“Then do not stop.”
The words struck him low, brutal and sweet.
He lifted his head.
Her eyes were dark, cheeks flushed, lips swollen from his mouth. Desire had made her bolder. Pleasure had opened some door in her that could not easily be closed again, and seeing it, knowing he had done that, made pride and hunger twist together inside him until he could hardly breathe.
He kissed her again, deeper, and she answered with a hunger that stole the last of his caution. His hand slid higher beneath her skirt, over the warm skin above her stocking, and she trembled against the desk.
Then the study door opened.
“Emmeline?”
Rowan froze.
Emmeline froze beneath him.
Aaron stood in the doorway with Biscuit at his feet, one hand resting on the doorframe, his eyes wide and uncertain.
For one appalling second, no one spoke.
Then Biscuit barked.
Emmeline slid down from the desk so quickly that Rowan had to grip her waist to keep her steady. Her hair had loosened, her cheeks were bright, and one of his account papers clung to the back of her skirt until she brushed it away with shaking hands.
“Aaron,” she said, breathless but composed with heroic effort. “There you are.”
Aaron looked from her to Rowan, then down at Biscuit. “He r-ran away.”
“So he did,” Emmeline said, smoothing her gown. “A most serious offense.”
Biscuit wagged his tail.
Rowan cleared his throat. It sounded like a man being hanged.
Aaron’s gaze flickered to him. “Were you… were you helping Her Grace find him?”
Emmeline’s mouth pressed together.
Rowan looked at his son, then at the dog, then at his desk, where half his papers had been disturbed beyond recognition.
“Yes,” he said flatly. “Unsuccessfully.”
Aaron considered this, then smiled.
“Biscuit is very good at hiding.”
“Unfortunately,” Rowan said.
Emmeline bent and scooped the puppy into her arms before he could cause further destruction. “Come, Aaron. We shall take Biscuit back to the nursery before His Grace declares war on us.”
Aaron glanced at Rowan. “He does that.”
“Frequently,” Emmeline said.
Rowan’s eyes cut to hers.
She looked back, lips curved, cheeks still flushed, and the sight of her almost made him reach for her again.
