He was as hard as a column of marble. But instead of cold stone, he pulsed with heat. Heat that spread and enveloped her, as the realization of what she was doing and how much he liked it—how much she liked it—took hold. She wasn’t scared, she wasn’t nervous, she was undeniably, unexpectedly aroused. Very, very aroused. Her body felt as warm and melty as syrup.

This wasn’t supposed to happen to her.

Their eyes met, and all thoughts of pretense and roles fled. What was between them was there in the open, raw, hot, and honest.

Maybe Alex wasn’t the only one lying to himself. Maybe she wasn’t here just for her cousin. Maybe the thought of him leaving and never coming back mattered more than she wanted it to. Maybe she wanted something to hold on to.

One kiss. Was that so much to ask? One kiss with nothing between them, and then she would have him drink the whisky.

“Joan . . .” His voice was a hoarse, strangled plea for her to put a stop to this.

But she wasn’t going to do that. Not yet, at least. Leaning into him, she lifted her mouth to his. “Please, Alex, just kiss me.”

Every man had his breaking point, and Alex Seton had just found his. It had been hard enough to try to send her away when she appeared in his room like some erotic fantasy, standing one gentle push away from his bed in a chemise that revealed far more of her incredible body than it hid. But when she’d touched him, put her hand on his cock and squeezed, he lost whatever final vestiges of control he possessed.

It felt so good he didn’t want her to stop—ever.

It shouldn’t be that easy. He shouldn’t be that weak. But there was no way in hell he had the strength to push her away again, especially with her soft plea echoing in his ears.

But he wasn’t happy about it. She was manipulating him. He knew it, and she knew it. But it was working, damn it. He knew that if he sent her away, she wouldn’t be coming back. And that he couldn’t concede. He would hold on to her any way he could.

With a groan, he took what she offered and covered her sweet, red mouth in a hot, furious kiss. He’d never kissed her like this. He’d never kissed anyone like this. The bands of control, the chains of civility that had defined him had ripped free, revealing the fierce, primitive marauder underneath who wanted to plunder and conquer.

He took everything she offered and more, moving his mouth over hers in a wicked frenzy of lust and desire. He filled her mouth with his tongue, leaving no part of that sweet cavern unconquered and unplundered.