were finally alone.
With a mischievous grin, Morgan led me into the blue parlor, firmly shutting the door behind us. "What are you trying to do? Ruin me?" I teased. It was freeing to joke about it.
With a predatory gleam in his eye, he stalked forward, his eyes raking over me, sending shivers throughout my body. "Since I already had, according to the gossip, I thought it would be prudent of me to at least do a thorough job of it," he remarked casually, but there was nothing casual about his eyes. They were blue fire.
"Oh, really? What makes you think I'm the type of woman who would go so willingly into your arms?" I backed up, fighting a grin in spite of the heated feel of the room. As much as I had hurt the past week, I was free from it now. The simple joy of knowing I was going to marry Morgan erased the pain and replaced it with pleasure, hope, and joy.
He stopped and raised his eyebrow. "You aren't," he replied seriously. "And that is simply one of the many considerable and at times very aggravating reasons I love you," he provoked as he drew closer. His last words came as a whisper against my lips. My backwards motion stopped as I hit the desk behind me.
"I see," I replied, my eyes locking with his.
"But…" he added as the teasing light in his eyes began to burn brightly.
"Yes?" I asked with a small smile.
"But soon you won't have anywhere to run except to me."
His head descended and he brushed a light kiss across my lips, making me ache for more. He drew back slightly, and an amused grin drew up the corners of his mouth. "That, my love, is the most exquisite kind of anticipation. And I'll be counting down the days, hours and minutes till you're truly mine." He pressed a kiss to my jaw, and my eyes slanted closed in pleasure as I moaned softly.
He stiffened before continuing his sweet seduction. Even if he kissed me each hour of every day, I'd never tire of his ardent affection. "I love you," he whispered just before he kissed me gently, parting my lips and teasing my lower lip with his tongue. He drew back, and the loss of his touch created a physical pain. His intent gaze was flickering with restrained passion. "And mine you will be," he swore as he cupped the back of my neck in his powerful hand and pulled me into a fierce kiss that made me forget my name.
Over and over his mouth ravaged mine until the corners of my lips were tender, but I didn't care. I never wanted him to stop kissing me, to leave. The pain of loving and loss was nothing compared to the powerful sensation of being loved fully and being pursued as Morgan had pursued me, even when I had been rendered unapproachable. He broke the seal of our lips, gasping for air as he threaded his fingers through mine.
"I have to leave," he groaned.
"No," I begged, irrational fear hitting me. What if it had all been a dream?
"Yes." His eyes met mine, and I saw self-control warring against his desire. Part of me wanted to be reckless, but I knew that threatening his control and taking that step would be not only reckless, but also harmful. Both of us would regret it later, and I wanted nothing to hinder our love. Lust's passion could have full reign later, and reign it would.
"When will you be back?" I asked, tracing his features with my fingers, memorizing the texture of his rugged skin and the bristle of his evening shadow of a beard.
His eyes closed, and when he spoke, it was a in a low timbre. "Not nearly soon enough." He kissed me again, ardently. Then, pushing me away gently, he took a deep breath. "Tomorrow, love, tomorrow," he promised.
"Morning?" I asked, remembering the same response I had given him at Drury Lane Theater.
He grinned. "Morning. Always the morning, love." He took a step toward me and caressed my cheek before kissing it lightly and striding to the door.
Chapter Eighteen
After the emotional roller coaster of the day, I wandered into the library on my way upstairs. I walked over to the fire and held out my hands to its blazing warmth when I noticed Persuasion still sitting out on the side table. I picked it up and flipped through the pages, looking for Nanna's note. Once