His hips pistoned in and out, in and out.
She had no words, and rested back on her elbows, legs curled around his hips, and rode him.
“Ah, ah, Mistress.”
Finding coherence, she retook control. “Wait for me, William. You’ve broken enough rules for one day.”
“Always, Mistress.”
Her gaze flew up from where she’d been watching his cock plunge.
His hands were fisted next to his ankles, and his expression was serious. “I will wait for you forever if need be, Mistress.”
Her throat constricted at the realization he was not just talking about intimacy. Then the words and his shortened thrusts right against that tender spot inside erased her worries with pleasure. Ecstasy poured through her, everything contracted, and she was thrown into a shockingly sudden explosion.
“Oh!” Her shout became a groan as her inner muscles squeezed him rhythmically.
Registering his expression of shared agony and ecstasy through slitted eyes, she belatedly released him. “You may come, William.”
When she snaked a hand between their hips to graze his bollocks, he yelled and exploded, his hips losing their rhythm and doubling their pace.
Hot spurts of liquid filled her, causing echoing bursts of pleasure. Regret that they needn’t worry about pregnancy flashed through her thoughts, but she rejected it. She loved having him come inside her, it was another part of how she claimed him.
She fell back against the pillows to catch her breath. Gathering herself, she sat up to unfasten his cuffs.
When she started to stand to put them away, he gripped her wrist. Tugging them out of her hand, he dropped them and threw the pillows back toward the top of the bed. Then, still kneeling, he dragged her onto his lap. Holding her close, he buried his face in her hair. As always, he gave her, “Thank you, Mistress.”
She tucked her head into his neck, curling her legs with her knees along his hip and her feet next to his thigh, glad he could not see her face. She’d missed this as much as sexual intimacy. Clenching her jaw to avoid crying, she pushed away her dread of how it would feel to end this, allowing herself to enjoy this first night back together. The future would come, whether she wanted it to or not.
Chapter Twenty-One
William had told Charlotte about South dropping out of Oxford and his penchant for dice and cards.
She commiserated, although she did not see a way for William to help. His concern was exaggerated by his experience having to cover for his father’s behavior, but she wished he would not try to take responsibility for things outside his control. But William was a caretaker, something he’d proven all too often with her.
In addition, she suspected she was a part of the reason he felt obligated to his friend. He often excused himself from White’s early to come to her house, which was when South headed to the gaming hells.
They attempted to find a balance. William’s need to meet with his mother each morning, South’s worrisome behavior, Emily’s desire to see and do everythingnow, with their desire to spend every moment together they could.
She allowed him to spend the night when he could, based on his meetings and family, even though he had to depart at dawn. She too had responsibilities, but she’d missed having a man in her bed, and the puppy was a particularly good snuggler.
Even better, William’s family had recently departed for their estate. He had more latitude in not accompanying them now that he had established an effective routine for managing the family’s interests.
One night, he surprised her by appearing with South hanging off one shoulder, his friend’s arm draped around his neck to remain upright.
“Mistress, I beg your pardon. This is the friend I told you about. His family is in Town this week of all weeks when everyone else has gone, so I cannot dump him in his own bed to sleep it off. Our families are friends, and the servants talk; I cannot take him to my house. I wasn’t sure what to do.”
She wondered how big a gossip his friend was, especially when in his cups, but she could not refuse them, knowing it would add to William’s stress. “Bring him in. Can you get him up the stairs, or do I need to call Austin?”
“I can manage. I do most nights I let him drag me out.”
“I had not realized it was that bad. I am sorry, William.” She followed him upstairs and folded back the bed in a guest room.
William shucked his friend’s shoes and left him there, arrowing straight for her room. Sitting on the bed, he put his elbows on his knees and hung his head.
Charlotte stepped between his feet to rest her hands on his shoulders, and his hands came around her waist. As he buried his head in her stomach, she combed through his silky hair, a new habit they were both coming to enjoy.
“Mistress, I need you.” He gazed up at her, his chin digging into her stomach.
