Brian was reeling. This was wrong—he shouldn't be doing this. Constance deserved someone better. Someone who wasn't using her to ease the torment as he was.

He broke the kiss and shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said in a rush, backing away.

Brian could barely see Constance's forest eyes widen in the sparsely lit room. And then she converged on him.

"Not this time, Brian Fitzroy."

Constance didn't know why she'd sought Brian out. She'd felt so close to him while the family sat by the hearth in the Great Hall. And when she came to his room, the movement within convinced her she hadn't made a mistake rising from her bed and donning her gown to see him.

But now he intended to withdraw from her again. She was heartily sick of his hot and cold behavior.

She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him back toward her. "I'm not leaving."

He was completely nude and she could not help but be aware. Her fingertips grazed his nipples and she was rewarded with his shiver.

"Constance."

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the corner of his sensuous mouth. He stood rigid and unbending for several flips of her heart, and for a moment she thought he would still refuse to give in to the attraction burning between them.

Brian lowered his head, their gazes locking. Intensity emanated from his midnight eyes, a burning desire Constance wasn't prepared for. Her breath caught.

"There's no turning back," he told her, his voice a deep, husky whisper that curled her toes.