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.

"Can you deny you've avoided marrying because of your decision not to risk losing children-like you lost your brother and sister?"

Stunned, she stared at him. "How did you know?"

Devil's jaw firmed. "Michael told me about your brother and sister. The rest's obvious. You must have had a reason for not marrying-you avoid young children."

His presumption in guessing her most private fear-correctly-was infuriating; Honoria knew she should react-do something to put him in his place. Instead, their talk of children had evoked a far stronger response, a surging, primitive urge to put him in his place, in quite a different way.

Their discussion had done nothing to quench the desire beating steady in her veins. They were both half-naked, both breathing rapidly; passion still throbbed between them. His every muscle was sharply defined, locked against that driving need. She had no such defense.

Realization swept her-and left her quivering. "I…" She searched his eyes, her own widening. She spread her arms helplessly. "You can't leave me like this."

Devil looked into her eyes-and mentally cursed-himself, her-and Celestine's damned gown, gathered in sheening folds about her waist, draping her thighs in silken splendor. As he watched, a telltale shiver racked her, an almost-imperceptible quiver rippling beneath her skin.

Reaching out, she locked her fingers in his shirt and pulled. Reluctantly, he shifted closer. He'd purposely aroused her, deliberately pushed her to a state bordering on the frantic.

"Please?" The soft plea lay on her bruised lips; it glowed in her eyes.

What could a gentleman do? With one last mental curse, Devil gathered her into his arms and set his lips to hers.

She opened to him instantly, sinking against him. He gave her what she wanted, steadily fanning her flames, holding himself rigidly aloof. His demons were once more under his control-he wasn't about to let the reins slip again.

Honoria sensed his decision; the muscles that surrounded her remained locked and unyielding. She would not be his wife tonight. But she had no will left to rail against fate-her entire being was focused on the fire that raged within her. Wave upon flaming wave it seared through her, leaving her empty and yearning, weak with need. How he was going to sate her hunger she did not know; adrift, she gave herself up to his kisses, surrendered to the inferno and put herself in his hands.

When he lifted his head she was reeling, and hotter than she'd been in her life. Her whole being was one heated, aching void. Gasping, she clung to his shoulders.

"Trust me."

He whispered the words against her throat, then trailed wicked kisses down one blue vein. Honoria let her head fall back, then shuddered. The next instant, he swung her into his arms. She waited to be laid on the daybed-instead, he carried her around it; his back to it, he set her on her feet before him, facing the long mirror on the wall.

Honoria blinked. The moonlight found her skin and set it shimmering; behind her, Devil appeared a dense shadow, his hands dark against her body. Honoria licked her lips. "What are you going to do?"

He bent his head and traced one earlobe with his tongue. "Satisfy you. Release you." His eyes met hers in the mirror. "Pleasure you."

The deep purring murmur sent a sharp thrill racing through her; his hands slid around to cup both breasts-his fingers tightened and she shuddered. "All you have to do is do exactly as I say." Again he met her gaze. "Keep your eyes open and watch my hands-and concentrate on what you feel, on the sensations…"

His words were low, hypnotic; Honoria couldn't drag her eyes from his hands, rhythmically kneading her breasts. She watched his long fingers reach for her nipples; they swirled, then squeezed-sharp shivers lanced through her. She sucked in a short breath and leaned back-and felt his bare chest behind her, crisp hair rasping against her bare shoulders.

His hands left her breasts-she refocused on the mirror. One dark hand splayed across her midriff, holding her against him; the other gripped her gown, gathered in folds about her hips. She realized his intention and stiffened-protest welled, but never made it past her lips. He drew both gown and chemise down, over her hips, baring her, then let them slither to the floor. The costly fabrics pooled about their feet-Honoria ignored them, shocked, entranced, mesmerized by the sight of dark hands freely roaming her body.

She heard a low moan, and knew it was hers. Her head fell back against his shoulder; her spine arched. Her senses, fully alive, registered every touch, every knowing caress; from under weighted lids, she watched every erotic move. Then he shifted, his arms coming around her, surrounding her, his left hand cupping her right breast, his right hand splaying over her stomach. From behind, his knee pressed hers apart; head bent, his lips grazed the soft skin beneath her ear. "Keep watching."

Honoria did-she watched as his hand slid lower, long fingers tangling in her curls, then sliding further, pressing inward. He touched her softness, found her molten heat and stroked. Breathless, aching, she felt the muscles in his arm shift as he reached further, felt the pressure of his hand between her thighs, felt the slow inexorable invasion as one long finger entered her.

Sensation upon sensation crashed through her; the hand at her breast fondled, fingers finding, then tightening about her budded nipple. Of their own volition, her hands found his, fastening over his broad wrists. The crisp hair of his forearms rasped the soft skin of her inner arms; beneath her fingers, hard muscle and steely sinew played.

Between her thighs, his hand shifted; as one finger slid deep, his thumb pressed, caressed.

Lightning, wildfire-pure streaks of elemental sensation lanced through her; her body tightened, arched; Honoria gasped. His caresses continued, increasingly forceful; within her, sensations swirled, then rose-a vortex of feeling.

"Keep watching."

Naked, on fire, she dragged her lids open-and saw his hand push deep between her thighs.

A starburst took her-exploded within her. Sensation crystallized, soared, then fractured, a million silver shards raining down, shooting through her, flying down overstretched nerves to melt, tingling, beneath her skin.

Release.

It swept her, washing away her tension, replacing it with a pleasure so deep she thought she'd died. She felt his lips at her temple, felt his hands soften in soothing, intimate caresses. Sweet oblivion claimed her.

When her wits reconnected with reality, Honoria discovered herself fully dressed, leaning against the daybed's back. Before her, Devil stood before the mirror, tying his cravat. She watched his fingers deftly crease and knot the wide folds, and smiled.

In the mirror, Devil's eyes met hers. Her smile widened; he raised a brow.

"I just realized," she said, leaning more heavily against the daybed, "why you don't have a valet. Being a rake necessarily means you can't rely on the services of a servant to turn you out in trim."

Settling the ends of his cravat, Devil cast her a jaundiced glance. "Precisely." He turned. "And if you've returned to the living enough to think that through, we'd better get back to the ballroom."

He stooped to snatch his coat from the floor; Honoria opened her lips to inform him that she had, indeed, made up her mind, then thought better of it. They'd been away from the ball for too long as it was-this was no longer the time and place. Tomorrow morning would do.

She felt like she was floating, in some strange way sundered from reality. She watched Devil shrug into his coat. As he settled the lapels, something caught her eye. Turning, she peered between the orange trees.

"What is it?" Devil followed her gaze.

"I thought I saw someone, but it must have been a shifting shadow."

Devil took her hand. "Come-the gossipmongers will have enough to talk about as it is."

They walked swiftly through the orange grove; a moment later, the latch clicked and all was still. The moon continued to lay its gentle beams in wide swaths across the flagged floor.

A shadow broke the pattern.

The outline of a man was thrown across the grove, distorted to menacing proportions. Then the figure slipped away, around the corner of the orangery, and the shadow was no more.

Moonlight bathed the scene in soft white light, illuminating the orange trees, the wickerwork basket, and the daybed with its rumpled cushions.

Chapter 15

"Thank you, Emmy." Standing, arms folded, before her sitting-room window, Honoria watched the tweeny tidy her luncheon tray. "Has His Grace returned to the house?"

"I don't believe so, miss." Emmy straightened, hefting her burden. "I could ask Webster, if you like?"