“If I see her, I’ll do my best to convince her to attend.” Gregory looked to his pup. “Come along, Ash.”

Striding along the hedgerow, he walked past when he would normally have moved onto the Threadbury Hall estate. He carefully glanced back to make sure Clifford wasn’t following him.

His brother’s back was already disappearing from view.

Good.

Yes, he would need to be more careful when he met with Evie and would endeavor to do so.

A short time later—longer than he’d intended due to their detour—Gregory and Ash arrived at the cottage. As soon as it came into view, Ash bounded ahead, barking as he ran into the yard.

Evie opened the door and crouched down to pet the dog. Gregory could hear her talking, but couldn’t quite make out what she said. Nevertheless, he smiled. Watching her with Ash gave him immeasurable joy.

That helped banish the icy sensation that had settled between his shoulder blades since he’d run into Clifford. Evie welcomed him into the warmth of the cottage and, as soon as the door closed, gave him a long, breathless kiss.

The heat and wonder he felt in her presence was at such odds with the environment in which he was currently living with his brother and sister-in-law. Was it any wonder he wanted to spend every moment here with Evie?

As Gregory stripped off his gloves, he noted that Ash had gone to the hearth where Evie had left some sort of treat. Seeing that he was quite occupied, Gregory dropped his gloves to clasp Evie against him and kissed her again. This time, he swept his tongue deep into her mouth and took what he needed with a near-reckless savagery.

She kissed him back with an equal ferocity, her hands clutching at his shoulders and neck. Then she pushed his hat from his head and thrust her fingers into his hair.

Desperate for her, for the pleasure only she could provide, he picked her up. She hiked her gown up so she could wrap her legs around him. His cock strained against his breeches and pressed along her sex.

He broke the kiss and put his mouth to her ear. “I want to take you like this. Against the wall. Now. Hard. May I, please?”

“You don’t have to ask.” She fixed her mouth against his neck, sucking and scoring her teeth along his flesh, stoking his already blazing desire. “Just take me, Gregory.”

Turning with her, he pressed her to the wall next to the door, his left arm wrapped around her waist. She clung to him as he put his other hand between them and worked to open his fall. The buttons were especially stubborn, and he tore one off in his frustration.

At last, he had his cock in hand and guided it to her sheath.

She dug her fingers into his shoulders. “Come into me, Gregory.”