With a whimper, Honoria pulled him back. Or tried to. She couldn't get a grip on his body-clenching her hands in his loose shirt, she tugged desperately. All she did was rock herself.
Devil didn't shift. Gently, he caught her hands and disengaged her fingers. "No."
"No?" The question came out as a muted wail; in utter disbelief, Honoria stared at him. "You're a rake-rakes don't say 'No'!"
He had the grace to grimace. "This isn't right."
Honoria drew a deep breath; her senses were whirling, clamoring with need. "You've been bedding women for God knows how long-you must by now know what to do!"
The look Devil cast her was exceedingly sharp. "What I meant was, this isn't how I intend bedding you."
Honoria opened her eyes wide. "Does it matter?"
"Yes!" His expression grim, he shook his head. "This wasn't supposed to happen yet!"
Her hands still trapped in his, Honoria stared at him. "Why did you bring me down here, then?"
"Believe it or not, I had merely envisaged an illicit waltz-not a full-scale seduction."
"Then what are we doing on this daybed?"
Devil clenched his jaw. "I got carried away-by you!"
"I see." She narrowed her eyes. "You're allowed to seduce me, but I'm not allowed the reciprocal privilege?"
The eyes that met hers were mere green shards. "Precisely. Seduction is an art best left to the experts."
"I'm obviously a quick learner-I've had an excellent teacher." Her hands immobilized in his, she tugged, trying to topple him back down; if she could just get him back on the bed alongside her…
"No!" Abruptly, Devil let go of her hands and stood; grimly, he looked down at her. She hadn't seduced him-something in him had accomplished that. Whatever it was, he didn't trust it-that force that whispered within him, urging him to capitulate, to toss aside his careful plans and fall in, lustily, with hers. "When you come to me as my wife, I want you to come of your own free will. Because you've made the decision to become my duchess. That's not a decision you've yet made."
Staggered, Honoria stared at him. "What do you imagine this is all about?" Her gesture encompassed her seminaked sprawl.
Devil narrowed his eyes. "Curiosity."
"Curi…?" Honoria's mouth fell open, then shut; lips setting ominously, she came up on one elbow.
Devil spoke before she could. "Even if it wasn't-even if you'd made up your mind in cold blood-how the hell could I tell now, when you're so heated you're almost simmering?"
Honoria met his eyes-and wished she had an answer.
"You're all but drunk with passion-don't try to deny it."
She didn't-couldn't; just sitting up had nearly made her swoon. Her pulse thundered in her ears; she felt flushed one instant, then desperate for heat-his heat-the next. There was a curious, molten void pulsing within her; her breathing was so shallow it was difficult to think.
Devil's gaze, on her face, became more intent, then flick
ed down, swiftly scanning. The folds of her gown had slipped down, the hem floating on her thighs. Instantly, his eyes switched back to her face; she saw his jaw set, saw the iron shackles of his control lock.
He spoke through clenched teeth, frustration in his voice. "It's important to me to know that you've made a conscious decision-that you've decided to become my wife, the mother of my children, for your own reasons, not because I've seduced, coerced, or manipulated you into it."
"I've made my decision." Honoria struggled to her knees. "How can I convince you?"
"I need to hear you say it-state it-when you're fully compos mentis." Devil held her gaze. "I want to hear you declare that you'll be my duchess, that you want to bear my children."
Through the haze of her passion, Honoria glimpsed an unexpected light. She narrowed her eyes. "Just why do you need this declaration?"
Devil looked down at her-and narrowed his eyes back.