Kerrigan.”
“K,” I blurted out. “People call me K.”
“I’m not most people. Nor am I looking for an arranged marriage with someone who thinks I’d force myself on her.” He tapped the edge of his glass and waited for me to respond.
“I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I just thought after…” I stopped short of letting another assumption slip.
“Yes?” he prompted.
“Nothing,” I said with a swallow. “‘I suppose none of this matters if you don’t want to marry me anymore.”
“I didn’t say that. Regardless of your father’s concerns, I expect to move forward according to their wishes.” He paused, giving time for this to sink in. When I didn’t respond, he continued, “I simply want this to progress on our terms.”
“What if our terms are different?”
“I expect they will be, so let me be frank. If we’re going to marry each other, there are a few things we need to get clear on, Kerrigan.” He emphasized the name, letting each syllable drip suggestively off his wicked tongue. It made me wish it was mine. “This is a merger of two powerful families. We both need something from one another. I’m content to give your family the title and reputation your parents are after. Your family’s wealth will help shore up various estates that need a cash influx. In those ways, this is an arranged marriage. But I have no interest in forcing you to do anything but be a good wife.”
My mouth went dry at the suggestion in those words. “And how will I do that?”
“Smile. Be pretty. Hold a conversation in private and your tongue in public.” He paused as if giving me time to process this.
“You assume we’ll go to bed together, but you don’t want to sleep with me? ” I asked in confusion. A ripple of displeasure rolled through me and landed between my legs. My traitorous body didn’t seem confused about this development. It seemed upset as if it had feelings and I was ignoring them. My skin wanted his hands on me. My thighs wanted his fingers to dip between them.
“Any man would like to fuck his wife, especially if she were as beautiful as you are.”
My eyes flashed and found the ground as heat crept over my cheeks.
“Don’t act coy,” he advised. “You must know you’re beautiful. So the answer to your question is no. I want to sleep with you. I plan to sleep with you and so much more.”
“I don’t understand,” I admitted, finally daring to look up at him. This whole night was supposed to be about sealing the deal, but I felt more like I was running in circles. Spencer had sent me spinning—spiraling into a heady state of agitation. My skin felt too tight. It prickled with hot awareness the longer I stayed in his presence.
“Some men get off on forcing women.” He picked an invisible bit of lint off his sleeve before turning his dark eyes on me. “I do not. Quite the opposite, actually. I’d like to fuck you, Kerrigan, but only when you beg me for it.”
I opened my mouth to respond but no words came out. Instead, I swallowed. Spencer rose to his feet and took two steps toward me. There was nothing predatory in his approach. Instead, he moved toward me with a casual ease that said he knew that I wanted him, too. His hands slid into his pockets and he tilted his head, an amused smile curving across his handsome face.
I found myself frozen to the spot, wishing that he would act. I’d known my virginity was a thing of the past when I’d agreed to the arrangement with Tod Belmond. It’s why I had lied about it in the first place. I’d expected Spencer to simply take it based on what I’d been told about the situation. I’d prepared myself for that. Now it was like he expected me to crawl onto a silver platter and spread my legs.
Spencer finally spoke, his voice low as though he didn’t want to be overheard. “Do you know why I have no interest in forcing you?” He walked around me like he was surveying an object in an art gallery. He paused behind me and I felt one finger trace down my bare shoulder.
“No,” I whispered.
He stepped closer, leaving only a small gap between us. His breath was warm on my neck and every inch of my body was aware of him even though the only place we touched was where the pad of