The Bride Thief

flesh… heated folds he knew were soft and wet. For him. And then he'd-

And then you'll what? His conscience yelled, breaking through the sensual fog enveloping him. Are you going to take her against the tree? A virgin? And if you do, then what do you plan to do with her? Marry her?

And on the heels of his outraged conscience, Arthur's words came back to him. She's innocent. Just the sort of woman who might read more meanin' into yer attentions than ye mean.

Reality hit him like a cold, wet blanket. Easing his hand from beneath her gown, he gripped her by the waist and firmly set her away from him.

Sammie dragged a much needed breath into her lungs. Heat spiraled through her, pooling between her legs. Her feminine flesh felt moist and heavy, and throbbed with an ache she'd never before experienced. A delightful ache she wanted more of.

But with the thrilling hardness of his body no longer pressing against her, she forced her eyes open. He leaned against the tree trunk, holding her at arm's length by the waist. She squinted at him, and although he was blurry, she could easily discern his labored breathing and intense expression.

Thank goodness he still held her or else she would have simply slithered to the ground in a boneless heap. Drawing several deep breaths, she tried to slow her racing pulse and gather her scattered wits.

Finally finding her voice, she asked, 'Why did you stop?'

His grip on her waist tightened. 'Because if I hadn't stopped then, I wouldn't have been able to.' A humorless laugh passed his lips. 'Believe me, the effort nearly killed me. Do you have any idea how close I came to making love to you?'

Elation swept through Sammie. Drawing upon all her courage, she whispered, 'Do you have any idea how much I wanted you to?'

He went perfectly still. 'We can't do this,' he said in a raspy voice.

She raised her chin a notch and said the words she prayed would set her on the greatest adventure of her life.

'Why not?'

Chapter Ten

'Why not? ' Eric stared at her in amazement. She watched him, her head cocked to one side, clearly waiting for him to elaborate. After what seemed an eternity, he finally cleared his throat and said, 'Surely you know why we cannot take this any further. There could be repercussions-and I'm not in a position to offer you marriage.'

She raised her brows. 'I don't expect a proposal.'

'Then what do you expect exactly?'

'That we'd share a wonderful adventure.'

Eric's heart thumped so hard he could feel his blood pounding in his ears. He tried to draw a breath, but his lungs seemed compressed in his chest, as if a heavy rock sat on them.

Her response stunned him, elated him, and he wanted more than anything to share a sensual adventure with her. But how could he? His conscience would flog him alive. The silence stretched between them and he knew he had to respond.

'As flattered as I am by your willingness, I'm afraid we must stop.'

She frowned, then her eyes widened. 'Oh, dear. Do you already have a lover?'

A warm flush crept up his neck. 'Not currently, no.'

There was no mistaking her relief. Her gaze drifted down to his still-bulging manhood, then returned to his face. 'You cannot deny you desire me.'

'Obviously not. But there is much more involved here than simply satisfying my desires.' His fingers tightened briefly on her wasit, then he released her and dragged his hands down his face. 'Clearly you have not thought this through-'

'On the contrary, I have.'

'Indeed? 'Tis clear you have not considered your reputation, which would be utterly ruined.'

'Only if someone found out. I wouldn't tell anyone. Would you?'

'Of course not. But no matter how discreet we might try to be, someone would suspect and gossip. A servant, a neighbor, someone in your family. It would be impossible to hide an affair in a close-knit village like Tunbridge Wells.'

'I disagree.' Drawing a deep breath, she clasped her hands in front of her. 'I am regarded in this village as an odd, eccentric, homely, firmly-on-the-shelf bluestocking. No one would credit for an instant that any man, let alone a man such as yourself, would grant me more than a passing glance. I find it nearly impossible to credit myself. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that even if we stood in a crowded room and announced to one and all that we'd become lovers, no one would believe us.'

The fact that she was most likely correct rushed a surge of anger through him toward every dolt who had ever dismissed her. Damnable idiots.

'I am rapidly approaching my twenty-sixth birthday.' – she continued. 'I accepted long ago the limitations put upon me by my appearance and unusual interests, but that has never stopped me from yearning for adventure. And passion.'

Fragile hope and longing flickered in her eyes, tightening his throat. Damn it, he had to convince her that taking him as a lover was a bad idea-and somehow manage to convince her without crushing her. But it was damn difficult to recall why when his loins ached with need and it seemed he'd lost his voice.

Needing to touch her, he reached out, took her hand, and entwined their fingers. Warmth eased up his arm at her touch, and it required a great deal of willpower not to simply yank her against him and consign his bloody conscience to the devil.

'Ever since my encounter with the Bride Thief,' she said softly, 'I've been unable to suppress my need for adventure. It's as if he burst a dam inside me.'

He froze. 'The Bride Thief? What has he to do with this?'

'He made me feel… alive. Made me realize how very much I wanted… things.'

His jaw hardened and he narrowed his eyes. 'Things such as a lover?'

She met his gaze unflinchingly. 'Yes.'

Unreasonable, irrational jealousy pumped through him, and he abruptly released her hand. 'Then perhaps you should approach the Bride Thief with your offer.'

Color rushed into her cheeks, and he gritted his teeth. He hadn't considered that she might be harboring… lover-like feelings for his alter personality.

'It is unlikely I shall ever see him again,' she said.

Damned unlikely. 'And if you did?'

'He did not give me any indication that he… desired me.'

Bloody hell, what did she mean by that? Did she want to experience passion with the Bride Thief? The thought of her wanting another man, regardless of the fact that the other man was in reality him, edged his vision with a red haze.

Swallowing his mounting anger, he said coolly, 'Have you considered that your adventure could result in pregnancy?'

'Yes, but I understand that there are ways to prevent such an occurrence.'

'And do you know what they are?'

'No… not yet.'

'Yet? ' He raked a hand through his hair. 'How do you intend to find out?'

She raised her brows. 'Do you know?'

'Of course. I've no wish to father any by-blows.'

A smile of unmistakable relief touched her lips. 'Excellent. You can tell me everything I need to know.'

'I'll do nothing of the sort. You do not require such information as I will not be your lover.' He rubbed his hand