Page 67 of One Night with a Prince

He shoved his fingers through his hair. “Youdon’t have to—that’s the point. Just do your searching during safe hours.”

“And when would those be?”

“After everyone’s asleep, before the maids come round.”

“From 4 to 5A.M .? Don’t be absurd. I’d never find them at that rate.”

“Then at least make sure I’m with you when you go searching. We can always come up with some reason for being together in an odd part of the house.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You sneaky devil, that’s what this is about, isn’t it? You’re afraid I’ll find the letters when you’re not around. Then you won’t get your chance at them. So you’re trumping up this nonsense about the dangers—”

“I’m not trumping up anything!” He strode up to her, his eyes alight. “What did Stokely do while you were with him? Did he touch you, kiss you, caress you?”

“He kissed me, that’s all.”

His jaw grew taut. “Next time he finds you alone he’ll expect more, especially now that you implied you might be willing.”

He had a point. She thrust out her chin. “I’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t find me alone.”

“When you’re sleeping across the bloody hall from him?” he shouted. “He can creep into your room at any time of the day or night, for God’s sake!”

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“I’ll lock the door.”

“It’shis bloody house. He has keys to all the rooms, remember?”

“Then I’ll…I’ll put a chair under the door or—”

“You’ll sleep here, that’s what you’ll do,” he ordered. “You’ll sleep here with me, you’ll go out on your little searching exhibitions with me, you’ll—”

“For a man who doesn’t care about the women he beds, you’re beginning to sound very much like a jealous lover,” she said quietly. “Do you hear yourself?”

That brought him up short. “Don’t talk nonsense.” He raked his fingers through his hair again in increased agitation. “I’ve never been jealous of a woman in my life.”

“My mistake,” she bit out. “And now that we’ve settled that, I’ll return to my room.”

She got as far as opening the door before he slammed it shut. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying here where I can keep an eye on you.”

“Why?” she demanded. “Give me one good reason I should stay.”

“Because I want you here.”

“That isn’t—”

He cut her off with a kiss, angling his body in close to trap hers against the door. But this time she didn’t return it. This time she wanted more from him.

He was jealous and possessive of her, no matter what he’d claimed, and that meant he cared for her. But would he ever admit to feeling more for her than just desire? It suddenly seemed very important to make him admit it. To find out if there really was a warm-blooded, feeling creature buried deep inside the cold and calculating debaucher. A man with a soul. As if he sensed her withdrawal, he increased his erotic assault, letting his mouth drift down her jaw to her neck as his hands found the ties of her gown. “Stay with me tonight, my sweet.” His tongue traced the curve of her ear, sending her pulse racing. “Share my bed. Enough of this foolish abstinence.”

His hand slid inside her gown to thumb her nipple, and every muscle in her body came to life, wanting more. She choked down a sigh. “Admit that you were jealous when you saw me with Lord Stokely. Admit it, and I’ll stay.”

He paused in his caresses, then continued. “I won’t admit something that’s not true.” He worked the ties free, and she felt her gown fall off her shoulders.

“Why not? You could lie, and I’d never know the difference. Go ahead, lie.”

“I’m not going to bother lying about something as foolish as that,” he bit out. But he wouldn’t look at her as he shoved her chemise down far enough to bare her breast, then seized it in his mouth, sucking soGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlgreedily, it sparked her own greed. For him. Inher bed.

“You won’t…lie about it,” she choked out, “because you know it…wouldn’t be a lie.”