Page 90

He made a great show of crossing his arms over his chest and frowning as if in contemplation. “Will you make my life miserable if I disagree with you?”

“Not as long as you have a good reason.” She tried not to smile.

He leaned back to sit on his bed, and she found that incredibly distracting, as she remembered what had happened in that bed. And the scene afterward, where she’d seen him naked.

“Are you going to lose your thoughts when we marry?” he asked.

“You’re very distracting,” she said primly.

“I can be more distracting.”

His gaze wandered down her leisurely, and she found herself wishing she were wearing her own clothing, which showed off her figure.

As if he hadn’t touched everything already.

“So what about our marriage?” he asked, a half-smile on his lips.

For a moment, with John looking at her, her mind went totally and completely blank. “I cannot believe you’ve done this to me,” she murmured. “I should be thinking about the danger Philip is walking into. I should be wondering how to handle a man so desperate for approval that he imprisoned you⁠—”

He walked toward her slowly, and put his hands on her waist. “Nay, I will take care of that.”

“Is that how it will be when we’re married? You’ll want to protect me from everything?”

“If I was the kind to keep secrets, you wouldn’t know the condition Rame Castle is in.”

“If I remember correctly, you didn’t immediately tell me that.”

He grinned. “That’s because I thought I was talking to Anne.”

She frowned, knowing that she could not protest. “And when we are married, you promise to tell me everything.”

“Everything.”

“Even if something happens while you’re at Parliament?”

“You’ll know everything I know. I’ll send so many missives, my courier will be sick of us.”

“You think I’m too controlling, don’t you.” She almost pouted, and was annoyed with herself.

“You can control me all you want,” he said softly. “Just tell me where you want my hand.”

She felt a little thrill go through her, and then was embarrassed at the same time. No man wanted to be overruled by a woman. He would be off in London, she would remain here, at Alderley, in charge of everything that mattered to her. That was how she’d always dreamed it would be. And he had his dreams too, of bringing his skills and fame to England. But as an earl, surely he would not have the time he’d once had for such adventures.

She would miss him, she realized suddenly. She had been separated from him for mere hours, and it had taught her the ache of the absence of him.

He was still waiting for an order, and the mischievous look in his eyes teased her.

“Put your hand…on my cheek,” she said, lifting her chin in a challenge.

He grabbed her backside and squeezed.

She gasped, and in trying to get away from his hand, only pushed herself even closer to the rest of his body.

His very aroused body.

He leaned over her as if to bestow a kiss.

She quickly said, “Nay, I have not permitted such a thing. You may kiss me”—she thought about a safe spot, then pointed to her forehead—“here.”