“You’re insufferable.”
Oh, this was going to end badly, wasn’t it?
“You are constantly weaseling your way into my affairs, you never listen, you think you know what’s best for everyone around you, and at times you can be cruel. You’re too intelligent for your own good, and sometimes it terrifies me to think God created such a creature and simply decided to let him loose upon society without thinking about the consequences.”
Jack’s lips twitched. She had him dead to rights on some of that. Well, most of it.
“But I love you. To a fault. And it is a fault, loving a man, who can so easily break the very heart he’s always held in the palm of his hand, but there it is.” Her lips trembled. “I am yours, I have never been anyone else’s, only yours…”
“Even when thinking of ways to murder me?”
“Even then.” She laughed. “I imagine I’ll be adding to that list for a very long time.”
“Lists are good for the soul, as long as we don’t act upon them.” His eyes narrowed. “Remember, my face is too pretty for the likes of violence.”
Sara wrapped her arms around his neck. “A little violence never hurt anybody.”
Jack let out a groan. “I’m going to seduce you now, as any good rake would, you’re welcome in advance, for the warning.”
“Thank you.”
“Such manners,” he teased. “I love you.”
“And I you.”
“Say it again.”
Sara brushed a kiss across his lips. “I love you, Jackson Mayford.”
“Damn it, I think my heart may have just flipped in my chest. Either that, or the stew was bad.” Jack grinned wickedly as he swept in for another kiss.
“Bad stew? Or an affliction of the heart?” Sara smacked him playfully in the chest. “Such romance, whatever am I to do?”
“I believe this is where I announce that I’m your cross to bear.”
“Lucky me.”
“Ah, I believe all the luck goes to me…” He grinned, tipping her chin up so he could bestow a kiss on her sweet lips. “And now, I must remove your clothes. It seems they have a tear.”
She frowned. “What? Where—?”
The sound of fabric ripping interrupted the hush in the room, and then part of her bodice fell to her waist as Jack held up a knife.
“Where the devil did you get a knife!” she gasped, holding the pieces of scraps in her fingertips.
“I’m a man,” he said, so matter of fact she could have laughed had she not been so shocked. “I was born with a knife in hand and the ability to shoot with my eyes closed.”
“Your mother must be so proud.”
“Do you know? I tell her that exact thing every day!”
“Jack.” Sara glanced down at her dress. “How am I supposed to make it back to my room naked?”
He shrugged, “You won’t. I’m sorry, I thought you understood my intentions. I’m seducing you. Compromising you. Making sure you don’t leave this room without being honor-bound to marry me. You may of course thank me as you see fit.”
“Impossible man!”
Jack winked, and then went to work slicing her stays. Her once beautiful silk dress cascaded to her feet in a waterfall of white, leaving her in nothing but her chemise and stockings.
“Hmm…” He frowned and slid his hands over her exposed arms then very carefully brought the knife near her shoulders and cut.
Her eyes closed as the last of the fabric fell to her waist, catching near her hips.
“My God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured reverently, taking her in his arms. “I believe, I will never go a single day without remembering this, the feel of your skin, the way you look at me… This is the way I always want you to look at me, even when I’m being an ass, please, never stop looking at me this way.”
Tears welled in Sara’s eyes as she reached for him.
“Never,” she whispered cupping his face. “I will never stop looking at you the way you deserve to be looked at — with complete and utter love and devotion.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
SARA HAD NEVER FELT more happy — or more vulnerable — in her life, and yet, secure all at once. It was Jack.
Jack.
Her nemesis.
Her friend.
Her soon-to-be husband.
Her lover.
And it made sense, that a man who had worn so many hats during their life together would put on yet another, one that would show the world who they were to each other and what they felt.
She leaned in for a kiss, just as they heard laughter down the hall. Panicked, she jerked back with wide eyes, while Jack muttered a curse, tugging her across the library and behind one of the shelves just as the doors burst open.
Hugh and Louisa stumbled into the room, laughter bubbling out of them both.
Louisa practically leapt into Hugh’s arms as their mouths collided in frenzied kisses.
Sara’s eyes widened just as Jack covered her eyes with his hand and shook his head. “Horrible influence,” he whispered.