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There were three in the shape of a drop at the top of her head, glittering more than the others, making her eyes shine in turn.

“What about ‘Diamond?’” he suggested quietly.

I am becoming a romantic fool.

Alicia smiled. “Are you beginning to grow fond of her? That is the only way I will permit you to name her.”

“I could hardly avoid her when she is in my house, no matter how muchyouavoidme.”

Her head snapped back to him from where she had been looking out the window, and she blushed. “You were being a beast.”

“Hm,” he said, moving his leg so that it brushed her calf.

Alicia was already trembling as he leaned forward, losing the battle with himself and putting his hands on either side of her hips.

“I apologize for my conduct the other day,” he said, leaning in further so their faces were inches apart. “Iwasrather rude.”

“You were,” she said, anger simmering beneath each word.

“Whatever can I do to make it up to you?”

She shuddered. “I do not know.”

“Mm?”

His hand moved to her waist, stroking the silky fabric of her dress as the other slid from the bottom of her corset to the juncture between her thighs.

The many layers of fabric prevented him from fully enjoying the sensation, but from the way her hips bucked against his fingers, he knew she was enjoying it just as much as he did.

“Perhaps,” she said softly, “I shall get her a diamond collar.”

He pushed deeper into the folds as her breath hitched.

“It would look so good against her fur.”

Seth longed to push his hand beneath her skirt and feel her as he had done before. He moved his mouth along her jaw, running his teeth over her skin as she shivered and trembled beneath him.

“What about… what about ‘Dove?’” she asked breathlessly. “You love birds, after all, and she is pure white as a dove.”

He licked along the long vein at her neck, and she fell back in her seat as his fingers delved deeper through the fabric.

Seth was a moment away from turning the carriage around, desperate desire overwhelming him as he began rocking his hips against hers.

I want to claim her, own her, and never let her go.

His fingers stilled, a wave of fear crashing over him at the thought.

He could not allow himself to feel such things for her. They could never be anything to one another—he could desire her, but nothing deeper than that could exist between them.

Reluctantly, he pulled back, releasing her as she panted. She cleared her throat as she pulled herself upright.

Seth kept his smile soft, hiding the turmoil his mind had conjured within him.

“Dove is a good name,” he said tenderly. “We used to have them on the estate, but the dovecot was blown down in a storm.”

“We should get another,” she replied breathlessly.

He adjusted his breeches and settled back in his chair.