He pushed himself inside her hot, velvety core, held still, and buried his face against her neck. “You feel so bloody good.”
“So do you.” She dug her fingers into his bared buttocks, urging him on.
He complied, rocking against her. Why had he ever denied himself such exquisite torment? She was so tight, fitting him like a handsewn glove, perfectly. Once more, he took her mouth because he needed all of her: her taste, her moans, her heat. Her fingers scoring his flesh as they slipped beneath his shirt and up his back.
He was going to let a room so they could do this again, unhampered by clothing. He wanted her on a bed, a soft mattress at her back. He wanted her against a wall, against a window. On a chaise longue. He wanted her in every imaginable position. But for now—
“Well, this is interesting.”
She squeaked, her hold on him tightening as though she’d drown if she released him. He’d stilled at her mother’s irritating voice. Inwardly he cursed because she was going to get her daughter a damned lord. But more, she was risking bringing shame to her daughter in doing so.
As calmly as he could, striving not to look guilty, he glanced over his shoulder to find not only her mother standing there like a righteous witch but also Nora’s brother Sam, Aiden, and Mick Trewlove.
“If we could have a moment of privacy,” he said succinctly in a tone that hinted it was not a request but an order.
The three gentlemen stepped out, but the motherheld her ground, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’d be a fool to leave you alone with my daughter.”
“No further damage can be done, madam.”
Her triumphant smile made him want to throw a potted plant at her.
“Mama, I asked for this,” Nora said.
“Of course you did. He seduced you. It’s what men do. Then they take advantage. There are consequences. Be quick, girl, in setting yourself to rights. We’ve a wedding to plan.”
Finally, she walked out and the door slapped shut behind her.
Rook helped Nora sit up before pressing his forehead against hers. “I’m so sorry. I should have resisted.”
“I’ll convince her that we don’t have to marry.”
He leaned back slightly. In the shadows, he couldn’t see the bright blue of her eyes. But they did have to marry. It was the only way to protect her now. “You’re not a fool, Nora. Do you truly believe she’ll place your wants above hers?”
She released a shuddering breath. “We’ll find a way out of this debacle.”
“It’s not something that can be taken apart, examined, and put back together. It’s not a machine. Wewillmarry.”
Chapter 20
Rook should have known.
Standing within his father’s library, pouring himself a glass full of scotch, he fought not to throw the bottle against the wall.
From the moment he was a young man, from the time he learned about sexual gratification, he’d shown remarkable restraint.
Then tonight when she’d widened her legs, he’d slid his fingers across the parted folds to reveal the molten dew that her desire had created for him... and he’d surrendered. He’d taken her with wild abandon, and nothing had ever felt so damned good. He’d been mad with lust, with need.
And he’d known that he’d take her again and again—until she stopped him. Having had the whole of her, how could he ever be content with less?
Now he would have her every night. But not by choice. Because of carelessness. Because he’d forgotten himself. Because for those few minutes, he’d been no better than his father, driven by lust. He’d taken what he wanted with no concern for what it would cost her.
He gulped down a goodly amount of scotch. While burning his chest, it failed to burn away the guilt, theshame of what he’d done. He’d always been so bloody sturdy. A castle that couldn’t be breached. Immovable. Fortified.
The worst of it was that even now, the remembered feel of her tightly closing around his cock made him grow hard. The manner in which she’d clutched at him, cried out his name. The way she met him, thrust for thrust. Gyrating against him, pulling him under her spell... until he’d forgotten himself and who he was.
Now she, who hadn’t wanted to marry, was going to be forced to do so. Because of his weak will.
“Johnny?”
