“Not anymore,” he said flatly, his tone causing her to lift her gaze to his in surprise. “Whatever happened before today is in the past, and that is where it shall stay. It cannot be changed, but the future . . .” He let his voice drop off and gave her a knowing smile. “The future is a different matter, and I can assure you, my lady, I intend to keep you so well satisfied in my bed that you will never have want or reason to seek another.”

She gasped in shock—and perhaps in something else as the sensual promise of his words penetrated.

They were standing so close he was tempted to prove it to her. But almost as if she guessed his intentions, she took a few steps back.

She shook her head. “I can’t—it would never work. We would never work.”

“I think we proved otherwise last Saturday. We work well together”—he gave her a heated look—“very well.”

Her face turned so adorably red that he had to stop himself from laughing. She was the blushing maid again, and more and more he was certain that was not an act.

“You are trying to embarrass me,” she chastised. “But that is not what I meant.” She was twisting her hands anxiously in her skirts again. “I can hardly be the type of woman you were hoping to marry.”

Perhaps she’d been right initially, but it wasn’t true any longer. The idea of the sweet, innocent maid didn’t hold the same appeal for him that it once had. Actually, he wasn’t sure it had ever held appeal, it was just something he’d never thought about and just assumed. But now . . . a woman like that would be far too simple. He liked the edge that came from experience, and the challenge that came from wit and intelligence. He liked a little mystery and reserve. He wanted to be the one to learn her secrets and make her smile.

He also rather liked boldness in the bedchamber. He couldn’t imagine a wide-eyed, blushing maid putting her hand on him. And Alex wanted Joan’s hands on him—all over him. Aye, she could seduce him for a lifetime. “I wouldn’t know,” he said. “Until you there has been no woman I wished to marry.”

She groaned as if he were torturing her. “God, why do you have to say things like that?”

He frowned. “Did I say something wrong?”

“Yes. No.” She looked as exasperated as she sounded. “It’s just sweet!”

His frown turned perplexed. “And that is bad?”

“It is when I must refuse you.”

“Must?” It was a strange word to use.

Her flush deepened; she hurried to explain. “There are things you don’t know. Things that might make a difference to you if you did.” She hesitated as if searching for the right words.