To Seduce a Bride (Courtship Wars 3)

“Call me Heath.”

It was difficult to think of so illustrious a nobleman in such familiar terms, but she had agreed to address him by his given name as a condition of his fencing tutelage. “Very well, but I must warn you, Heath. Seducing me won’t make it any easier for you to win our game.”

He smiled lazily. “If winning was easy, I wouldn’t enjoy it half so much-and neither would you.”

That was regrettably true, Lily lamented. She found it exhilarating, matching wits with him. Even if she frequently came out the loser, as she had just now.

How had he turned their fencing lesson to his advantage so quickly? Lily wondered with disgust. No doubt because she was an utter weakling where he was concerned. She’d had every intention of withstanding any sensual overtures he made, but her resistance had melted instantly under the searing heat of his kisses.

Heath leaned forward now to place a slow, lingering kiss on her lips, catching her by surprise. He had a wicked mouth-one he kept using to fluster her, Lily thought distractedly as her senses heated again.

Realizing how easily she wa

s surrendering, she forcibly broke away, although when she tried to climb off him, Heath once more prevented her.

“I cannot believe I let this go so far,” she muttered.

“It was the next logical step in our courtship. We both knew it would happen. I’ll go so far as to say you wanted it to happen.”

She couldn’t deny there was a measure of truth to that accusation, also. She had wanted to know what carnal pleasure was like-and had discovered it beyond her wildest imagination.

When she remained silent, Heath held her gaze intently. “We will become lovers, Lily, I have no doubt about it. But when we make love, it will be because you want me for your husband.”

She splayed her hands against his muscular chest, refusing to accept his declaration. “You are indulging in fantasies.”

“If so, they are supremely blissful fantasies. It is even more blissful to contemplate having you in my bed. When we are wed, I will delight in teaching you all about pleasure and passion.”

His pledge conjured wild and reckless images in her mind, but Lily fought their allure. “When we are wed?” she repeated. “Your arrogance is astounding.”

At her scoffing tone, challenge glimmered in his hazel eyes. “I can safely promise that you will enjoy our marriage bed. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that I am rather gifted at lovemaking.” As if to prove his point, he bent to tauntingly kiss her left nipple.

The sizzle of desire that shot through Lily made her arch and shiver. Alarmed, she pushed at Heath’s chest more determinedly this time.

When he at last let her go, she scrambled off his lap and unsteadily turned away to set her camisole and shirt to rights, covering her brazenly exposed bosom. Heath would be a magnificent lover, she had absolutely no doubt.

“I suppose you mean to tell Fleur what transpired between us,” Lily said crossly, “so she will award you more points.”

He was calmly restoring his own clothes to order, she saw out of the corner of her eye. “Certainly not. A gentleman never discusses his amorous accomplishments. This will remain strictly our affair.”

Without responding, she went to the door and unlocked it.

“Does this mean we are finished with our fencing lesson for today?” Heath drawled behind her.

Lily shot a glance over her shoulder at him. “Yes, indeed. I don’t care to have any more lessons of any kind from you. I don’t trust you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t trust me? Or is it that you cannot trust yourself when you are alone with me?”

Lily didn’t answer his deplorably perceptive question. But as she flung open the door and stalked from the room, she couldn’t shake the shocking realization that she wanted passion with that enticing, maddening rogue after all.

Chapter Nine

I can now understand why the marquess makes women swoon, but falling in love with him-or any other man-is anathema to me.

– Lily to her sisters

If Lily hoped to avert any more perilous encounters with Heath in the near future, her desire was thwarted that evening when Fleur pointed out that their pupils needed a real live gentleman upon whom to practice their newfound social skills.

As long as he was beleaguering her, Lily decided, she might as well put her unwanted suitor to good use. Thus, she swallowed her disquiet and sent Heath a message at his London town house, enlisting his aid for a class at ten o’clock the next morning.