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Demanding marriage was something. Had she made a mistake denying him? She hoped not, but it had also felt wrong to just let them decide without asking her opinion.
Her spine straightened. It was wrong.
The door behind her opened then closed again, the lock clicking into place. She looked over her shoulder to find Jacob standing near the door, shirtless.
It would be much easier to stand her ground if he were wearing the proper amount of clothing. His torso was distracting.
Rippling muscles trailed down to a narrow waist, a smattering of hair making her mouth dry. She’d been so focused on his injuries downstairs that she’d failed to take in the view. “Jacob?”
“We need to talk,” his voice still held that rough edge as he strode toward her, stopping just in front of her.
“We were talking,” she looked away, not that it helped. She could smell him, his normal masculine scent now mixed with the scent of horse and fresh air. “It didn’t go so well.”
“True. So perhaps I should start over.” He took her hand in his. “You are the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met, and I would be honored if you would consent to be my wife.”
She looked at him then, her eyes surely wide with surprise. “Jacob?”
He pulled her close, taking her other hand, his head dropping so that he whispered into her ear. “I can’t promise I’ll be a good husband. But I can promise to try my damnedest.”
“Jacob!” She knew she’d not even answered the question or said anything really, but his words had stolen her air and her thought.
It wasn’t exactly a declaration of love but it was a sincere proposal. One that had stated her merits and made promises…
There was only one problem. She appreciated his sincerity, his strength, but the depth of her emotion was so great. And he’d not said a word about love or even affection. “I’m not sure—”
Her words cut off abruptly as he wrapped an arm under her derriere and lifted her, carrying her over to one of the settees in the room. She automatically wrapped her arms about his neck, dropping her forehead to his. “Tell me, sweetheart.”
He didn’t mean that. Did he? “It’s just that you can’t spend your life with me because I’m in danger now. That’s not fair.”
She felt his forehead wrinkle as he lifted his brows. “Fair to who? If you meant me, I can assure you, it’s more than fair. I would be lucky to spend my life with a woman like you.”
Those words melted much of her reserve away. “Because I’m an heiress?”
He chuckled. “I’m not touching your money, Emily. I’d be lucky because you are beautiful…” He placed her on the settee so that her head rested on one of the arms, her legs stretched out across the cushions. “And honest.” He kissed her with a light touch of his lips against hers. “And you bring out parts of me that I’d never thought I’d see again. It’s been like finding myself.”
That made her gasp, even as he placed another kiss along her jaw. “I’ve been finding myself too.”
He slid his lips down her throat. “I know. And I’ll respect that. Take as long as you wish to answer, just know…” And then he kissed along the neckline of her dress, his hands sliding under her to start undoing the tiny row of buttons at the back of the gown. “That I’ll be employing all my best techniques to convince you until you agree.”
Her bodice slumped forward. Her chest was still covered by her chemise, but when his lips brushed over the clothed nipple, the skin puckered under the light touch, need coursing through her as she cried out.
His answer was to repeat the touch, this time harder, until he sucked the nipples between his lips. “If this is how you convince me,” she panted, a throbbing ache of need settling between her thighs. “Then I think I shall have to refuse your offer.”
“Refuse?” he growled out, lifting his head, his dark eyes meeting her hooded ones.
But she only nodded. “That’s right. I’m going to need a great deal of convincing.”
He let out a deep chuckle that, with his chest pressed to her belly, vibrated through her in the most wonderful way. “Convincing…” And then his voice dropped to a whisper. “You are asking a former rake to convince you?”
“Former?” she breathed, her eyes locked on his.
“You’re the only one for me.”
It wasn’t a declaration of love that but that was something. Her insides grew warm and hazy. “Really?”
“And, as I said, as a rake, I have an arsenal of skills at my disposal to convince you.”
Oh dear lord…that sounded wickedly wonderful. She was tempted to ask what he meant but he was kissing further down her torso, tugging her dress with him as he went, until the muslin was just a pile on the floor. And then once again his hand was travelling over her calf, circling her need, and climbing her thigh.
