Her breath strangled in her throat at the first contact. Devil take him, this kiss was just as overwhelming as all the preceding ones, full of heat and seduction, power and tenderness.
His lips claimed her possessively, his tongue reaching deep into the heat of her mouth, reminding Madeline just how much she craved his taste, his touch. Even knowing he was bent on gaining her capitulation by exploiting her weakness for him, she couldn’t pull away.
His magical kiss went on and on, weakening her will. Madeline silently swore at Rayne, yet the husky moan that came from her throat was more pleasure-sound than protest as she argued halfheartedly with herself. There was no question that his kisses were thrilling, that his seduction was devastatingly effective. But he was relying on physical skill. His heart wasn’t engaged and likely never would be.
Even so, her resistance was withering. The truth was, she wanted desperately to be Rayne’s wife….
Realizing what she had just admitted to herself, Madeline groaned in disbelief. Was she actually considering agreeing to his proposal of marriage?
His kiss softening, he drew back enough to murmur against her lips, “What did you say?”
“Nothing. I was merely cursing you.”
She felt his smile against her mouth. “You have been doing that frequently of late.”
“You have given me ample cause.” Pressing her hands against his chest, she sucked in a breath. “You have to stop kissing me, Rayne. I cannot think when you are assaulting my senses this way.”
“That is the whole point, sweetheart.” When Madeline failed to be amused, Rayne seemed to capitulate.
“As you wish.”
He didn’t release her, however. He merely stood there, holding her in a light embrace, his forehead pressed against hers while he cajoled her in a soft, persuasive voice. “Come now, love, you’ve delayed long enough. Say ‘yes.’”
Madeline closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of him. The yearning inside her was more powerful than anything she had ever felt in her life. No matter how fiercely she fought it, or how sternly she warned herself about the risk, she wanted to marry Rayne.
Did she dare surrender to the yearning of her heart? She would likely be giving up her dream of a loving marriage—a true love match. Yet being Rayne’s wife and risking heartache would be better than watching him marry some other woman. And perhaps—just perhaps—he might someday come to feel a little of the love she had already come to feel for him.
Madeline shook herself mentally. It was idiotic to pin her hopes on foolish fantasies. But still, the lure of what might be possible if she were willing to chance marriage with him was too tempting to ignore.
“If I were to wed you,” she said slowly, “I would not give up my new teaching position at the academy.”
Rayne went still, as if he hadn’t expected her answer. She hadn’t either, for that matter. Am I completely mad, Maman?
Surprisingly, he only nodded. “I have no objections, although it will be novel, a countess employed as a teacher.”
“Arabella still teaches there, as do her sisters, and I mean to earn my keep.”
“There is no reason for you to continue, love. You weren’t cut out to lead a life of docile servitude.”
“There is reaso
n. I don’t want to sponge off you.”
“You would not be sponging. You will be giving me an heir in exchange for marriage.”
Madeline winced at the sudden ache in her heart. She would be marrying for love, but for Rayne it would be strictly a business transaction. “I remember. You said a marriage of convenience is all you want,” she murmured, wishing he would deny it.
“You understand the advantages of a convenient match, Madeline. You are practical and sensible—when you are not putting yourself in danger. And you know I am not of a romantical turn of mind.”
She did indeed know. Love would be no part of their bargain, Rayne had made that perfectly clear to her. She caught her lower lip between her teeth, knowing that if she agreed to his terms, she could never let him know that she had already lost her heart to him. Could she keep such a secret from Rayne?
Madeline took a shaky breath, coming to a conclusion. “Very well,” she said unevenly.
“Very well, what?”
“I will marry you.”
He looked only marginally surprised, and more than a little satisfied. “Good. I will make the arrangements for this afternoon.”