Page 26 of Truly, Madly, Daring

“Sweet Emmeline, how lovely you are,” he murmured as he kissed his way across her body, his hand smoothing down over her belly, down her thigh, pushing her legs wide.

“My lord,” she gasped as his hand coasted back up the inside of her thigh, his fingers searching through the curls between her legs.

He made a choked sound. “Rex,” he corrected.

“Rex,” she repeated, too giddy to care if she’d said something to amuse him. She simply lay in a happy sprawl, allowing him to do as he pleased and discovering to her delight that it pleased her too. She closed her eyes, so overwhelmed by the sensation that she did not notice the path his mouth was following until….

She cried out in surprise, eyes flying open. “Oh! That’s the wicked surprise!” she exclaimed, hearing a muffled snort of laughter before he returned to his work, pushing her thighs wide and scandalising her to her very core. Emmeline closed her eyes again, giving herself over to him, trusting him, because she had done so from the very first. She thought perhaps she had fallen in love with him that night at the dinner party Prue had given. He had appeared so very proud and aloof, snarling and baring his teeth to keep the world at bay and disguise his uncertainty, yet he had made her laugh so, and she’d been done for.

“R-Rex, I can’t,” she protested, when the sensations became too much, too intense, making her feel like she might split into pieces and never be quite whole again.

He raised his head and then pressed a kiss to her inner thigh that made her shiver. “You can, you know. If you stop fighting it, there’s the most delicious reward waiting for you.”

“The little explosion?”

He grinned, a sight which was becoming familiar and did dreadful things to her pulse. “Yes, if you like.”

“It’s what Mama called it,” she said, a little defensive.

“Well, and quite right she is too. I’d like you to experience it. For one thing, it will make what comes next easier.”

“V-Very well, then,” she said doubtfully. “But I don’t know how.”

“Just let it happen, that’s all,” he advised her, which she did not think very helpful at all, but held her tongue as he was clearly the expert here. A fact that was borne out moments later as Emmeline clutched at the bedclothes and writhed beneath him as stars exploded behind her vision.

“Oh, my,” she gasped when finally the joyous waves of bliss faded, struggling to return to the real world as her blood fizzed and her mind span in giddy little circles. “Oh, my word.”

“Sweet little Emmeline,” he murmured, nuzzling at her belly as he moved back up the bed, prowling over her like a big cat. “I believed I had used up any good fortune remaining to me when you agreed to be my wife, but I did not realise just how lucky I was. You are quite delicious, pet.”

“Am I?” she asked, wondering if he was just being kind, or if he truly meant it.

He settled himself between her legs, and Emmeline gasped as his arousal pressed against her still throbbing centre.

“You are,” he whispered, nipping at her earlobe.

He pressed his hips closer, and Emmeline could not help the sound that escaped her as pleasure spiked through her blood again. She slid her hands down his back, revelling in the powerful muscle beneath her palms and reaching for the waistband of his small clothes. More than anything, she wanted them gone, wanted nothing between them. She had not until this moment realised how elemental the need to have him inside her, how ferocious the carnal desire for a man could be. Suddenly, all those ill-fated love affairs she had read about were a deal easier to understand.

“Do you want me, Emmeline?” he asked, his voice dark and wicked.

She almost laughed, for surely that was obvious enough, but before she could answer, there was a heavy pounding at the door.

“My lord?”

Rex jolted, turning his head towards the door, and scowling. “The devil take you, Humboldt. Go away!”

“I beg your pardon, I would dearly love to do so, but Mr Carter is here. He left some hours after we did and has had a rather trying journey.”

“Well, and what of it? Why is he here?”

“It appears Mr Thompson has betrayed us. He sold the information of our plans to your father. Carter has gone above and beyond to warn us, my lord, but it appears your father will meet Emmeline’s parents today and he has sent Lord Cecil to detain you. He is not far behind Carter and has several, er… bully boys in his company.”

“Damn him!” Rex growled, quite plainly furious.

“I quite agree, my lord, but I think it would be prudent to leave as soon as possible. Once we are settled at Cawston Hall, we’ll be far more secure.”

“Very well. Have the carriage made ready,” he snapped, rolling off Emmeline and flinging the covers aside in one angry motion.

Emmeline heard Humboldt’s footsteps retreat and dithered for a moment, uncertain what to do. The lovely spell had been broken and the man beside her seemed a more daunting incarnation of Wrexham than the one who had kissed her with such tenderness and made her feel so wonderful.