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“L et me touch you, now,” he said as his hand moved up her thigh to that secret place only she had touched before. The breath caught in her throat as he ran a finger down the soft folds between her legs. His thumb brushed the hard bud and this time it was Evie who shuddered.

“Just feel, my sweet.” He kissed her again.

Hard and deep, while his fingers stroked her.

One pushed inside her tight, wet sheath, and the tension rose, then another finger and she let out a shuddering moan and came apart.

His lips silenced her cries as his hands continued to torment her until he had teased every tremor from her body.

“Oh my,” Evie said easing back. “That was wonderful.”

“It was,” he said walking her back in his arms until her legs hit the sofa.

“Be sure, Evie.” His hands cupped her face. “There is no going back once we do this.”

“I’m sure.” She leaned in to kiss him. “Make love to me, Anthony.”

He removed his breeches, and Evie looked at the hard length of his arousal. She felt fear, but so much more. This man wanted her, as she wanted him. Her fiancé. Evie had thought never to experience this, what could lie between a man and a woman, but now she was…always would with him.

“Can I touch you?”

His laugh sounded strangled. “I’m not sure I can take you touching me right now, my sweet.”

Evie stroked a finger over the crown of his erection, and Anthony moaned. He let her explore him for a few more seconds before stopping her. He then changed their positions and sat on the sofa.

“Straddle my thighs, Evie. I can’t wait any longer to have you.”

He pulled her down so her legs were on either side of his, exposing her to his touch.

“Christ, I want you so much.” He cupped her face and kissed her softly. “This will hurt you, Evie, but only this one time, I promise.”

She nodded.

Anthony kissed his way to her breasts again and slowly licked each, taking the time to suck on her nipples until she was panting once more. Only then did he tell her to rise on her knees.

She did as he directed and felt the smooth, hard edge of his erection pressing at her entrance.

“Slowly, sweetheart.” He guided her down onto his shaft.

The tip penetrated, and then she was lowering herself onto him.

Muscles stretched, and Evie felt pain, but so much more.

She wanted this as much as her next breath.

To feel the man she loved deep inside her brought tears to her eyes.

With a final thrust he took her innocence.

Anthony was hers, as she was now his.

“Evie?” He whispered the words into her hair as he held her still against him.

“I-I’m all right, Anthony. Please don’t stop.”

His laugh was hoarse, and then he was moving inside her. Easing her up and back down as he took her slowly until that wonderful tension climbed inside her again.

“Anthony!”

“Let go, Evie.” He thrust into her again and again until they both found their release.

Breathless, he lay back, taking her with him. Evie rested on his chest as a wave of exhaustion swept over her. One of his hands cupped her head, the other slipped around her waist. She knew it would now always be her favorite place to lie.

Evie felt her eyes close. As she lay there listening to his breathing, the delicious pull of slumber lured her under.

*

“No!”

The roar had her eyes opening. She was still lying on Anthony. Sitting upright she eased off him. His head was rolling from side to side, in the grip of some kind of nightmare.

“Stop, please stop!” The words were hoarse and desperate, almost as if he was in pain.

“Anthony, it’s all right now. Wake up.”

He struck out, connecting with her shoulder, sending her to the floor with a shriek of surprise.

“Evie?” He rose on his elbows, looking for her.

“Yes, it’s me.” She climbed to her feet. “You were dreaming.”

She watched him blink several times.

“Why were you on the floor?”

“You were having a nightmare and—”

“I hit you?”

“It was an accident, Anthony.”

“No!” He got up, backing away from her as she reached for him. “No,” he said, this time softly, and to Evie it sounded like a vow. He then grabbed his clothes and began to dress.

“Anthony, what’s going on? Talk to me.” She touched his arm, but he pulled away as if she’d struck him.

“Please talk to me.” Evie could hear the desperation in her voice.

He turned to face her only after he was finished, his expression empty, face pale.

“I don’t want to marry you.”

“P-pardon?” Evie whispered, stunned. “You said our engagement was now real, and what we just did—”

“No, I’ve changed my mind. I have no wish to marry.”

His words were cold and hard. If he’d struck her, the shock would have been no less.

“You don’t mean that, Anthony. What we shared, just did—”

“Dress now and go back to the house.” He cut off her words.

This couldn’t be happening. She had reached the gentle man who had just made love to her. This wasn’t him, and she refused to believe what he’d said. He did want to marry her.

“Anthony, what is going on?” Evie pulled on her chemise, and then her dress, as he remained silent. “Please. You owe me that much.”

“I owe you nothing more than what was in our agreement. After the season is over, we will never see each other again, and both continue with our lives. I will pay your sister’s dowry, if that is what it takes to end this.”

She didn’t flinch at the cruelty of those words like she wanted to, nor wrap her arms around her waist to stop the pain. Because Evie was strong and, in that moment, she would use her pride as a shield for as long as she could.

Something had happened while he slept. A memory of past pain that had him pushing her away.

Evie also knew, looking at his tight closed expression, he would not listen to any words she spoke right now.

She tamped down the rush of panic that he never would and that what demons haunted him would keep him from her forever.

She needed to say what she must and leave before the promise of tears became a torrent down her cheeks. No way did she want him to sneer at her for weeping, which in his current mood he would.

“I don’t know what happened, Anthony, or what that nightmare was about, but I am no fool and know that you were serious when you said you wanted our marriage to be real.”

“I—”

“Just as I know the man who kissed and touched me. The man who was so gentle when he took my innocence is not the cold one standing before me now.”

“Don’t profess to know me, Miss Spencer, I—”

“But if you are too much of a coward,” she cut him off, “to face whatever that was, or let me help you fight your demons by your side, then so be it. I will not beg.”

“I don’t need anyone’s help. What I need is for you to leave.” His words cut through her with the accuracy of a blade.

But Evie made herself look him in the eye. “You are a liar and a coward, Anthony, but if you wish to live your life in lonely isolation, then do so. But if you change your mind—”

“I won’t,” he snapped turning his back on her.

“And wish to speak to me again,” she continued as if he hadn’t uttered a word, “it will be only when you tell me the truth, because I deserve a man who is brave enough to do that. I deserve for the man I love to love me back.”

She had the satisfaction of watching his head spin to look at her and walked out the door with hers held high.

Once she was sure Anthony could no longer see her, Evie picked up her skirts and ran back to the house. Reaching her room, breathless, she stepped inside and allowed the first tear to fall. Seconds later, she realized she was not alone as the tip of something sharp pressed into her neck.

“Don’t move or make a sound, Miss Spencer, or I will slit your throat and then go across the hall and do the same to your sister. Do you understand?”

Evie nodded, heart thudding so hard in her chest it was painful.

“Light your candle, and then walk to the dressing table, where you will find a note. Write those words on the blank paper next to it.” He spoke in a hoarse whisper in her right ear.

She had no idea who the man was, as he was behind her. But what she knew was that the blade in her neck was sharp.

“Hurry.”

The knife pressed into her spine now, as she lit the candle, and then moved to the dressing table. Sitting, Evie picked up the pen and wrote. Her fingers shook as she read the words on the note beside her.

Think, Evie . She had to alert Prue somehow that she’d written this note under duress.

“Hurry.” The knife dug into her spine, the small sting of pain telling her it had gone through her clothes to pierce her skin.

Dear Prudance,

I could not wed a man like Lord Hamilton when I love another. We have run away together. Please understand and forgive me. I love you and papa always.

Your loving sister Evanngalline.

Evie knew he was watching every word she put on the paper. Leaning over her shoulder to ensure she followed his orders.

“That’s not how you spell your name,” he said.

“When I correspond with my sister, it is.”

The sound of a door banging had him dragging her back to her feet.

“Fold it and place it on the pillow. Make haste.”

Evie pretended to trip. One hand tugged her necklace free as he grabbed her and then pushed her to the bed. After placing the note and the necklace on the pillow, she prayed he didn’t look.

“Hurry. Open the door and tell me if it is clear. Remember, if you try and alert anyone, I will kill you and then your sister.”

“It is clear,” Evie whispered.

“Walk to the servants’ entrance and take the stairs down. Hurry.”

She did as he asked. The man knew exactly where he was going, which told her he was a guest or one of the staff.

When they reached the kitchens, she looked around, hoping to see anyone.

A movement caught her eye, but before she could search further, the man pushed her forward, clearly not seeing what she had.

She had to escape, because if she didn’t, Evie knew she’d never see her family again. Anthony . She wouldn’t think about him now. There was too much pain there.

When they were outside, he pushed her around the house. They took a path through the gardens before reaching the stables.

“Do not even contemplate making a noise,” he said. “I am not alone, and I will have your sister killed while she slumbers.”

The thought of anyone touching Prue had Evie biting her bottom lip to stay silent.

She saw the carriage waiting for them on the dark drive. The door was open, and the man urged her toward it.

Panic gripped her. If she got in that carriage, she would die.

She had to escape now and run back to the house before him.

Evie stopped suddenly, then lashed out backward with her foot.

The grunt told her she had reached her intended target.

She fled, but someone grabbed her before she’d taken two steps.

Then they dragged her back and into the carriage.

Forced down onto a seat, she fought to get free, but there were two men holding her now. Looking up she saw both wore masks so she could not identify them.

“Two gutless masked men,” she spat at them. “You will not get away with this!”

“Oh, but we will, Miss Spencer. And I will enjoy breaking you of this nasty habit you have. I believe it’s called spirit.”

A cloth closed over her mouth and nose. A vile stench filled her nostrils and suddenly her head felt light, and then she knew only darkness.