A Daring Passion

“And you think I would be sitting around simply awaiting you to find a moment for me?”

“It is surely better than continuing your rather dangerou

s occupation as a highwayman,” he replied as his roaming hand reached the soft curve of her backside.

“I am not…” She snapped her lips together and gave a shake of her head. “No.”

“That is not a word often used in my presence, querida.”

Her dark eyes flashed with anger. “I will not become your…mistress. And I certainly will not travel to France.”

Philippe was genuinely startled. He had never considered himself particularly vain, but after years of having women plotting and scheming to attract his attention he was jaded enough to expect most females to be delighted at the thought of being in his company.

Especially a young woman who was no more than the daughter of a highwayman, no matter what her education.

“And what is it you object to, Raine? Becoming my mistress or traveling to France?”

“Both.”

An unexpected flare of anger raced through him. This woman had given him her innocence. He had felt her shudder her climax in his arms. And even now he could feel her body stir beneath his light touch. He had given her the first taste of passion she had ever experienced.

Not to mention the fact he could buy her anything her maidenly heart might desire.

She should be in raptures.

Instead a mulish expression was settled on her features.

“You said that you thought France so wondrous.”

“It is, but I must return to my father. He will be worried sick and there is no telling what he may do if I do not appear soon.”

Philippe gave a lift of his brows. “You believe you can return home as if nothing has happened?”

“Why should I not? It is not as if…”

“What?”

“It is not as if anything has truly changed.”

The anger within him deepened. How dare she pretend that what had occurred between them had been a meaningless mating that would be easily forgotten. There had been enough heat between them to set London on fire.

Just for a moment Philippe wondered why he cared whether or not she had been enraptured by his lovemaking. If the stupid chit preferred to return and live among the rustics as her beauty faded to nothing, then so be it. Certainly she was a distraction he did not need.

But the thought of allowing her to slip from his grasp was unthinkable. Not so long as she could drive him to madness with one glance from those magnificent eyes.

“If you believe that you are a fool,” he said, his voice dangerously soft.

Her expression became wary. So, not so stupid, he acknowledged, as he tugged one slender leg over his hip to discover the softness of her inner thigh.

Raine shivered. “I suppose your conceit makes you believe that any woman who has shared your bed must be irrevocably altered?”

Bending downward, he nuzzled her neck. “Something like that.”

“Well, I can assure you that I…” Her words trailed to a low groan as he gently slid into her damp heat. “Philippe, what are you doing?”

Philippe slowly began to thrust, his body turning to molten fire.

“Irrevocably altering you,” he whispered.