Page 124 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Eve closed her fingers around his shirt and shifted on his lap. His erection, hard and insistent, dug into the soft flesh of her buttocks. He stiffened as if in pain, then his kiss turned fierce. Eve was startled to realize he'd liked it when she'd shifted on his lap. His mouth ravaged hers, and her mind whirled, but she focused through the gray and wiggled on his lap. The fingers in her hair tightened and he pulled her head back while his mouth skimmed across her cheek. She wiggled more ardently. The arm around her waist gripped her more firmly and pressed her buttocks hard against him. She wiggled again and he hissed a breath.

His lips touched her ear. "You are very naughty, madam."

The words combined with his husky voice made her body heat like molten lava.

“I stand ready to play backgammon with you anytime you please,” he whispered.

Holy God, if this was how he played backgammon, she wanted to play every day.

He released a slow sigh. His breath washed over her ear and neck, and sent a shiver down her arms. He held her close for a long moment, then drew in a deep breath, his chest rising then lowering with the release.

"Will you go riding with me tomorrow?" he asked.

He was asking about riding...tomorrow, on his wedding night...at this moment?

"Riding?" she repeated.

He drew back and looked down at her. “It isn’t Hyde Park, and we will not be seen by the ton, but Mull is quite beautiful.”

“As I told you, I care nothing for Society.”

“So you did.” He seemed to hesitate, then sat her upright and lifted her off his lap and onto the carpet.

She sat while he retrieved the board and pieces and put them back into the table. He put the table back in its place against the wall, then came back to where she sat.

“It is nearly five thirty in the morning. We had best get some rest.”

Her heart raced. She nodded. He pulled her to her feet, kissed her gently, then turned and started toward the door.

Eve stood frozen, uncertain what to do. “Where are you going?” she blurted.

He stopped and turned. “To bed.”

“But—” She looked helplessly at him. “Downstairs in the alcove, you said you intended to—” She broke off, unable to say the words.

He smiled gently. “That was perhaps unfair of me.”

Eve stiffened. “I see.”

“I doubt that you do, love.”

Why did he call her words like that?

“Tomorrow morning we will ride together.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

For an instant, it seemed he would say something, but he didn’t. Instead, he left. And Eve sat alone in the room.