Angry at his body’s reaction, Sloan leaned back against the door and crossed his arms over his chest, determined to keep his hands to himself for as long as possible. “I suppose we should get it over with.”

“If you don’t wish to go through with the marriage—”

“What I wish is beside the point at this late date.” Sloan cocked his head, considering her. “Do you know how a consummation is conducted?”

He intended to make this difficult for her, Heather suspected. “Not… precisely.”

He seemed unsurprised by her inexperience, she noted. Yet thanks to Winnie, she was not totally unaware of what was expected of her. Still, she’d never before felt so vulnerable. She had no experience dealing with this situation, with this kind of man. A ruthless stranger who was too tough, too remote, to show much in the way of understanding or compassion or sympathy for her nervousness.

“However,” Heather added stubbornly, “I am not entirely ignorant about… about the mating act.”

One dark-gold eyebrow shot up. “How’d you learn? You read about it in a book?”

“No. Winnie advised me.”

“Did she now? And just what did she tell you?”

“She said … to trust you. That you would know what to do. She said tonight … might hurt the first time, but if you were a … considerate lover, the act would be pleasurable.”

“Is that all she said?”

Her flush deepened. “Well… she also said I should try to … give you pleasure in return.”

Heather thought she caught the faint ghost of a grin. “I fail to understand why that should amuse you,” she retorted tersely.

His expression sobered. “Believe me, duchess, nothing about this situation amuses me. I just find it hard to think of Winnie as an expert on carnal relations.”

“Well, she seemed to know what she was talking about.”

“And just how are you supposed to accomplish giving me pleasure?”

“She said … that you would show me.”

Heather heard Sloan take a deep, slow breath. Then he exhaled in a sigh. “Okay, duchess. Come here.”

She eyed him warily. “Why?”

“So we can get on with it. Unless you want this to take all night?”

Rising from the table, Heather forced herself to cross the car and stand before him. She could feel the train’s vibration coming up from the floor, running through her limbs and heightening the sensation in all her nerve endings.

“I think maybe you should have the honors.”

“What do you mean?”

“You kiss me this time—unless you’re not woman enough after all.”

He was taunting her, challenging her … intentionally, she suspected. He knew she would rise to the challenge. But at least it made her less afraid and gave her the courage to lift her mouth and press it to his.

He tasted of whiskey and his own highly arousing, masculine flavor. When he made no move to help her, Heather drew back to eye him with annoyance.