“Unnnggh,” he groaned, feeling his balls tighten as he drove inexorably toward his climax.

He spent a few seconds later, arching off the bed with the impact of the orgasm.

He felt the satisfying release flow through him, relaxed back down onto the bed, his stomach wet from his spend, his whole body shaking.

Damn it. This was good, but he knew that being with her for real would be far, far better.

He resolved to do whatever he could to make it right—not just so he could get her into bed, although that was a strong motivation—but because he wanted to feel her trust again.

And he wanted to see her naked and shaking with as much passion as he was.

“Good morning, my lady.”

Lord Stanbury was as subdued as an enormous handsome man could be. His tone was low, his gaze respectful, and even his hair seemed tame.

“Good morning, my lord.” Della nodded as she took her cloak off the hook. “Thank you for coming so promptly this morning. I wasn’t certain if you—” And she paused, wishing she hadn’t started to say what she had.

Because of course his whole mien changed. He froze, and it felt as though his whole body was vibrating. Although, truth be told, she much preferred Exceedingly Angry Lord Viscount Whatever to Lord Meek. Much to her dismay.

“Did you think I would renege on my promise because of what did not happen last evening?” he said in a growl.

Damn it, and now she wanted to leap on him. Contrary, contrary Della.

“No, I didn’t,” Della replied, lifting her chin. “It was a thoughtless thing to say, I apologize.”

He took a breath, as though to argue, then blinked as he realized what she’d said. “Oh.”

“Oh,” Della echoed. She took a deep breath. “Let me begin again, this time without being so careless of your feelings. Thank you for coming this morning.”

“We have a bargain,” he said gruffly. And then his eyes widened. “Not that one, I mean. The first one.”

She had to laugh at his reaction—aghast that he might seem to be dismissive of her desires.

When actually if she let him, she had no doubt that he would encourage her desires.

Damn it.

“Are you all right?” he asked, returning to his more considerate tone.

“I am,” she said firmly.

“Because I didn’t mean to upset you last night.”

She rolled her eyes as she shook her head. “Of course you didn’t mean to upset me. Who sets out to upset someone?” Besides her father the duke and Mr. Baxter, that was. But she would not tell him that—he was just as likely to go hunt both of those men down and punch them, which of course would be the exact opposite of what she wanted.

Which was the problem in the first place.