No one except Avondale, Warrick, and Saville knew they were responsible for what had transpired with the list. And Deerhurst had heard, quite to his surprise, that Avondale was actually interested in Lady Ophelia—one of the women on the list.
His friends were probably just as rattled at the book’s disappearance.
Be that as it may, sooner or later, Deerhurst would have to own up to his part in the bloody chaos. Phaedra didn’t trust men who could be linked to a lack of money, and she’d been swarmed by them lately. He may not be a pauper, but Deerhurst’s paws were still all over the madness that now reigned because of that damn list.
Would she string him up by his balls if she learned the truth?
Yes. Yes, she would.
His woman was a Sharp. Their passions ran hot, as would their tempers, no doubt. He wanted to secure her to him before he told her the truth. Selfish? Absolutely. But he didn’t care. He’d found the woman who was meant for him. She could slice him into pieces all she liked—and he would let her—so long as he didn’t lose her. But he had to secure her first.
He nuzzled his face against the top of her head. She stretched out like a cat beside him. Languid. Sated.
Ah, damn it. His cock stirred right along with her. Would he never get enough of her?
“Is it time yet?” she murmured sleepily.
It was well past. “Yes.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I shall let you go only if you promise that I will see you tonight.”
She sat up. “A thousand ships couldn’t keep me away.”
He enfolded her in a hug. “We can discuss the details of our courtship then.”
She arched a brow. “What details?”
“Aren’t you a woman with rules and conditions?”
“Aren’t you a man who breaks them all?”
He smiled at her. “That’s only because you’re irresistible.”
She leaned in to kiss his jaw. “I only have one condition.”
“Let me hear it.”
“You allow me to touch you the way you touch me.”
Deerhurst nearly choked. Once again, the woman surprised the hell out of him. She gave as good as she got. It was damn attractive. “Christ Phaedra, don’t say things like that unless you want to stay in my bed the whole day.”
She grinned. “Do I take that as a yes?”
“You can take that as an absolute must.”
She laughed. “Good then.” She gave him a thoughtful look. “What about what you wanted to tell me earlier? The thing that isn’t so nice. It’s about Abigail’s mother, isn’t it?”
Deerhurst had almost forgotten about that. It had been a spur-of-the-moment urge. One he regretted immediately after.
“I’ll tell you later, I’m in no hurry to scare you off.”The God’s honest truth.
She pushed playfully at his chest. “You know you can tell me anything. I’m not the sort to get all tangled about things in the past.”
He slowly nodded. “Right. But I’d rather keep you unentangled as long as possible.”
“Oh?” she teased. “Weren’t you entangled with me most of last night and all of this morning?”
“Little vixen, your tongue is just as smooth as mine.”
She laughed, then sobered, a thoughtful look crossing her face. “You can tell me when you’re ready.”
