An eternity passed before she finally said, “They won’t understand.”
“Your sisters are smart; they will accept your lead.”
Her brows snapped together. “This does not mean I will marry you.”
“We can discuss the matter further once you are settled in at my home.” A pause. “Do you require a chaperone?”
Fire lit her eyes. “Iamthe chaperone.”
Mason chuckled. “As you wish.” He’d long since understood Caroline and her sisters did not adhere to convention. Besides, he wasn’t about to let any harm come to them or their reputation. He’d send word for his sister as soon as they returned to his home.
Mason’s gaze dropped to her lips. He loved that sassy mouth of hers. Dammit, he wanted kiss her again.
Later.
Later, he would have all the time in the world to kiss her senseless.
“You should inform your sisters. I will send some servants to collect any values you don’t wish to part with.”
“Very well,” she conceded with a nod. “As long as you understand that this is not an agreement to marriage.”
To hell with later.
He grabbed her wrist when she moved past him, his chest suddenly devastatingly tight. She gave him a quizzical glance. “As long as you understand that I will not give up until you are my wife.” He crushed his lips against hers in a hot, demanding kiss.
He couldn’t help himself. He needed this kiss as much as he needed air to breathe. She did this to him. Caroline. The little thief had stolen into his life, stolen his pocket watch, and now she was stealing everything else.
His control. His sanity. His soul.
Her lips, achingly soft beneath his, moved to match his invasion, and Mason let out a growl of satisfaction. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
The floodgates opened.
The floodgates of something that Mason himself couldn’t name. But they had opened, and Mason let himself be swept away by the current, riding the waves where the desire led him. Uncaring if he sank further beneath the water, forever drowning.
He could kiss this woman to the end of his days.
Fate, unfortunately, had other plans.
A gasp from the doorway interrupted them, and Mason dislodged his lips from heaven to lift his head to the door. Three pair of familiar gazes stared at them in shock.
Caroline squirmed from his embrace and dusted off her skirts. Her soft skin glowed with embarrassment, and she stared at him helplessly, pleading for his help.
Of course, as a gentleman, he would naturally comply.
“My apologies,” Mason directed at his soon to be sister-in-law’s. He even allowed a note of sheepishness to enter his voice. “Caroline just agreed to marry me.”
Chapter 5
Scoundrel! Rogue! Arrogant ass!
“I willnotbe coerced into marrying you,” Caroline bit out through clenched teeth. Never had she met such an infuriating man! She dared not even begin to ponder her response to his kiss! Her composure had been completely shattered amidst the kiss, packing her personal effects, and being ushered back to his house. And the man had yet to give her a moment of respite.
“What else was I supposed to say?” Lonsdale drawled—his calm even more infuriating than the man himself—and stared at her innocently. “They witnessed our kiss.”
“No, they witnessed youstealinga kiss!”
“So we are both thieves.”
