Mark studied her intently. An unfamiliar and unpleasant sensation squeezed at his chest. He could only assume it was pangs of remorse for agreeing to divest this woman of her innocence. "I will give you one more chance to reconsider. I am not a gentleman. You cannot expect me to behave as one when I bed you."

She gave him a tight smile. "If I expected such, I would never have come here."

"Very well."

He started to follow her to the door, but she turned and said. "I can show myself out."

He gripped her arm. "I wish to seal our bargain."

Cassandra stepped back, intending to tell him there was no need, but her protest died when he pulled her hard against him.

His lips hovered inches from hers. She could scarcely breathe.

"Does the lovely viscountess have a name? I refuse to use titles in bed."

"Cassandra. My name is Cassandra." It came out as a choked whisper.

"Excellent, you may address me as Mark."

She nodded.

"Cassandra, darling, you have any idea how much danger you are in?"

"What do you mean?" She never got an answer. Instead, he brought his mouth down on hers.

There was nothing gentle about the way he kissed her. He was branding her as his property rather than sealing their bargain. Yet her body responded in ways she'd never dreamed of. Heat flooded her, and an aching tightness coalesced at the juncture of her thighs. She couldn't breathe. She thought her lungs would burst, but she didn't want him to stop.

When his tongue pressed against her lips, forcing them open, she moaned. Her response mortified her, but she couldn't help it. He stroked the inside of her mouth with his tongue, and her knees buckled. She would have crumpled to the floor if he hadn't wrapped his arms around her back, bringing her whole body in contact with his.

His hips pressed into hers, and the hard ridge of his arousal made her shiver. At least he wasn't going to have any problem fulfilling the bargain. He rubbed himself against her, and of their own volition, her hips moved to meet his. She leaned into him, craving more contact, but he broke off the kiss and pushed her away.

She stumbled before she could stand up straight. When she looked at him, his chest was heaving and he'd braced himself on his desk. She was grateful he also struggled for air. If he'd been unaffected, she might have died from embarrassment.

"That definitely had promise," he said, when his breathing had returned to normal. "I think I might rather enjoy our little arrangement."

Cassandra's heart raced. She had to get out of there. "Go. Gather your things. Don't bother with too many clothes. I don't think you'll be wearing them often."