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Taking one last look at Mrs. Bremford, who was leaning over some rare rose shrubs, James grabbed Diana’s hand. He led her off the path, his grip firm but gentle, and guided her between two towering hedges. And Diana let herself be carried away.

He pulled aside the cascading wisteria to hide them. The moment they were away from inquisitive eyes, he didn’t even hesitate. He was starving for her, and he wasn’t going to deny himself the nourishment he needed.

He cupped her face, and his body folded to reach her lips. He knew that it wasn’t going to be slow, but this kind of whirlwind caught him by surprise. His tongue found its way to hers in a wet, hard kiss that made him growl. His hands dropped to her waist, and he pulled her flush against him, not even air separating them.

“James,” she gasped as she felt his hardness.

His lips fell on her neck, to that spot he memorized, that spot that made her whimper and tremble in his arms. His fingers fluttered over the neckline of her dress, and he bit her lower lip softly.

“Oh, I feel like I am unwrapping a present, Diana,” he whispered in her ear.

Her fingers curled into his coat, gripping it hard. How responsive she was to his touch, as if she were made the way he liked. His fingers brushed the edge of her sleeve, his thumb pressing into the fabric, ready to pull?—

“I bet you were spoiled as a child,” Diana said between sighs.

James froze. There was something in the way she said it. It wasn’t just a jab. He leaned back and looked at her. Her lips were swollen, and her cheeks were flushed. Her chest rose and fell with deep breaths, and he could see how her breasts ached for his touch.

She wanted this, wanted him. But her eyes…

“Diana,” he murmured, slow and careful. “What are you doing?”

She blinked up at him, all wide-eyed innocence.

Diana did a lot of things, from being blatantly honest to downright hurling insults, but feigning innocence? Never.

“Just making conversation, My Lord.”

James studied her. His instincts, the ones that never failed him, the ones that had kept him alive in every game of wit and power he had ever played, were whispering now.

Something wasn’t right.

He straightened on purpose to intimidate her. And it worked. Diana swallowed.

Oh, there is something she is not telling me.

“Just conversation, My Lady?” he asked pointedly. “And what would you like to know?”

“Just… I was… You know that I am an orphan too, and it just hit me that you?—”

“Now? While I was kissing you, that thought crossed your mind?” James taunted. “I think I should be offended.”

Diana looked away for a second. For her to back away from a battle meant that she was mustering her courage for aseriousattack.

“I was thinking that this loss connected us. And then I thought that you at least have your father.”

James felt a cold shiver crawl up his spine. Why was she mentioning his father?

He tilted his head and looked into her eyes. Diana avoided his gaze.

For the first time since they met, Diana was lying to him. A sharp pain gripped him.

“Diana!” he pressed.

She had the decency to respect him enough and stop playing around. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and looked him right in the eyes.

That is my Diana.

The fire inside him died down.