Page 107 of To Bed the Bride
She dropped her hands and took a step back. “But I won’t marry you, Logan. I won’t lose Hearthmere. It’s part of me. It’s my heritage, what’s left of my family. Hearthmere is my responsibility. I can’t abdicate it.”
“You’re worried that our marriage will give me control over your property?”
She nodded.
“And that I’d do something to it?”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t think you would. But you could.”
“Then I’ll gift the contents of Hearthmere to you. A wedding declaration. I’ll have my solicitor draw it up and you can have someone look it over if you wish. That way your inheritance will stay yours. A gift, and not subject to antiquated law.”
To do that she would have to trust him. Words he didn’t say, but they were there in his eyes.
She put one hand against his chest, right where his heart was. She could feel it beating powerfully beneath his jacket.
Did she trust him? He’d saved her in more than one way. He was her friend. Her knight. Her lover. Yes, she trusted him, more than she’d ever trusted anyone.
Once more he drew her into his arms.
“Marry me, Eleanor, and be my love. We’ll have to live in London for a bit, of course, but we can make the city our own. Then we’ll come back to Scotland and live in Edinburgh or here or in my home. Wherever you want.”
She wrapped her arms around him and put her cheek against his chest. How could she possibly explain what she was feeling? She’d been overwhelmed by grief, knowing that she would never see him again. Now he was here and he was offering her the world.
What would life be like with him by her side? He’d dare her to do more, she suspected. Perhaps she’d take on causes of her own. Perhaps she’d even become more involved with Hearthmere’s breeding program. No doubt that would shock Mr. Contino down to his tooled boots.
There wasn’t time to think of other changes that would probably happen in her life because Logan was kissing her. Sensations overcame thought and she could only clutch his shoulders and hold on.
His kiss lit something within her, a ravenous need that was like hunger or thirst. She’d never thought passion could be fierce, but that’s what she felt now.
Her hands slid beneath his coat and gripped his shirt. She wanted it off. She wanted all his clothing off.
When they broke apart they only stared at each other. Their faces were both colored by emotion, their breathing equally harsh.
“No, not this way again,” he said.
He startled her by walking to the other side of the room.
“It’s the only way,” he added. “I can’t be within five feet of you without kissing you, and we both know where that leads.” He looked around the library. “There isn’t even a sofa here. I’ll not take you on the desk.”
“Come to my bed, then.”
“And shock all your servants? I don’t give a flying fig for my reputation, Eleanor, but I care about yours.”
She really wanted to kiss him for that comment, but he held up his hand as if he knew what she was thinking.
“Does that mean I won’t be able to be in the same room with you until we’re married?” she asked.
“Will we be married? You never answered me.”
“Yes. Yes. Yes.” She smiled at him, but he still didn’t approach her.
She went to one of the patterned tin walls and touched the middle panel on the second row. Smiling, she watched his expression as the secret door opened.
“It goes to my bedroom,” she said. “Not a direct route, but it will get us there eventually.”
He began to shake his head.
“Eleanor...”
