Suddenly, he blinked, his expression wiping clean of any passion, any teasing. It was as if the entire thing never happened. “Sorry. Old habit.” He thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and leaned against the counter. “Shall we get you in the carriage?”

She couldn’t answer, her body still buzzing. Every cell inside her remembered him and craved more. There was no pretending they hadn’t kissed, hadn’t tasted each other’s skin in Newport. They had, and she desperately wanted to again. It was practically all she could think about.

I know I said we shouldn’t but it’s killing me to resist him.

They were alone in the kitchen. Carpenters had been in and out of the main room throughout the day, but they’d left almost an hour ago.

No one was in the building save her and Kit.

He watched her carefully, his gaze wary. Desire had darkened his eyes and his cheeks were slightly flushed. He held himself stiffly, hands in his pockets, as if he was afraid of what would happen if he didn’t keep them hidden away.

My cock is hard all the time for you.

He wanted her.

She didn’t know why or even how, but this beautiful man wanted her. It defied logic, but she wasn’t about to complain. And the reasons for keeping her distance from him no longer seemed important.

I’ll find a husband when this is over. Starting Saturday, I swear.

Lifting her hand, she placed it on his chest, right over his heart. The muscle pounded beneath her fingertips, strong and true, with the heat coming off him like a jolt of electricity to her core.

He didn’t move. “Alice, what are you doing?”

“I think you owe me for my services today.” The words came out in a teasing, flirtatious voice that hardly sounded like her own.

His lips parted on a quick intake of breath. “And what do you want in exchange?”

“I’m not certain. Perhaps something old. Perhaps something new.”

The edge of his hip nearly touched her stomach as he shifted closer, his shoe scraping on the tile floor. “I have fond memories of old, but I’d love to explore this idea of new. Care to elaborate?”

She shook her head, incapable of putting any of her thoughts into words, not when her skin crawled with anticipation and need and wanting, so much so that she could nearly taste it.

“Does this mean you leave it up to me?” His mouth hitched. “Always a dangerous proposition, sweetheart.”

The endearment sank inside her bones, melting them, and she clutched his vest in her fingers. “Will you kiss me already?”

“Still bossy.” He slid a hand onto her hip and up her rib cage. When he cupped the back of her neck, he closed the distance between them. “I like it.”