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“You prefer love matches?” There was a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Not necessarily, but I prefer matches where both parties are compatible with each other,” Mei replied. With her face so close to his chest, she found herself pushing her hand up through the curls scattered across his broad muscles, playing with them. Another intimacy she could not have imagined before. “It is terrible to see two people horribly unhappy together when another match would have suited both of them better and allowed them to meet the needs their stations and families required of them.”

“I suppose it is,” he said very slowly.

“You never truly thought about it?” she asked. Not that she had expected him to, certainly not many of the ton did, but she rather wistfully wished he had.

“In a manner. If I truly thought Tiffany would be miserable with Gregory, I never would have allowed him to marry her. He did ask me before she debuted, and I turned him down because I thought he would break her heart. But then they met, and my worries were for naught, and so he ended up married to her.”

“The scandal had something to do with that as well.”

“Yes, but Nathanial had also offered. Any of my friends would have to save her reputation. But, despite how angry I was at Gregory, I could also see the way he looked at her. Fought for her. He did not want Nathanial to have her. I suppose some part of me realized she would be happier with Gregory than Nathanial.” Sebastian shifted, moving his hand so he could stroke his fingers through Mei’s hair while they spoke.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the slight tug on her scalp and the feeling of his fingers sliding through the strands.

“You only thought about it for your sister, though.”

“Well, she is—was—mine to take care of.” He chuckled. “I am certainly not like you, though, thinking about it for the entirety of the ton. That seems a vast responsibility.”

“Not the entirety of it,” Mei said immediately. “Just those who hire my grandmother and me.”

“Mmm.” Sebastian’s fingers gripped her hair, tugging slightly, pulling her head back, so she had to look at him. His dark eyes searched hers as he lifted one brow. “You claim you have never maneuvered anyone about for their own happiness, even if they had not hired you?”

There was something about the way he said it, so sure of himself, that Mei’s mouth dropped open in surprise. She felt oddly vulnerable, as if he had stripped her down not just physically but emotionally to see through to the heart of her.

“I…”

Sebastian chuckled.

“That is what I thought.” Leaning in, he pressed another kiss to her lips before releasing the grip he had on her hair and letting her slide back into place against his shoulder.

“How did you know?”

“Because that is you, Mei. Always helping. Always seeing to others rather than to yourself.” His voice was quiet, low, yet it felt like something had just smacked into her stomach, leaving her breathless.

Mei huffed. Squirmed.

“Yes, well.”

Another chuckle, and she felt his hand caress her.

“Do not feel embarrassed,” he murmured. “It just shows what a caring person you are. But I hope you will let me take care of you.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” The words popped out of her mouth, hoping it would stop the current path. Mei was far too uncomfortable with how vulnerably intimate this conversation was coming.

Now he laughed outright.

“Mmm, that’s my little minx.” His hand squeezed her bottom, reigniting the sting from her spanking, as he shifted again so he could kiss her.

Mei relaxed against him as she kissed him back, hand on his chest, bottom tingling against his palm. She wished this moment could go on forever.

33

Sebastian

Opening his eyes, Sebastian realized he’d fallen asleep. He was not sure when. The lamps had long since sputtered out. Mei was still cuddled up against him, her head on his shoulder, still fast asleep. His dressing gown was spread over them like a blanket, and he had the vague memory of tugging it over them in the night so she would not catch a chill.

It felt so right being beside her, he did not want to get up… and yet he knew they must. The barest hints of light were already coming in through the window, which meant some of the household staff would already be up and attending to their duties.