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“Do not act all innocent.” He snatched her before she could back away, forcing a laugh from her. Holding her close, he let his breath dance across her neck and cheek. “You know what sort of kiss I meant.”

“Seth…” The word might have been meant as a protest but it dissolved, puffed away by the intensity of his gaze. Maybechoosing to become his lover had been a mistake, maybe she was lining herself up for heartbreak.

At present, she did not much care.

His lips sealed over hers, hot and intense. She gripped his neck with both hands and clung on, as though he was the only thing keeping her from falling. Prudence kissed him back fiercely, taking everything he gave her and more. Part of her felt like it would be a last kiss. They had so little time left. That thought made tears burn behind her eyes, and she gripped him tight in an attempt to seal him in her memory. This man should be entirely inappropriate for her and yet he was perfect in every way. He had become her best friend, her greatest champion, and her lover.

Lord, she was going to miss him.

He lifted her up, notching her against his arousal. She sucked in a breath and tipped her head back as she latched her legs around him. He kissed her hard and stumbled backward until her back met the rungs of a ladder. He settled her on a wrung, the perfect angle with which to torture her with his erection. Rocking against her as he kissed her, he kept her pinned with his forceful movements until the sensations between her legs burned. His arousal rubbed again and again through the fabric of their clothes until she could take no more.

She opened her eyes and peered up at him the moment the pleasure broke. A silent cry escaped her, trapped by the passion in his eyes. She sagged into his arms, and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. She felt his lips curve against her skin.

“I thought…” She drew in a ragged breath. “I thought you said you only wanted a kiss.”

“Well, I changed my mind.” He drew back a little. “Think you can concentrate now?”

“I was not the one struggling to concentrate,” she protested.

“Liar.”

She glanced down to where his arousal tented his breeches. “I think you are the one who shall struggle even more now.”

“Can I help it if you are irresistible?”

Heat rolled into her cheeks. If he kept flattering her so much, she would not be held responsible for whatever happened to her heart. It would be so easy to—

No, she did not need to think about that.

Standing, she straightened her skirts and gave him what she hoped was a sassy look. “Perhaps we can deal with your little…problem later.”

“Enough with the little.”

“Very well.” She grinned. “Your very big problem. Your exceedingly, impressively big problem.”

“Ah, Pru, you do know how to flatter a man.” He gave her a swift kiss. “It is not the first time I have had this problem and it will not be the last, but I would not complain if you let me take you to bed once we are done here and ensure the problem is fully solved.”

Her stomach bunched in a swirl of excitement. Who would have thought she, the dull, old Prudence Hastings would be leaping into bed with such an infamous rake? Her family had been right, she supposed. She did need a life outside of the library. Whatever happened between them once this was over, she refused to regret her decisions. At least she could go fully into spinsterhood knowing she had bedded this amazing man.

“Come, let us continue.” She took his hand and led him back to the books.

Settling next to him, she pored through the stack she had picked up, reading through previous cases and any other interesting snippets she could find.

“You know, Pru—”

The door to the library opened and a gentleman stepped in ushered by the librarian. Seth swung a look her way that told her he did not much appreciate the interruption. But Pru could only think how close they had been to getting caught. Goodness, what a scandalous woman she had become. Before long she was going to end up in those gossip columns next to his name, and she hardly knew what to think about that.

She forced her attention back to the books until her head ached. Seth slipped a hand across her thigh, making her whole body tighten while the gentleman sat across from them, reading some large tome that she could not make out the title of. She swung a warning look Seth’s way, but he ignored her, giving her thigh a squeeze and letting his fingers dance dangerously high up her thigh.

She clamped her legs together, trapping his fingers between her thighs, and shooting him a triumphant look.

“If you think I am unhappy about my hand being there,” he whispered. “You are entirely wrong.”

“I thought you said you were going to concentrate.”

“I tried, but it was too hard with you around.”

“Lord, anyone would think you wanted to be forced into marriage, Seth.” She shook her head. “If we do not find something quickly, you really shall have to pluck a woman off the shelf and marry her.”