“How?” Maddie asked. Scepticism dripped from her tone.
“Leave it to me. You go to your bedroom and rest.” She pointed upstairs. “Now. And you, Mr. Wentworth, leave.”
Hector bowed to the ladies. Mrs. Debenham had a point. Maddie needed to rest. “I will see you tomorrow, Maddie.”
From behind her mother, she scribbled something on the sketchbook and showed him the page where the word ‘window’ was written. “See you tomorrow. Mr. Wentworth.”
Hector walked around the house and waited in the same spot he’d stopped before climbing her window years ago. The chilly wind blew from the park, and thunder boomed from a grey sky. He kept to the shadows, watching commuters hurrying home and constables huddling their cloaks more tightly.
When the street became less crowded and the constables had turned around the corner, he hauled himself up. He didn’t even need to pause. His muscles were so trained he didn’t hesitate. The window was half open, so he slipped inside and landed on the balls of his feet. He had barely time to straighten before Maddie hugged him.
Laughing, he hugged her back and inhaled her sweet lavender scent. “You didn’t answer my question. Will you accept my money?” He pulled back enough to see her face, needing to stare at her eyes.
Her cheeks reddened. “I can’t pay you back unless I become famous.”
“You’ll become famous, and I don’t want to be paid back.”
“Not even in kisses?” She unbuttoned his waistcoat and tugged at his pathetic excuse for a cravat.
Just watching her slender fingers working on the buttons of his shirt caused his pulse to spike. “That’s another matter. When do we start this payment in kisses?”
“Now. Because it’s my turn.”
“Your turn?”
She removed his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt with one yank. She drew in a breath, admiring him. “You must promise me that one day you’ll pose for me.” She ran her hands over his chest, exploring and studying him.
“Yes. Anything you want.” Oh, his cock ached, but he let her explore his body without interrupting her.
Her fingertips caressing his nipples were sheer torture, but he pushed down the urge to rip her clothes off her beautiful body. He sucked in a breath as she traced his abdominal muscles and biceps. Blazes. He had to focus to remain still. Her delicate touch fed a fierce dark hunger inside him. It nearly frightened him.
When she opened his trousers and knelt in front of him, he couldn’t repress a groan. She wouldn’t do that, would she? No, he was wrong. She parted her plush lips and smiled before dipping her head. He hissed a breath between his teeth when she took him in her hot, velvety mouth. Fire of hell. His body was aflame with need, pleasure, and the deep desire to marry her. No, not because she obliterated his reason with her tongue and lips. He wanted to marry her because he couldn’t imagine his life without her.
Another tortured groan tore out of him as she sucked him deep in her throat. He sank his fingers into her silky hair and fought a shout crawling up his chest. She swirled her tongue over his tip before taking him deeper. It was good that his thigh muscles were taut and strong, or he would collapse. Desire welled so fast in his abdomen that he shuddered with it. He jolted when she stroked his balls with curious hands. He felt her touch everywhere. She changed rhythm but took him even deeper in her mouth. Hell. He was dying from pleasure.
He couldn’t resist. The release built up quickly, burning him from the inside out. He gently took her face and moved her away before he spilt into her mouth.
She pouted, her pillow-like lips red and glistening. “Why did you stop me? I wanted—”
He cut her protest with a kiss. Even to his standards, it was a savage one. Raw and furious. He poured all his burning desire into that kiss. But she replied by wrapping her arms and legs around him. They kissed with their mouths open, biting, tonguing, and grazing at each other. He lifted her and walked blindly towards the bed. When his legs touched the covers, he laid her down. He took a moment to admire her kiss-swollen lips and her rising chest before unbuttoning her dress. It was curious how earlier that day his fingers had struggled to tie the knot of his cravat, but now they managed to unbutton her shirt, untie her skirt and petticoats, and remove her boots in a matter of seconds. In her chemise and drawers, she was simply irresistible.
She spread her legs, showing him her glistening core without hesitation. He started kissing her from her neck, smiling against her skin when she moaned. He bunched up her chemise and closed his mouth around her inviting nipple. Her hips bucked up as he sucked hard before tonguing her breasts. She was perfection in everything. All creamy skin, sweet scent, and delicious moans. He fondled her breasts and tongued her hardened nipples until she writhed underneath him.
“Please,” she whispered. “Make me feel it.”
He buried himself in her with one thrust and paused, worried to have hurt her. But she arched her back and lifted her hips, so he started to move back and forth until he found a rhythm she matched. God, she was so beautiful it hurt.
“Harder,” she said in a commanding tone.
He obliged. When her inner muscles squeezed around him, he stroked her engorged nub. She clamped her hands over her mouth to muffle her scream of pleasure, which he didn’t like. He wanted to hear her scream. He wanted her fully unbridled with passion, free to express her ecstasy.
All in good time. If she’d ever agree to marry him. He pulled away before finding his release. Its power rocked him deeply. It bordered on pain, so shockingly strong it was. Swallowing his shout of pleasure, he waited for his brain to become functional again and his heart to slow down.
“Come here.” She spread her arms, and he went to her willingly, scattering kisses on her face.
The words ‘would you be my wife’ burned on the tip of his tongue, but he reined himself in. If he didn’t become the Duke of Blackburn, he wouldn’t have anything to offer to her, and if Quentin’s doctor managed to declare him insane, he’d be locked up in an institution, and he didn’t want Maddie to suffer because of him, being tied to a man proclaimed insane. So he held her, feeling her soft breath on his chest, and promised—no, swore that he’d ask her to marry him when he could offer her the whole world.
twenty-seven
