Page 71 of The Duchess Debt

The pleading look in her eyes, coupled with the heated tightness of her body clenching around his, overcame him. Unable to deny either of them this singularly delicious moment, he surrendered with a shuddering groan and gave over to his desire for her. Never…neverhad he wanted any woman as much as he wanted Helena at that moment, and not only because of her ferocity in claiming what she wanted from him—but kindness, tenderness…a true partner, in every way.

Wrapping his hands around her hips, he thrust wildly against her. He yanked her back against him with each powerful forward plunge that sent her forward against the table, only to pull out until only the very tip of him remained sheathed in her warmth before once more sinking as deeply inside her as their bodies allowed. Each pounding thrust came with such force now that the sound of her bare bottom slapping against his thighs echoed into the shadows of the library and nearly drove him mad with pure, animal hunger.

She shoved back against him with every hard thrust until her elbows locked. “I want you…oh, please, Gabe…now! Please now!”

He plunged deep inside her one last time and held himself there. His hips jerked, and his seed poured from him in a sweet, joyous rush. His buttocks clenched as he strained to squeeze out every last drop, giving himself completely to her.

She broke beneath him as she came a second time with a sobbing cry that reached all the way down to his soul. She collapsed across the table, shivering and hot, utterly spent. Her eyes were closed, and her cheek rested on the cool tabletop as she fought to steady her pounding heart and calm her panting breath.

He slowly slipped his spent cock free of her warmth, and in the dim moonlight, he could see a silver bead of moisture trickling down her inner thigh. But his heart didn’t need that visible proof of how her body had branded his tonight. He knew he would never be the same again.

He gathered her against him, secure in his arms. She smelled of sweet perfume and the musky scent of sex, and her softness seeped into him, warming him from the inside out.

“I love you,” she whispered breathlessly into the shadows, not opening her eyes.

I love you, too, Helena…But he simply couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

Instead, he closed his eyes against the pain and placed a silent kiss between her shoulder blades.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Alone in the dark library, Helena smoothed down her skirt again, although she’d already brushed out any telltale wrinkles of what she’d been doing while supposedly away from the ladies for a visit to the retiring room.

A wickedly happy smile tugged at her lips. What she and Gabe had done certainly wasn’tretiring.

He had left almost half an hour ago, to return to the men by their bonfire, where no one would notice that his waistcoat and trousers had been rumpled and his hair deliciously messed. Even now, she could see the bonfire through the window and the dark silhouettes of their male guests drinking and carousing, could hear their shouts and laughter, as if they were boys instead of respectable gentlemen. They would do their best to help Gabe enjoy his last night of unwed freedom, and she wouldn’t be at all surprised if at some point during the evening they left Grangely Park to venture into the village to drink and gamble at the tavern.

“Just don’t be worse for wear in the morning,” she warned, as if Gabe could hear her.

She, on the other hand, needed longer to collect herself and to let the flush of passion dissolve from her face before she returned to the drawing room and the ladies’ far calmer entertainments.

She touched her lips, still able to feel the heat of his mouth there. She never knew that being with a man could be so freeing, that being wickedly wanton could feel so very good. But only because of Gabe. When they were together, there was no embarrassment or shame, only the desire to please and be pleased in return. And tonight had been simply magical.

The only moment of anguish had been his refusal to say he loved her. Once more, she had bared her heart, and once more, he didn’t reciprocate by opening his.

She touched her hand to the window glass and murmured, “Tomorrow…” Tomorrow, before their loved ones and God, she would commit herself to Gabe, body and soul, for the rest of her life. “Then your heart will belong to me. Always.” A sly smile tugged at her lips. “And you will say it, you stubborn man, because once we’re married, there will be no reason not to.”

Shehadto believe that. Otherwise, she would never find the resolve to walk down the aisle.

For now, though, she had guests who were most likely convinced she had fallen asleep in the retiring room and were ready to send out searchers to find her. So with one last check of her appearance in the mirror over a side table, she slipped from the library and hurried through the house to the drawing room.

She slowed to a stop. Adam stood in the middle of the hall, his shoulder resting lazily against the wall and his arms crossed over his chest in a devil-may-care pose that did nothing to put her at ease. He smiled tightly as she approached.

“There you are,” he drawled, his voice crawling down her spine. “The ladies said you’d gone to the retiring room.”

Mistrust shouted inside her head in warning. “I did. Now I’m returning to the ladies. The men are outside.” She lifted her chin. “You should join them.” In other words…Leave, and leave me alone.

“Oh, I will. In a moment.” He pushed himself away from the wall and sauntered forward. “But you and I have unfinished business.”

“No, we don’t.” She stepped past him. “If you’ll excuse me—”

Without warning, he grabbed her arm and yanked her across the hall and into the morning room. He shoved herforward into the dimly lit room, then kicked the door closed behind them. When she tried to rush toward the door to escape, he stepped in front of it to block it with his body.

Reflexively, she took a step back, her hands drawing into fists at her sides as her heart began to pound with sudden fear.

“You still owe me,” he said, stalking toward her.

She collected all her courage to stand her ground. “I told you. I have no money to give you, and I wouldn’t even if I did.” She shook her head, tired of him and his games. “What kind of man have you become that you would do this to your brother?”