"Gervase..." Elizabeth found her voice and ran toward him as he started to open the door. She threw her arms around his neck and held him as tightly as she dared. "I don't hate you, I never hated you. I love you, I love you."

His arms came around her and he kissed her hard on the mouth, as if he would never let her go. She gave herself to the kiss, realizing that for the first time there were no barriers between them, no lies, and no unspoken thoughts.

*** *** ***

When Gervase finally raised his head, his breathing was harsh and his body aroused to the point of pain. He looked around the study and let out a frustrated groan. "I can't seduce you, here, love, but I don't intend to wait very long for our wedding. I will procure a special license and we can be married at the end of the week."

Elizabeth stepped away from him. She was already beginning to frown. "How typical of a man! I want a grand wedding, Gervase, not some hole-in-the-corner affair at which everyone will think you are ashamed of me."

Gervase gave a deep sigh of happiness as he gazed down at his indignant bride to-be. They were already arguing and he loved it. She didn't know it yet, and God help him if she ever found out, but he was already resigned to being led around by the nose. He put on his most agreeable expression and held out his hand. Elizabeth regarded him suspiciously.

"Shall we share our happy news with your grandparents and then perhaps we can reach a compromise?"

Elizabeth brought his hand to her cheek and kissed his fingers. "All right then," she said firmly, "But duke or no duke, I refuse to be rushed..."

About Kate Pearce

Award winning author, Kate Pearce was born into a large family of girls in England, and spent much of her childhood living very happily in a dream world. Despite being told that she really needed to "get with the program", she graduated from the University College of Wales with an honors degree in history.

A move to the USA finally allowed her to fulfill her dreams and sit down and write her first romance novel. Along with being a voracious reader, Kate loves trail riding with her family, "western style" in the regional parks of Northern California. Kate is a member of RWA and is published by NAL Signet Eclipse, Kensington Aphrodisia, Ellora's Cave, Cleis Press and Virgin Black Lace/Cheek.

Visit Kate on her website www.katepearce.com.

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Other Works by Kate Pearce

Eden's Pleasure

Antonia's Bargain

Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?

Roping the Wind

Planet Mail

Secured Mail

Riding The Line

Simply Sexual

Simply Sinful

Simply Shameless

Simply Wicked

Lords Of Passion

Simply Insatiable

Some Like It Rough

Simply Forbidden

The Ties That Bind

Kiss of the Rose

Blood of the Rose

Raw Desire

Mark of the Rose

Simply Carnal

Educating Elizabeth

Copyright © 2011 by Kate Pearce

Cover by Dara England


Formatted by Nadia Lee

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

http://www.katepearce.com