A Rogues Proposal

"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 spi

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 spi

"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 su

His lips twisted. "I thought I was safe-that I had defenses in place, strong and inviolable, far too steely for any mere woman to break through. And none did, not for years." He paused. "Until you.

"I can't remember inviting you in, or ever opening the gates-I just turned around one day and you were there-a part of me." He hesitated, studying her eyes, then his face hardened, his voice deepened. "I don't know what will convince you, but I won't ever let you go. You're mine-the only woman I could ever imagine marrying. You can share my life. You know a hock from a fetlock-you know as much about riding as I do. You can be a partner in my enterprises, not a distant spectator standing at the periphery. You'll stand at the center of it all, by my side.

"And I'll want you there always, by my side-in the ton as much as at Newmarket. I want to build a life with you-to have a home with you, to have children with you."

He paused; Flick held her breath, very conscious of the steely tension investing his muscles, of the brutal strength holding her gently trapped, of the power in his voice, in his eyes, so totally focused on her.

Releasing her hand, he tucked one stray curl back behind her ear. "That's what you mean to me." The words were gravelly, raw, compelling. "You're the one I want-now and forever. The only future I want lies with you."

Demon drew breath and looked into her eyes, and saw tears welling bright against the blue. He inwardly quaked, unsure if they meant victory or defeat. He swallowed and asked, his voice barely audible, "Have I convinced you?"

She searched his face, then smiled-glowed. "I'll tell you tomorrow."

His hands, one at her waist, the other at her hip, tightened-he forced them to relax. Disappointment welled, but… she seemed happy. Deeply content. If anything, her glow had reached new heights, new depths.

He studied her eyes, hard to read in the silvery light, then forced himself to nod. "I'll call on you midmorning." He raised her hand and pressed an ardent kiss to her palm. If he had to wait, that was all he dared do.

Steeling himself, he eased his arms from her.

Instantly, she clutched-her eyes flew wide.

"No! Don't go!" Flick locked her eyes on his. "I want you with me tonight."

She didn't want to tell him her decision in words-she could never match his exposition. She intended telling him in a more direct fashion-in a ma

He grimaced lightly. "Flick, sweetheart, much as I want you, this is my parents' house, and-"

She cut him off with a kiss-the most potent one she could muster.

Long before she stopped for breath, Demon had forgotten the point of his argument-he'd lost the reins of their carriage long ago. The only point he was capable of contemplating lay at the juncture of her thighs, but… deeply ingrained honor forced him to pull back, catch his breath-

She touched him.

Inexpertly, not firmly enough-but she was learning. He shuddered, groaned-and caught her hand. "Flick-!"

She wriggled-he had to move quickly to catch her other hand before she reduced him to quivering helplessness.