He touched a thumb to her lips. “It was gratifying enough. I made you a promise.”
“But you gave me pleasure. Can’t I do the same for you?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “That’s a very tempting offer, but we mustn’t overdo it. My self-restraint does have its limits.”
Still feeling tremendously amorous, Clara sat up. “What if Iwantto overdo it? I promise, I’ll be a very enthusiastic pupil.”
“Trust me, I believe you.”
“Besides, I’m not ready to go back inside yet,” she continued to argue. “The servants won’t be up for at least another hour.”
She slid across the seat, took Seger’s face in her hands and kissed him fiercely. “Show me what to do. I don’t want to leave yet.”
He responded instantly, lifting her onto his lap, kissing her with unleashed abandon. Feeling aroused all over again, Clara straddled him. Her drawers were still on the floor, so she could feel the rigid length of him easily through the barrier of his trousers.
“What can I do to help you glimpse heaven, without losing what’s left of my virtue?” She blew gently in his ear.
He kissed her neck. “I’m warning you, you should quit now, while I’m still in control of my impulses.”
Heart racing, she untied his cravat and let her fingers slide into his shirt, across his smooth bare chest where she felt his heart beating.
“What I wouldn’t give to be inside you right now,” he whispered huskily, thrusting his hips, lifting her up.
She watched his face in the lamplight, and he watched hers. It all seemed so natural, intimate, and tender. How she loved being with him and feeling this way. How could she dream of doing this with any other man?
Clara rested her forehead against his. Their pace quickened until his grip on her hips grew tighter and firmer. He pulled her close and kissed her and she threw her arms around his neck and held him close.
After a while, he groaned in frustration. “You’ll be the death of me.”
“I wouldn’t want that.”
His eyes softened. “Promise me you won’t feel guilty about this in the morning.”
“I’m not sure how I’ll feel. But I hate that I can hear the birds chirping and the sun will be up soon. I’ll have to leave, or I’ll be seen. Mrs. Gunther would tan my hide.”
“Mine as well,” he replied.
She chuckled and nuzzled his face. “This was all so new to me. I never imagined….”
“It might surprise you to know, but it was new to me as well. We should do it again.”
“Yes, definitely.”
“How can we arrange it?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I’ll have to think about that.”
As she began to button her bodice, she suspected she would be thinking of nothing else until she was back in Seger’s arms again, by any means possible.
Chapter 10
Dear Clara,
No, there are no new faces in New York, so you had best make a success of it in London. You haven’t given up on the handsome marquess, I hope? Have you become better acquainted with him yet? I am anxiously awaiting more news.
Adele
Clara woke to the soundof a knock at her door. She grumbled, rolled over in her large, soft bed and opened her eyes.
