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Seth slowed as he crossed the road toward her family’s townhouse. He paused briefly and drew in a long breath in an attempt to still his beating heart. He hardly remembered the walk here. Nor the process behind the decision to come and see her. All he knew was that when Pru had mentioned that her parents were out visiting with cousins, he’d found the desire to see her tonight too much. Pru’s raven black hair and large brown eyes beckoned in his mind. After that kiss, after touching her…

After recognizing her response, he had to do something about this. Desire flowed freely through him every damned time he saw her and today had been no different. Even though she’d tried to keep things formal at the library, he’d felt the heat simmering between them. Each look his way had sizzled with desire, and he was certain she’d been thinking of yesterday at the castle just as much as he had.

Night had begun to settle over the streets of London while the golden glow of lamplight shone from windows—warm and inviting. A light breeze rustled the trees that lined the opposite side of the street but it hardly touched the heat blazing inside him.

He stepped up to the front door, hesitating. His heart thrummed in his chest. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the bell. The seconds dragged by at an agonizing pace as he waited in the cold.

The door rattled open and Pru herself appeared behind it.

Seth’s breath was snatched away. Her hair was loose, spilling down her back as if she had just brushed it out, even though it was early in the evening. Her pale cheeks grew pink as she examined him. “Seth,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

Seth removed his top hat, bowing slightly forward. “I need to speak with you.” It was a flimsy excuse, though not necessarily untrue. He did need to speak to her. And touch her. Maybe kiss her too. The woman was driving him wild, and he needed to put an end to this.

Ifshe would have him of course…

She tucked a strand of dark hair behind an ear. “Could it not have waited until tomorrow?”

“Certainly not,” Seth said, stepping closer to her.

It was highly irregular, he knew. But her lips looked especially captivating today, and he yearned for the intimacy of being alone together.

She opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again. She peered behind him as if afraid someone might be spying on them. “Very well,” she said. “Come right in.”

He stepped through the entryway and she led him to the drawing room, where she motioned to one of the chairs. He sat, and she followed suit, eyeing him from across the room, her hands folded neatly in her lap.

Silence hovered between them. This was ridiculous. He knew what his purpose was in coming here and he knew how to proposition a woman. He’d done it many a time. But, of course, none of those women had been like Pru. The urge to touch her soft skin led him to stand, taking a seat in the chair next to hers.

She stiffened, narrowing her eyes at him. “What are you doing?”

“That kiss, Pru.”

“What about it?”

“You enjoyed it.”

“Well…I…yes, of course but…” She stared at her hands.

“I know you want to be kissed again.”

She blushed but didn’t deny it. Seth knew it was true. If he hadn’t ended their time at the castle together, she’d have let him take her. And as much as he had wanted that, he respected her too much to lie her down in the dirt. But it left him in no doubt she was attracted to him and wanted the same thing he did – to become entangled in a passion play that left them both breathless.

Encouraged, he moved closer, gently taking her hand in his. “You had to have known I would come,” he said quietly. “After I heard you were here alone…”

She stood, walking away from him, twisting her hands in front of her. “You should leave,” she said quietly.

But Seth wasn’t about to leave. Not yet. He slowly approached her. She was facing the fireplace, her proud back to him. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and held her close against him. She stiffened but didn’t move to resist.

“Is that really what you want?” he whispered in her ear. She was frozen, but he could hear the catch in her breath as he lowered his hands to rest on her hips.

Hot blood pumping through his veins, he lowered his lips to the nape of her neck, lightly kissing her pale skin.

She jumped, slightly, then relaxed against him, letting go of a shuddering breath.

“It’s been so long…” she murmured.

“I know,” he said, continuing to press delicate kisses along her neck.

Seth didn’t know what her sex life was like with her past husband. He didn’t care. He knew how to please a woman, and that was what he intended to do to Pru.