Page 47 of Dare to Risk it All

“Yes,” she replied simply.

Raphe stared at her. Had she—? Did she mean—?

“Yes?” he repeated. “Yes, what? You don’t know—”

“It doesn’t matter. Yes, to all of it. Take me to bed, darling.”

“What? No!” he exclaimed, before his over-eager body could reply for him. For once in his misbegotten life, he was going to do this properly. “Wait. Did you just agree to marry me?”

“Of course I did.”

Raphe’s heart did a sort of mad dance in his chest, and he let out a bark of laughter. “You will?”

“I will,” she agreed, beaming at him.

“Ha!” he said, and, because he was too full of joy to think of anything more coherent, he added another. “Ha!”

“I think you’re supposed to kiss me now,” she said, deceptively demure.

“I think you’re supposed to be fully dressed and within hailing distance of a chaperone,” he said dryly, though obviously he was going to kiss her.

“We’re both dreadful, Raphe,” she said solemnly. “The sooner you get used to the idea, the happier you’ll be.”

“Yes, love,” he replied, willing to agree with anything she said in this moment, so long as he could kiss her.

Raphe slid his hand around the slender curve of her neck, sinking his fingers into hair like warm silk as he pulled her mouth to his. The kiss was slower this time, deeper, and as he savoured her, he thought perhaps he could manage this. Then the wicked girl rolled her hips against his, making a soft sound of pleasure at the exquisite friction, and he was raging out of control all over again.

“Take me to bed,” she gasped, moving steadily against him until his brain was fogged with lust.

He shook his head, determined not to give in, even as his hands fumbled with the fastening of her dressing gown, pushing it open before reaching for the ties of her nightgown. Raphe tugged and pulled until both garments were down about her elbows, trapping her arms and exposing her lush breasts to him. His mouth watered as he took a moment to appreciate the lavish bounty before him, before settling in for the feast.

Greer gasped as he licked and suckled, dividing his attention evenly as he worked each pink bud to a hard little peak. He toyed with her, nipping and grazing the tender skin with his teeth as she became increasingly flustered.

“Raphe,” she gasped, tugging her arms free of their imprisonment and pulling his head close, holding him in place, as if he had the slightest desire to be anywhere else. “Oh, please, please.”

Her desperate words finally penetrated his lust-filled brain.

“Easy, love,” he murmured, “I’ll make it better.”

“Yes, oh, yes. Take me to bed, make me yours,” she pleaded.

The desire to do as she asked was an enticement beyond anything he had ever felt before. He knew the pleasure of giving into temptation and was far too familiar with the burning itch for something you knew had the power to destroy you, yet that was nothing compared to this. Wanting her, wanting to show her how he felt for her, had a power like nothing he had ever known. Yet, stronger still was the need to honour her, to make her happy, to keep her safe, and this was not the way, no matter what she said.

“No. Not until we’re wed,” he managed, forcing the words out. “But I’ll make it good for you, love.”

“Please,” she begged him as he hiked up her nightgown and fumbled with the ties of his dressing gown.

Raphe tugged her down again, and they both gasped, electrified by the feel of his hot shaft pressing against her damp heat with no barriers between them.

Raphe gritted his teeth, far too aware of how close he was to the place he needed to be. He could do this, he told himself. This was for Greer, as much as he dared to give her, or dared allow himself as pleasure simmered beneath his skin, threatening to unravel what remained of his fraying control. The devil he tried so hard to keep leashed rattled the bars of his cage, urging him to take what was on offer, to make her his. Yet for once Raphe did not heed him. There was devil enough in her eyes, and he loved that about her, recognising a kindred spirit, one that could not always be as good as they ought to be. He rocked his hips against her, sliding against her slick heat, and she dropped her head, burying her face against his neck with a smothered cry.

Raphe smoothed his hands up the backs of her thighs, cupping her glorious derriere and squeezing gently, urging her closer against him as he thrust quicker. His mind stuttered and grew hazy as she moved with him, faster and more insistent as the delicious sensation gathered inside him, drawing his balls tight. Oh, please, God, hurry, love, he prayed.

With a gasp of relief, he felt her head come up, and she cried out, writhing against him as the climax came upon her. Raphe held her, stroking her back and murmuring praise as she shattered in his arms, easing her through the final tremors until she collapsed against him, utterly sated. Her hot breath fanned against his neck as she calmed and he held still, too aware of his own throbbing arousal, poised on the brink.

Gradually she came back to herself and sat up, lifting away from him as Raphe’s breath caught. He dared to look at her, to find her staring down at his naked body.

Oh, God, yes, please touch me, he implored silently.