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previous keepers had waxed lyrical on the pleasures of her body.
    But she’d stood like a warm, fragrant statue under his lips. There had been no reaction, less even than he’d enticed from her this afternoon.
    He leaned close to draw in another breath redolent of her, although he didn’t touch her. He could wait. Even if his balls felt like they were on fire. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Olivia.”
    He was close enough to see fleeting uncertainty cloud her gaze. “Lord Erith…”
    She caught his arm. Even through layers of wool and cambric, he felt the burning heat of that touch. Before she could draw away, he placed his hand over hers. “Yes?”
    â€œI was too hasty agreeing to your proposition.”
    Almost absently, his fingers stroked hers. “I thought you made of stauncher stuff, Miss Raines. Are you to falter at the first fence?”
    The eyes she raised to his were dark and turbulent. Beneath her calm surface, wild storms raged.
    â€œThis isn’t a hunt meeting on your estate, Lord Erith,” she said with a hint of asperity. “You think to buy me much asyou’d buy a horse or a new pair of boots. But more is at stake and you know it. You and I will not suit.”
    Ah, she came back to herself, thank God. He abhorred the idea that he might have scared her. Although with such a strong woman, fear seemed a puzzling reaction. Especially to something as ephemeral as a kiss. Even if the kiss at the time had felt anything but ephemeral.
    â€œWe’ll suit very well,” he said steadily.
    â€œThat’s for me to say.”
    He reached out and tilted her chin to look into her eyes. He admired her courage in neither flinching away nor avoiding his gaze. “You’re really not curious about how we’d be together?”
    That ironic smile tugged at her lips. “A person in my profession loses her curiosity quickly, my lord.”
    â€œThen do it because you’re woman enough to tame me. It’s poor spirited to end our bout before we come to grips with one another.”
    Her smile deepened, and his glance fell again to that tiny, alluring mole near the corner of her lips. He was desperate to kiss her again. Only her frozen response to his last kiss stopped him. “This isn’t a wrestling match either.”
    He laughed softly and let her go. The ghost of her warmth lingered on his fingers. “I intend wrestling to be involved.”
    â€œAnd fencing.”
    â€œDefinitely. My blade is at the ready.”
    â€œYour blade is always at the ready.”
    â€œWhen I see an opponent worthy of my sword, it is. But my preferred opponent claims she’s not up to my weight.”
    â€œWrestling again?”
    â€œBoxing, Olivia. I want to make you see stars.”
    â€œYou don’t waste time on false modesty, do you?”
    â€œI don’t waste time.” He paused. “Will you come to me tomorrow or does London’s most independent, capricious female admit she’s met a man she can’t bring to heel?”
    She arched her eyebrows in perfect disdain. “You think to coax me with childish taunts?”
    â€œI think to coax you. Any way I can. From what I’ve seen, you’ve terrified a bunch of milksops into bending to your will. Test your mettle on a hardier opponent. Why not bring the infamous Earl of Erith to his knees?”
    She gave a huff of dismissive amusement. “You believe I have as much chance of achieving that as of flying to the moon.”
    â€œBut I dearly look forward to watching you try, Olivia. Aren’t you tired of easy conquests?”
    â€œYou think you know a lot about the men who’ve shared my bed.”
    â€œA good sportsman assesses his competition.”
    â€œIf you tell me you’re leaping into the saddle, I swear I’ll slap you.”
    He laughed again. With every second, his appreciation of her grew. “I’d never be so crass,