“I thought you said something about teaching me a lesson?”

“So I did.” He pulled her to him, his mouth capturing hers. His lips slanted over hers, and his tongue plunged inside. Jane fiercely wrapped her arms around his neck. He quickly maneuvered them so she lay on the settee and he was on top of her, kissing her, pressing his hardness against her softness.

He braced himself on one elbow and, using one hand, untied his cravat, uncoiled it quickly, and ripped it from around his neck.

“What are you going to do with that?” she whispered against his rough cheek.

“Tie you to the settee.”

Jane’s eyes flared. Her heart fluttered in her chest. She’d never heard of anything like that, but she was intrigued. More than intrigued. Ooh, perhaps a rake did have a few lessons to share after all. She met his eyes in a challenge. They’d turned a dark, mossy green. “You wouldn’t dare.”

He’d arched a brow. “Wouldn’t I? Try me.” Clutching the rumpled cravat in his fist, he stared her in the eye. “Say the word.”

“What word?” Her breath was a heavy pant against his firm chin. Her chest rose and fell rapidly with her excitement.

“Yes,” he whispered.

“Yes,” she breathed.

*   *   *

That was all Garrett needed to hear. He pulled Jane’s arms above her head and wrapped the cravat around them, securing them at the wrist. Then he wove the top of the material around the settee’s open wooden arm. He made a tight knot. He’d never been so thankful for his army training before. He might not be a sailor, but damned if this knot wasn’t good enough for his purposes.

Jane’s eyes sparkled, but a hint of apprehension lurked in them. He didn’t want her to have any doubts.

He kissed her temple. “If you want me to stop, just say so.”

“It depends,” she breathed, her gorgeous chest rising and falling. Garrett couldn’t look away. He wanted her naked and writhing beneath him. But tonight he’d settle for caressing those gorgeous breasts.

“On what?” he answered, his voice muffled as he kissed the tops of both.

“On what you intend to do with me.”

His mouth met hers again in a fierce tangle. Then he pulled away and his gruff voice sounded in her ear. “I intend to make you come.”

Jane closed her eyes. “You … you do?”

“Yes. Do you know what that means?”

All she could do was nod. “I’ve…” She bit her lip. “I’m very well read.” She turned to the side.

“Let me assure you,” he said, as his fingers made quick work of the buttons on the back of her gown. “This is one thing that’s much better to experience than to read about.”