He was aware that she was trying to convince him to agree to her scheme to save herself. Despite her standing in society, she would be gossiped about, shunned from certain circles, diminished to nothing in the opinion of the ton.
“What I do is of no concern to you. All you need to know is that I’m not marrying you, so you can tell our mothers to stop planning a wedding I never agreed to.” Shifting his weight from side to side, he waited for her to interrupt him with another snide amount. “Goodbye, Lady Selena. I do wish you luck in finding a husband soon.”
He stared down at her middle. The burgundy dress she was wearing, tight and protruding. It was becoming very obvious that Lady Selena was with child.
She rushed over to him, poking her finger into his shoulder. “You fool! What do you think is going to happen?” she asked, her face red with anger. “You think someone like her will ever be accepted in our world? Marry me, and you can still have her.”
He shook his head. “No. I don’t’ want her as my mistress. I want her to be my wife. I’ve always wanted to marry her.” Harrison walked forward, staring into her lifeless blue eyes. “I don’t care if our world accepts her or not, because I accept her and love her for who she is.”
A gasp came from behind him. Harrison, turned finding Kat standing in the hallway a missive in her hand.
“You’ll regret this, Hendershot.” Lady Selena rushed past him.
“I won’t,” he said, not positive that she heard him at all.
It didn’t matter, nothing mattered but the woman standing in front of him with the breathtaking hazel eyes.
CHAPTER 11
Harrison swallowed, his heart thumping loudly in his ears as Kat walked deeper into the parlor, closing and locking the door behind her. The sway of her hips mesmerized him. The dark green day dress clung to her sensual body like she was born to wear it.
When she pressed herself against him, Harrison lost all thought, all he could do was take her in his arms and merge his lips to hers.
Kat pulled at the flaps of his breeches as he lifted her skirts, finding smooth skin. Hot fervent kisses trailed down her neck as he sucked and nibbled.
Since she’d been staying at his home, they’d perfected the art of undressing each other, or making quick work of each other’s clothing for easier access.
“Did you really turn her and her fortune down for me?” she asked, breathing against his forehead.
Raising his head, he cupped her cheek. “When will you learn that I’ll do anything for you, Kat? I don’t give a damn about her fortune or the earldom. I only care about this—us.”
He would never stop confessing his feelings for her. He’d loved her since they were children, and he’d love her until the day he died. There was nothing Harrison would not do to prove it to her.
Her hand slipped down his breeches, taking his manhood in hand. Harrison groaned, his head falling back between his shoulders as his hands teased up her leg to the apex of her thighs.
Kat’s lips pressed against his neck, “Fuck me, Harrison.”
His heart stopped, his cock hardening in her hand. “Damn it, Kat. You can’t say such things, you minx.”
She licked his bottom lip, rendering him helpless to her feminine wiles. “I can do whatever I want. I’m not a lady.”
“Then it is a very good thing that I do not want a lady.” Crushing his mouth to hers, he pressed her against the side of the sofa.
She tugged at his manhood, her small hands sending pleasure spiraling throughout his body. Harrison pulled at the laces of her dress, freeing her glorious breasts.
He refused to stop and inquire on what this passion of theirs meant, and he dared not hope that his words to Lady Selena proved anything to Kat. Harrison would savor this moment in time, and if it was the last one, he would ever have with her, then he was damn sure going to enjoy it.
The dress fell off her shoulders, and Kat took a step back, allowing it to glide down her long, sensual body. Stepping out of the fabric, she turned away from him before she pressed her round bottom into his aching flesh.
“What are you waiting for?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at him.
The heat in her gaze threatened to set him ablaze with its intensity. Removing his tailcoat, Harrison flung it across the room, not giving a damn where it landed.
Taking her by the waist, he roughly pulled her to him, his mouth on hers. Harrison kissed her like it was the last time, savoring every breath and moan that she released.
One hand cupped a full breast, the flesh heavy and tempting.
Damn it. He wished he could suckle them and worship her, later, the word was whispered in his mind. A ray of hope that he wasn’t aware of bloomed through him, and he didn’t care if it was foolish—all he could do was cling to it and wish it to come to fruition.
