Lottie could only imagine the type of man who would offer for her now: a moldering aristocrat desperate for funds or some politician Uncle Alfred needed to manipulate. Or worse. It was then she understood that she could never bargain with him again. And it was then that she first began to form her plan. But though it had been fairly easy to create the illusion she was ruined, making it true was another matter entirely. There were benefits she had not considered. At least, not until Alec turned up on her doorstep…

At some point in the night, hours after he left, Alec returned. Lottie heard him stumble around the darkened room before he came to the edge of the bed and watched her in the shadowy darkness to make sure she was asleep.

“Lottie,” he murmured, loud enough to get her attention but soft enough not to wake.

She bit down on her lip. This was a trap. She wanted so badly to answer him, to pull him down on top of her, to have one rough palm spread her wide and take what she gave, but not now. Eventually, he sat down on the other side of the bed. Then came the sound of boots dropping on the floor. Alec let out a weary sigh as he laid down on top of the covers. A man in control would have been able to share her bed without reservations, while a man determined not to lose control would have slept in the chair.

But Alec seemed torn. And when he finally let his guard down, there would be Lottie waiting to be ruined.

It had taken hours before Alec rebuilt his will to the point where he could enter their room. And yet, as soon as he stepped inside, it promptly crumbled to bits. The very air was filled with her scent of rosewater and warm skin. But after days of too little sleep, that bed was enticing as hell even without the presence of Lottie. He only needed a few uninterrupted hours of rest. Then he would fully regain his control. And his reason.

That night his sleep was mercifully dark and dreamless.

Until it wasn’t.

In the waking hours the rules governing polite society and his remaining shreds of self-control separated them. But here, in the deepest recesses of his subconscious, Alec was free to do as he wished, as he desired. Here Lottie wanted him.

And only him.

Alec approached her from behind and slipped his arms around her waist. He buried his nose in her loose hair and inhaled deeply as he pulled her body against his own. On the terrace their layers of clothing had kept them apart, but now only a slip of gauzy silk came between them. He smoothed a palm slowly down to her hip, then drew her round, ripe bottom against his aroused flesh.