Page 46 of Rogue Lyon

“For tonight?”

He looked her in the eyes and kept hold of her hands.

“For tonight only?” she asked.

“It is what I can offer, Meredith, if you will take it.”

Indecision flashed in her eyes.

“I will make it good for you, so good. I know I can. And we will never breathe a word of it afterward. The indiscretion will evaporate at dawn.”

She glanced at the floor and then out of the window. Nibbled on her bottom lip.

“You are my wife, Mrs. Habsburg. Everyone here believes that. Let me be your husband, your adoring, passionate husband who simply cannot get enough of you.” He lowered his voice. “You will be calling out my name, writhing in the pleasure of release until the small hours. You have my word.”

She set her attention on him. The depth of her eyes were liquid desire and she was breathing quicker, her breasts shifting. “Jules. I…”

“Say yes.” He smiled and leaned closer. “One tiny word and our dreams will come true.”

Meredith practically floated across the hotel lobby toward the grand staircase.

But oh, what had she just done? He was right. One tiny word had thrown caution to the wind.

Again.

Not only that, but bolts that had been rusted against her heart for so long were freeing up and sliding open.

But only for him.

Jules Habsburg.

He nodded goodnight to a fellow guest as they made their way up the staircase. His hand on the small of her back felt both possessive and full of promise.

And in the depths of her mind, she knew this was it. Her one night before an eternity of spinsterhood. One night to really be alive. Jules had been honest; this was all he could give her and she’d never want another. Not now. Not now that she’d fallen for the scoundrel of the ton with all the grace of a brick hitting a puddle.

They came to their room and Jules unlocked the door.

Meredith stepped into the silence. The curtains were drawn but with a slight crack in the middle that let in the light of the streetlamps, and the bed had been turned back. She looked at it, knowing for once it was for more than sleeping.

He closed the door behind them and took off his jacket. Then he was behind her, his body heat warming her shoulders.

“Do not be afraid,” he murmured and pulled her hair to expose her neck. “This is about pleasure, nothing else.”

“I know.” That might be the case for him, but Meredith knew it was about love for her. That couldn’t be denied, not any longer.

His lips brushed her flesh and she trembled with longing. Her nipples tightened and she balled her hands into fists.

“Relax, I will guide you, my love.”

His words, and the use of love, allowed her to blow out a breath and tip her neck for more of his kisses. Each one, toward her ear sent new waves of desire rushing through her body. “Jules,” she gasped.

“You taste of all my favorite flavors,” he murmured. “I’m going to kiss you all over, every last inch. I will know all of you.”

A tremble went up her spine. Surely he didn’t mean that…but oh, what if he did?

His hands curled around her body and for a moment, he wound his fingers with hers, as though offering reassurance, and then he set to work on her bodice, slowly drawing the laces free so that it loosened around her ribs and then fell slack and gaped.

“You are perfect,” he whispered into the shell of her ear. “And I want to give you everything tonight. All the delights of the flesh.”