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Her breath caught. He was conscious of the heat radiating from her body, only a hand’s width away from his.

“You can’t tell me what happened between us didn’t mean anything to you. Tell me you didn’t enjoy our kisses,” he said, his voice low and intense. “Me touching you…”

Her eyes darkened and glistened. Her body wavered gently towards him. Then she shook her head.

“It doesn’t matter if I did or not,” she said. “What matters is…you never wanted to marry me, and I cannot marry you.”

Her rejection stung.

“Can you really not, Jane?” he asked softly. “Can you not see that I told you things I’ve never told anyone in my life? Can you not see that I stopped playing games and don’t see anyone but you?”

Silence stretched between them. Jane’s eyes fluttered shut, her lips parting as though she wanted to speak, but no words came out. Richard’s heart seemed to vibrate and crackle, as if he had his own little thunderstorm in his chest. She held his gaze for a long time as the carriage moved and rattled under their feet.

“Richard, I want to believe you, but…”

“But what, Jane?” he murmured, his lips touching her ear. “You must see I can’t stay away from you.”

He leaned down to her and brushed his lips against hers. The touch was light but shot a jolt of something sweet and delicious through his blood. Her scent was in his nostrils—lavender soap and something else that seemed floral that wasn’t flowers at all but her own essence. He inhaled her scent deeply, and all his thoughts were extinguished like the wick of an oil lamp—all except how he wanted more of this. More of her lush, soft lips. And as she opened her mouth for him, of her gentle tongue, and of that taste of hers—fresh and herbal and as intoxicating as a good glass of brandy.

He couldn’t do anything but wrap his arms around her. Heavens but how small and fragile she felt in his arms, like he could envelop her whole and she’d be all his. With his blood seething in his veins, the kiss deepened. He stroked her tongue, hungry for more…starving for anything she’d give him. As he encircled her waist with his arms, she arched her back, pressing into him, prompting him to hold her even more closely.

He was out of breath. All he could sense was her small warm body, her scent in his nostrils, and her taste on his tongue.

He pulled her onto his lap, despite a discontented whine from Hercules.

“Can you not see,” he murmured as he kissed her face, “that I want to give you as much pleasure and happiness as you can take.”

“I promised myself I wouldn’t let you do this again,” she breathed as he made his way down her neck, inhaling her divine scent. He undid her spencer and kissed the tops of her breasts. He cupped them right through her frock and her corset.

“Look at you,” he said as he licked and scraped his teeth against her flesh, delighting in the delicious taste of her skin. “You have no idea what I’d like to do to you…”

“Richard…” she said in a low, throaty voice. “You cannot do this here.”

He growled. He was so hard, his cock hurt as it pressed against his breeches.

“Where, then?” He continued feasting on her soft, warm flesh. “Name a place and a time, and I’ll be there.”

“We can’t,” she said, still breathless, pulling away.

Richard sighed and straightened his back, looking at her. He breathed hard, his heart slamming against his ribs. His erection felt tight and aching from need for her. Halting himself now required as much strength as stopping a carriage at full speed.

But her no was enough.

“All right,” said Richard, still holding her.

Hercules whined, and his tail thumped against the carriage floor, filling the air with a rhythmic drumming, his paws landing on Richard’s lap.

Jane giggled, the sound like music to his ears. “Perhaps Hercules wants a kiss, too?”

Richard leaned back, the heat of Jane’s body still lingering on his skin. “Your brother shouldn’t worry about sending Reuben or your maid,” he said, his voice light with amusement. “Your beast makes the perfect chaperone.”

Jane sighed and slipped down from his lap. “Hercules is right, actually. You must see that.”

Richard took in a deep breath, commanding himself to think about things that appalled him. Like Lady Whitemouth in a night chemise. His cock started to calm down.

“How are the children doing?” he asked Jane.

And it was worth all the effort because Jane’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “The children are making good progress. I’m very pleased. Most importantly, they’re also enjoying themselves.”