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Or they could place one last bet…
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Mirabelle pacedabout her room in her night rail. She’d never been less tired. It had been an exhausting day, so by all rights, she should be.
But tonight in Ken’s lap had been just…
And he’d promised more time like that soon. More time kissing and touching.
She looked about the room. She’d live here? With Ken? As his wife? She didn’t know what more she’d hoped for, but now she couldn’t think of a thing.
Somewhere recently, his love and affection seemed infinitely more valuable than the adoration of anyone else. Her breath hitched as she began pacing again.
Mirabelle ought to have told him how she felt. Instead, she’d been so caught up in his kisses, she’d hardly gotten out a word.
A soft knock sounded and she spun about, taking several steps toward the door before she stopped again, fingering the loose plait in her hair. “Who is it?”
“It’s me,” came Ken’s soft reply.
She gasped. She had no idea why he’d come to her room in the night, but she wasn’t certain she cared, either. Rushing to the door, she wrenched it open and then pulled him inside with her other hand, closing the door quickly behind them.
Spinning about, she was in his arms before she could even ask a question. He caught her easily against his chest, pulling her close.
Their abdomens pressed together, her breasts flattening against his hard muscles as her fingers threaded up into his hair. Did she ask what he was doing here first or just kiss him?
She chose the latter, pushing up on her toes to press her mouth to his.
His tongue ran along the seam of her mouth, the passion from earlier quickly reigniting. But after a long-heated kiss, he pulled away. “I need to speak with you.”
She sighed in disappointment. Now that she knew she wanted him, she was having the most difficult time holding back. “What is it?”
“Something’s happened.”
Alarm zinged through her. “Is anyone hurt?” She tightened her grip on his neck as his hand spread out across her back.
“Everyone is safe.” His voice took on that soothing tone. “But the man who came today is most likely the solicitor who bought the Den of Sins, and apparently, he used a fake identity. It doesn’t bode well for whatever happens next, and Ace and I have discussed the situation at length—we agree that you and I…” He grimaced and she already knew where this was leading.
“Tell me.”
“We should marry,” he said, holding her eyes with an apologetic tilt to his chin.
She opened her mouth to tell him the truth. She had wanted to wait, but now she understood that her place was next to him. Wherever that was…
But she didn’t have a chance. Before she could say a word of it, he rushed ahead. “I know you wanted to wait. I know you want time. And I want to give you what you need, to give you a choice.”
She blinked in surprise, cocking her head as he continued. “Which is why I’ve come up with a final wager.”
“Wager?” she asked, a pleasant heat running down her spine.
He nodded. “If I can prove to you here and now that we’re perfect for each other, you’ll agree to marry me.”
“How will you prove that?”
But his hands were already sliding down her back and they cupped her behind, pressing their hips together.
The feel of his stiff manhood pressing into the sensitive flesh at the juncture to her legs made her gasp in a breath as heat and want radiated through her.
“You’ll know.”
