Anthony cupped his hands about her bottom and held her tight, burying himself in her heat. She moaned and he felt her tremble deep inside as she gave herself to the pleasure. It was an agony and an ecstasy, holding still as she writhed around him, her heat igniting his own.

He was delighted to see that Anna wasn’t about to let this moment slip by without living every second of it. She wrapped herself around him, holding tightly, trying to soak in every nuance of the passion that washed through him. When he finally stilled, they lay locked in each other’s arms as their breathing returned to normal.

It was heavenly, lying in the warm bed with his arms about her, her warm, naked skin against his. She buried her face in his neck and held tightly. Outside, the sun finally gave way to night, twilight sinking into blackness.

Anthony sighed heavily. “I don’t want to move.” He rubbed his cheek against her hair and kissed her forehead, then rolled over to his side, pulling her with him, tucking her neatly against him.

After a while, she stirred. “That was…nice.”

“Just nice?” he asked, a little affronted.

Her eyes shimmered silver. “Very nice. So nice I’d like to do it again.”

He laughed softly and captured a thick curl in his hand and wound it around his finger. “You are a brazen vixen, Anna Thraxton.” He rubbed against her in a suggestive manner. “Fortunately, I love brazen vixens.”

She gave him a lazy, sated smile. Something flickered through her eyes, something sad and tender.

Anthony bent to kiss her mouth, trying to capture the sadness and remove it. “What is it?”

Her expression immediately shuttered. “I was just thinking of tomorrow.”

“What happens tomorrow?”

She turned her head away, saying nothing.

Unease settled in Anthony’s chest. He turned her face to his. “What happens tomorrow?”

A faint smile touched her mouth. “The children are performing their play.”

Anthony had a feeling that wasn’t the answer she had intended to give. But before he could say more, Anna sighed and pushed herself up on her elbows, her hair falling over her shoulders and pooling on the bed at her elbow. “I need to dress. One of the servants could come at any time, and it would be awkward.”

“We haven’t talked yet.”

A faint smile touched her lips. “I think we’ve said quite a lot.”

“Yes, but we haven’t solved anything. Anna, I care for you.”

She smiled, her heart in her eyes, a gleam of hope in the silver depths that made him ache. “Yes?”

His jaw tightened. If he could not convince Charlotte to release him, there would be no “and.” “Anna, give me some more time—”

She placed her fingers over his lips. “This is a perfect moment, Anthony Elliot,” she whispered. “Don’t spoil it with words.” She bent and pressed her lips to his, softly, gently, her hands traveling lightly over his back, sending trills of pleasure through him.