Of Silk and Steam (34 page)

“That hardly sounds like losing at all.”

She smiled. “And if you win…”

That fired his imagination. “I get to return the favor.”

Their gazes locked, and he could see the same smile tugging at her lips as he felt on his. “Behave,” he said. “I’m holding the baby.”

“Do you agree?”

“God, yes.”

“Good.” Another slow, heated smile. “I love politics, but I must admit, they just became far more fascinating.”

Agreed.
He looked down at the baby resting her head against his shoulder and tried not to think of the proposition his wife had just put to him. “Later,” he whispered in a harsh voice.

“Later,” she agreed with a victorious smile.

God, he loved her.

* * *

It was much later.

Leo swung Mina out into the yard behind the Warren, his veins hot with blooded brandy. One glimpse at her eyes, and he saw the same look in them as in his own. No words needed to be said. It had been a long, pleasant evening with far too much blud-wein, laughter, presents…and heated looks shot across the room. Pressing her up against the brick wall, he slid a hand into her hair and tipped her mouth up to his.

A deep, primal kiss, full of possession. Need burned through him like wildfire and he pressed his hips against hers, one hand sliding down to cup her arse through her bustle.

She moaned a little, her fingernails kneading his chest through his coat. “I’ve been waiting all night for this.” The words were breathy, lost under his next assault. They did something to him that he could never quite explain—set loose the raging hunger within him until his vision darkened and he could barely restrain himself from raking his teeth down her neck.

Her gloved hand slid between them, cupping his erection with devastating intent. Something strangled came from his throat, and Leo became lost in the devilish look in her eye.

“Is it later?” He swallowed, hands sliding beneath her jacket and caressing the stiff, boned curve of her stays through her gown. Lips tracing her jaw and the soft curve of her ear, he whispered, “Because I want to fuck you right here.”

“Do you?”

“Nice and slowly,” he promised.

“Not here,” Mina replied, her fingers curling in his collar as she pushed him away from her. The loss of her talented hand from his cock brought another soft groan to his lips. “Take me home and I’ll let you do
whatever
you want to me.”

Christ.
His erection strained painfully hard.

Snowflakes tumbled from the sky, catching on his lashes. Light gleamed through the arch that led out of the yard, a single gaslight hanging from the gilded steam carriage they’d arrived in.

“I’ve a better idea.” Leaning down, he caught her under the legs and swept her up into his arms. “I might just ravish you in the carriage.”

“Leo!” She giggled, throwing her head back, one of her glossy curls tumbling wild with abandon.

He liked her like this, all of her defenses stripped away, revealing a woman who was passionate, ambitious, and slightly wicked. The thought that only he ever got to see this side of her made him grin as he heaved her up over his shoulder and strode through the arch.

The footman gave no sign that he saw anything out of the ordinary. Jerking the door open, he stepped aside and Leo lowered his wife slowly onto the prepared step, her body sliding down his in an intimate tease.

“John Coachman?” he called.

“Yes, sir?”

“Take the long way home,” Leo instructed, then shut the door behind him and turned to press a kiss against his giggling wife’s lips. “Merry Christmas, my love.” His hands tugged her coat open, pushing her onto her back on the seat.

Another intimate laugh. “Time for your present.”

“Indeed,” he replied, bending to press his lips against hers. “What more could any man want?”

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Huge thanks go to:

My very own hero, Byron, for all the love and laughter, and the way that you’re almost more excited about this than I am! To my friends and family, and the local community who have supported me a hundred percent.

To the ELE girls (Kylie Griffin, Nicky Strickland, Jennie Kew, and Dakota Harrison), who bribe me with chocolate, set up our word-count challenges, beta read, and generally create mayhem. You guys rock, and I couldn’t do this without you!

To my wonderful editor, Mary Altman, my copy editor Hilary, and all of the staff at Sourcebooks who manage the behind-the-scenes magic, especially my publicists, Danielle Dresser and Amelia Narigon. Mega thanks to Gene Mollica for yet another amazing cover. You had me the moment I saw Mina with that sword!

My agent, Jessica Faust, and the team at BookEnds Literary Agency. Huge thanks as always, for without you, this series wouldn’t have begun to breathe!

To Melanie Carter Keary, Sheryl Nyary, and Suzan, who helped Name That Baby from my newsletter competition!

And, last but not least, to all of my amazing readers, my Facebook fans, and Twitter peeps, the members of ARRA, RWA, and the bloggers who have helped spread the word—thank you all so very much! You’ve been clamoring for Leo since the beginning, and here he is. I hope it was worth it.

Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Victoria, Australia, and grew up with her nose in a book. Following a lifelong love affair with fantasy, she discovered romance and hasn’t looked back. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and adventurous steampunk romances. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds. Visit her website at
www.becmcmaster.com
or follow her on Twitter
@BecMcMaster
.