. She pulled away. 'Why?'

'Because I wanted you.' Relentless, he drew her back.

For long moments, silence reigned; locked together, they heated, then burned. When next they broke for breath they were panting. Hearts racing, eyes dark and wild under heavy lids, they paused, lips not quite touching.

'Lady Osbaldestone said you would have wanted to pressure me-why didn't you?'

He shuddered; the supple strength of her, so much less than his, struck through to his bones and left him weak. Aching to have her. 'God knows.'

He went to kiss her, but she stopped him-by running one hand down one locked bicep, then up, across his shoulder and his chest. Stopping with her palm over his heart, she splayed her fingers and tried to press them in- they made no impression on the already tensed muscle.

'She said you were frustrated.' She looked up into his eyes. 'Is she right?'

He sucked in a breath and tensed even more. 'Yes!'

'Is that why you won't let me close-near-even when we're together?'

He hesitated, looking deep into her eyes. 'Put that down to the violence of my feelings. I was afraid they'd show.' He was never, ever, going to tell her she glowed.

As if in vindication, she did. He swooped and took her mouth-she surrendered it eagerly, sinking deeper against him, openly, joyously, feeding his need. Her lips were soft under his, her tongue ready to tangle; he took what she freely gave and returned it full-fold.

'I couldn't bear to see you surrounded by those puppies-and the others were even worse.'

'You should have rescued me-carried me off. I didn't want them.'

'I didn't know-you hadn't said.'

Where the words were coming from, he didn't know, but they were suddenly flowing. 'I hate seeing you waltz with other men.'

'I won't-not ever again.'

'Good.' After another searching kiss, he added, 'Just because I'm not forever by your side doesn't mean that's not precisely where I want to be.'

Her 'Mmm' sounded deeply content. She softened in his arms; his breath hitched, his wits reeled-even in her breeches, her body flowed with the promise of warm silk over his erection. He gritted his teeth and heard himself admit, 'I nearly went mad thinking you would fall in love with one of them-prefer one of them-over me.'

She drew back. In the moonlight he saw surprise and shock in her face, then her expression softened; slowly, she smiled at him-glowed at him. 'That won't ever happen.'

He looked into her eyes, and thanked God, fate-whoever had arranged it. She loved him-and she knew it. Perhaps he could leave it at that, now he'd admitted so much, and soothed her silly fears that his caution had been disinterest, that his towering restraint had been coolness. He studied her eyes, basked in her glow. Perhaps he could leave things to ease by themselves…

A second later, his chest swelled; he bent his head and kissed her-deeply, demandingly, until he knew her head was spinning, her wits in disarray. Then he drew back and whispered against her lips, 'I wanted to ask…'

Drawing back a fraction further, he drank in the sight of her angelic face-the finely drawn features, smooth ivory skin, swollen, rosy lips, large eyes lustrous under heavy lids, her bright curls gleaming gold even in the moonlight. Her cap had disappeared, as had her muffler. As had his wits. 'I hadn't meant it to be like this. You had engagements all day today-I was going to call on you tomorrow to speak to you formally.'

Her lips curved; her arms tightened about his neck. 'I prefer this.' Arching lightly, she pressed against him; he caught his breath. 'What were you going to ask?'

Flick waited, and wondered, with what little wit she still possessed. She felt so happy, so reassured. So wanted. Deeply, sincerely, uncontrollably wanted.

His eyes held hers-she both sensed and felt him steeling himself.

'What will it take to make you say yes?' After a moment, he clarified, 'What do you want from me? What do you want me to do?'

She wanted his heart-she wanted him to lay it at her feet. Flick heard the words in her head, which was suddenly spinning much too fast. She dragged in a too-shallow breath-

'Just tell me.' His voice was so low she felt it more than heard it.

Eyes wide, she held his darkened gaze and dazedly considered it-considered asking the one question she'd told herself she never could. Searching his face, she saw his strength, and a new, more visible devotion, both unswerving, unfailing-there for her to lean on. Neither surprised her. What did-what made her breath catch and her head swim-was the raw hunger in his eyes, in the harsh planes of his face; for the first time, she saw his naked need. She shivered, deeply thrilled by the sight, shaken by its consequence.

He'd asked for the price of her heart. She would have to tell him it was his.

Drawing in a deep breath, she steadied, calmed. This was, without doubt, the highest fence she'd ever faced. She felt his arms about her, felt his heart thudding against her breast. Her eyes locked with his, so dark in the night, she drew in a last breath, and threw her heart over. 'I need to know-to believe-that you love me.' Her lungs seized; she forced in a quick breath. 'If you love me, I'll say yes.'

His expression didn't change. He looked at her for a long, long moment. She could feel her heart thudding in her throat. Then he shifted, one arm sliding more completely around her, holding her locked against him; with the other, he lifted her hand from his shoulder. He held her gaze, then carried her hand to his lips.

His kiss seared the back of her hand.

'I could say 'I love you'-and I do.' Raising his lids, he met her gaze. 'But it's not that simple… not for me. I never wanted a wife.' He drew in a breath. 'I never wanted to love-not you, not any woman. I never wanted to risk it-never wanted to be forced to find out if I could handle the strain. In my family, loving's not easy-it's not a simple sunny thing that makes one merely happy. Love for us-for me-was always going to be dramatic-powerful, unsettling-an ungovernable force. A force that controls me, not the other way about. I knew I wouldn't like it-' His