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New York Times Bestseller • USA Today Bestseller
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Border Bestseller #10 on the Romance List. Romantic Times Top Pick! RT K.I.S.S.
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Just Wicked EnoughAvon Books September 2007 978-0-06-112970-4 Desperate for riches, penniless Michael Tremayne, Marquess of Falconridge, is willing to auction away his only possession of any value--his title--to the highest bidding American father. But Kate Rose was the last daughter he had in mind to marry. The willful and headstrong Kate requires from marriage the one thing Michael is unable to give--powerful, unending love.. Kate refuses to give into her husband's sensual demands until he has earned her love. Michael is not one to back down from a challenge, but neither does he believe in playing by the rules. While he is unfamiliar with love, he is extremely intimate with passion. He is determined to convince Kate that one can substitute for the other. And what better way to convince her than by patiently and skillfully seducing her? "Heath outdoes herself time and again. Her deeply emotional stories, filled with three-dimensional characters and heartfelt romances, propel her to the top of the genre." - Kathe Robin, Romantic Times “With characters with realistic problems, motivations, and passions, and a terrific love story, Just Wicked Enough is definitely a keeper.” — Jane Bowers, Romance Reviews Today "Just Wicked Enough is one book that has the strength and depth of character and of plot that we like to read." - We Really Dig Romance Novels "Just Wicked Enough gets a well deserved spot on my keeper shelf. - Marlene Breakfield, Reviewer, Mystique Books "Superb! Extremely well written and moving. A perfect romance novel!" —Jennifer Harden, The Romance Readers Connection "Just Wicked Enough is an unforgettable love story which is stunning in its emotional impact and endearing characters." —Amelia Richards, Single Titles.com "Just Wicked Enough has just the right spice to make it an award winning title. Very highly recommended." — Suzie Housley, MyShelf.com
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Michael had recently decided there were three times in his life when he needed to take extra care in preparing himself: when he was to be auctioned, when he was to be wed, and when he was to bed his wife for the first time. He rapped his knuckles once on the door separating their bedchambers, before opening it. The gaslights were lit. Near the window, she was lounging on a chaise longue, a book in her lap, a box of chocolates beside her. She was dressed for the night in a white gossamer nightgown, a shawl draped over her legs. She barely lifted her gaze from the book as he strode farther into the room. "I've come to say goodnight." "Goodnight." She plucked out a chocolate and popped it into her mouth. He studied her, trying to decipher the meaning of that concise reaction. She was either more naïve than he'd realized or it was an intriguing story that she was hesitant to set aside. He cleared his throat. "I think you'll find it'll go more pleasantly if we say goodnight in bed." She did look up at him completely then, the tiniest of creases etched between her brows. "Do you wish to say goodnight or to show me goodnight?" Maybe not as naïve as he'd assumed. "Show you, I suppose." "Do you love me?" she asked. She couldn't seriously be posing that ludicrous question, and yet her expression contained no hint of teasing. Rather she appeared to be incredibly sincere. Why was she making this moment so blasted difficult by referring to matters of the heart with which he had no experience? Why did she look so hopeful as though the answer could be anything other than what it was? He averted his gaze, studying the pattern on the faded wallpaper. He should have it replaced. He would have it replaced. If she approved the funds. That was the bargain he'd struck with the devil. "As I thought," she said rather smugly. "Your answer and mine, my lord, is no." He turned his attention back to her. She popped another chocolate into her mouth and returned to reading her book, apparently dismissing him as though he were of little or no consequence. "I beg your pardon?" he asked. She looked at him as she might some dim-witted fool. "No. I will not crawl into bed wtih any man who has not earned my love." "This was not the arrangement I made with your father." "More's the pity. You should have discussed the arrangements with me." "You are my wife. You have a duty to give me an heir. I have rights as your husband--" "I believe you will find, my lord, if you closely read the settlement papers that I hold the reins on our finances." "As I did read the settlement papers closely, I am well aware of the arrangement." An arrangement his solicitor had argued vehemently against. He favored English law which, upon marriage, allowed that all belonged to the husband. Rose had merely studied the smoking end of his cheroot. "I favor Rose law. The marquess has already proven he has no prowess where money is concerned. Kate was raised on my lap and her banking acumen is unparalleled for a woman. I'm handing over an unprecedented amount of my hard-earned money, gentlemen, and I don't do so lightly. It is done on my terms or not done at all, English law be damned." Michael had considered walking out, hosting another auction, but he had no desire to suffer through the indignity again. And so he'd consented to giving his wife power over him. It was the shortest, least troublesome route. She'd seemed an agreeable sort when he'd danced with her, but now he had to wonder if he might have misjudged her. "I will only loosen the reins on our money if I am happy," she said, breaking into his thoughts. "I assure you that I will not be happy if you crawl beneath the sheets with me before you have earned my love." "And how do you expect me to do that?" "Speak with Lord Bertram. I have great affection for Lord Bertram." "The man is a toad!" "He is most kind and generous." "Generous? How generous can I be when I have to ask, 'my dear, may I have a few shillings so I can purchase you some trinkets?' You will dictate my generosity." "Generosity is not measured by the number of things one is given. Generosity of spirit, of heart--" "I don't believe this!" "Believe what you will, but know this. Lovemaking is an extremely intimate act that should transcend beyond the physical to include the emotional. We have spoken hardly at all. You cannot possibly believe I would bare my body to a man who has yet to discern my favorite color." "Good God, woman, what has colors to do with bedding?" "They both speak of intimacy, of knowledge regarding another's preferences." "Then what is your favorite color?" "That's for you to deduce." Was she saying that announcing her favorite color was the key to unlocking her body? "Red." She gave him an indulgent smile. "You have to know, not guess." Damnation! "I've given you a blasted title!" "My mother wanted the title, not me, and I believe you were well aware of that fact as I mentioned it the night we met." "If you didn't want"--in frustration he waved his hand toward the bed--"that with me then why didn't you tell your parents you wouldn’t marry me?" She laughed lightly. "I could have sworn you were acquainted with my parents. They think they know what is best, and they are not easily swayed otherwise. You can't possibly believe my opinion on this marriage was of any consequence." "But you've been most pleasant throughout the afternoon and into the evening--" "And I'll continue to be pleasant during the day and into the evening. As a matter of fact, I don't think you can deny that I'm still being most pleasant. I simply won't be bedded just because it is your husbandly right." He began pacing in front of the bed, panic settling around his heart. How could matters have come to this? He came to a thunderous stop with his back to her, gripped the bedpost, bowed his head, and ground out, "What about the money?" "What about it?" He glanced over his shoulder at her, sitting there all smug and knowing, as though she sat upon a throne and held the fate of her subjects in her hand. "Do I have to earn your affection before you release any to me?" The only sound in the room was the hissing of the gaslights. He thought for an indescribable moment that he might have seen consternation in her eyes, but it was no doubt only a flickering of the shadows in the room. He felt as though he'd walked into a torturous realm where a man's pride was flayed over and over for eternity. He'd already paid his price and she was demanding more. Slowly she shook her head. "No, we'll see to your debts in the morning." "And beyond the debts, I have affairs which require funds." "I'm not paying for your mistresses." She fairly bristled, the first bit of real emotion he'd ever seen in her. As angry as he was at her, he was also pleased to see she could elicit fire as well as ice. And damn it all, if the fire didn't make him more determined to get her into bed. "I'm not referring to those types of affairs. I was referring to personal matters." "We can discuss them in the morning." He spun around and glared at her. "I could spend a thousand pounds for a thousand days and still have money to burn." "It is that attitude, my lord, which resulted in your having to marry for money. We will not spend frivolously simply because we have an abundance of coins at our disposal." He slapped the palm of his hand against the bedpost, relishing the stinging pain that served to anchor his fury so he didn't strike out at her. "This is not what I bargained for." "Quite honestly, my lord, I don’t give a damn. You couldn't be bothered to call on me before today. You've never even addressed me by name. You will find that I'll be quite generous when it comes to dispensing our funds, but as for everything else you acquired by marriage, it is not easily given. I will not be merely money and a means by which you can effortlessly dispense your lust." "Lust requires desire." He regretted the harsh words the moment they flew from his mouth without thought, a second before she looked as though he'd struck her a physical blow. "My apologies, my lady. Those words were uncalled for and their implication untrue." With a sigh, he banged his head against the bedpost. "We've gotten off to a most unfortunate start." "Because nothing lies between us except my father's money. If you're discontent, my lord, we may seek an annulment. My father is quite handy at obtaining them." No, her solution wasn't an option. "I'm not in the mood to seek an annulment." "Then you accept the revised terms of the agreement?" What other choice did he have? He wasn't in the habit of forcing women to welcome his attentions, and he couldn’t risk causing her unhappiness. Rose, damn him, had been very explicit in the terms he'd laid out regarding the settlement. His daughter, first and foremost, must always be happy. Michael nodded brusquely. "I do." "Goodnight then. I'll see you in the morning." She popped another chocolate into her mouth, and he almost hoped she'd choke on it.
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