He shook his head. “I didn’t say anywhere near enough.”

His stomach clenched and desire rose within him. There was indeed something to be said for the passion of argument, as well as the lure of sensible nightwear.

“Oh? Then do tell, Grayson.”

His gaze dropped to her breasts—her nipples had hardened beneath her gown—then back to her eyes. She noted his gaze but made no effort to close the neck of her gown. A flush washed up her face, and he knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her. As much as he had always wanted her.

“What was left to say?”

“For one thing.” He braced his hand on the door beside her head and leaned close to brush his lips across hers. “You lied to me.”

“Nonsense.” She pushed him aside and stepped away. “What on earth are you talking about?” The lamp by the side of her bed illuminated the shape of her body through the gauzy fabric and left little to the imagination.

“You remember the first time I kissed you.”

“Vaguely, perhaps.” She shrugged.

“And you remember the second time I kissed you.”

“Of course I remember. It was the night before last. I could scarcely forget it. Not that it was a particularly memorable kiss,” she added quickly.

“Oh, but it was.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace. She stared up at him. “And you will remember this one as well.” He crushed his lips to hers. For no more than an instant, she hesitated; then her mouth opened to his and her arms slipped around his neck. And passion denied for eleven years erupted between them.

He slanted his mouth over hers; his tongue dueled with hers, demanding and insistent. She clung to him and tasted him and explored him in a clash of tongue and teeth and lips. Her breath mingled with his. Her body molded against his, and all he’d ever wanted was his for the taking and hers for the giving.

He wrenched his lips from hers and ran his mouth along the line of her jaw and down the side of her neck. Her flesh beneath his lips was warm and inviting. Her head fell back and she moaned, and desire flared within him. Her hands fisted in his coat and he tightened his arms around her.

She gasped. “You lied to me as well.”

“Never,” he murmured against her neck.

“You led me to believe you had no money.” She could barely get out the words.

“Ah yes, well, about that.” He flicked his tongue over the hollow at the base of her throat and he felt her shiver beneath his mouth. “I have indeed made a substantial fortune in railroads and shipping.”