Myriah Fire — Claudy Conn

It started with a stolen kiss …fire.
Wild and headstrong, fiery Myriah Whitney is wild of nature, contrary, and independent. But when her father catches her kissing the handsome Sir Roland (how else is she to determine if he is the one who will make her feel thunder and lightning, hear bells and music?), he declares that her days of headstrong independence are over. She will, he commands, announce her engagement to Sir Roland -- immediately.

But in an age where marriages are about alliances rather than affection, practicality not passion, Myriah wants more -- she wants to fall in love. And she does not love Sir Roland. So she runs away to her grandfather with her faithful manservant, Tabson, at her side.

A wrong turn in the fog, however, leads to the discovery of an injured young man, and before she knows it Myriah is caught up in world of intrigue and secrets. And when she meets the young man's older brother, the mysterious Lord Kit Wimborne, the sparks fly. Their first encounter -- in his bed, both of them naked, no less! -- is an explosion of wills, and it is what finally set Myriah on fire.

She has, it seems, finally found her thunder and lightning…
an excerpt:
She lay staring in utter disbelief
at the stranger she was still holding in her arms

Lantern in hand, Kit moved upstairs to his bedchamber. He was surprised the drapes in his room had been pulled tight but was too tired to contemplate the mystery. He set the lit lantern on a side table and shrugged out of his clothes. He then picked up the lantern and made his way to his bed, setting the lantern on the nightstand. However, there he stopped short.
Someone with long, flaming ringlets of hair was lying face down, covered only to her waist -- in his bed!
His first thought made him grin. His puppy of a brother had no doubt brought her home with him, but why would the rascal send her off to his bedchamber?
Drape mystery solved, and another one to contemplate.
“Now what to do with you, sweet,” he murmured. Grinning, as he thought, One shouldn't infringe on one's brother's property -- but really, Billy, why the devil did you put her in my bed? This question repeated itself, and still grinning, his lordship decided the only thing to do in such a situation was to wake her -- his way!
He nibbled at her delicate ears and placed a warm kiss on her throat. She groaned pleasurably. The sound stimulated him, and he leaned over her and took her mouth with.

Hero: Lord Kit Wimborne
Heroine: Myriah Whitney