Page 32 of Truly, Madly, Daring

Now and then he was unguarded, perhaps forgetting she could see what was written upon his face, as now. He wanted that, she thought, her heart skipping. He wanted her to himself.

“Yes,” she said, without hesitation.

“But our agreement. I said you could—”

“I don’t want to. I only want you,” she said, with as much certainty as she could, before pressing her mouth to his.

The words seemed to light a fire inside of him and he reached for her, hefting her into his arms. Emmeline squealed, wrapping her legs about his waist, rather scandalised by the intimate position.

“Where’s the bed?” he demanded.

Looking around, she calculated quickly. “Turn to your right, yes, now three steps, one more….”

His legs hit the bed, and he grinned, dropping her onto the mattress. Emmeline huffed at his expression, wriggling fully onto the mattress, secretly delighted by the smug look on his beautiful face. His hands fell to his waistband, and he undid the buttons with nimble fingers. Her mouth went dry at the thought of those clever hands upon her, and Emmeline swallowed, anticipation building.

He had not given her the privilege of looking at him on their wedding night, or morning, as it had been. There had not been time before they’d been so rudely interrupted, and she knew they could not linger now. If Lord Cecil guessed they were returning to Cawston Hall, he might be close behind them. This was important though, and not only to cement their marriage in law. Wrexham didn’t trust her. Not entirely. Not yet, and she needed to change that to have a chance of creating a future with him.

A dark voice nagged at her, reminding her he didn’t have a future, but she refused to listen. Perhaps she was foolish, perhaps she was living in a fantasy, but she didn’t care. She would not give up on Wrexham until it was obvious his mind was gone for good. Perhaps not even then, for the emotions filling her heart were too powerful, overwhelming her and underscoring what she already suspected. She loved him as much as she desired and admired him, and she would fight for him, no matter what it cost her.

Wrexham pushed the trousers and smallclothes down in one smooth movement, before kicking them aside, and Emmeline’s breath caught. Narrow hips followed elegantly into muscular thighs and that most male part of him jutted forward, demanding her attention. He leaned down, hands seeking the bed, coasting over her body to place her on the mattress before he climbed carefully over her.

“Touch me,” he said, his voice soft.

Emmeline obeyed happily, reaching up to cup his face. “How handsome you are,” she said in wonder, stroking the prickle of the beard he’d not had the time to shave.

“It’s scratchy. I’m sorry, love.”

“I’m not,” she replied. “You look like a wicked pirate. I rather like it.”

“Ah, Miss Milly has a taste for fantasy,” he murmured.

“Perhaps I do,” she retorted. “I shall pretend you are a ruthless buccaneer who has kidnapped me for his own nefarious purposes.”

Watching the surprise on his face was worth every moment of pain and discomfort she had endured on their journey and Emmeline grinned.

“I’ve shocked you.”

“You needn’t sound so pleased about it, wicked girl,” he said, shaking his head and then sucking in a sharp breath as Emmeline’s hand closed around his erect flesh.

“Well, you did say I was wicked. I thought I might as well act the part.”

He groaned, and the sound darted to the place where he had pleasured her yesterday, making her ache, her insides molten, her skin crying out for his hands upon her.

“Teach me how,” she whispered, for he had gone still, his eyes tight shut as his breathing grew uneven.

Silently, he reached down and wrapped his hand about hers, showing her the way of it. Emmeline paid attention, both to the instruction and to his reaction to her caresses. Every shiver, every sound he made was a lesson in how he liked to be touched and she paid close attention, determined to learn everything she could. He leaned down, seeking her mouth and she kissed him, wondering at the way it felt to have such power over this beautiful man.

“No more,” he said, gently taking her hand and pressing it into the mattress. “I want you now. I want to be inside you.”

The words made her blush and quiver with anticipation.

“Yes,” she said, a startled sound torn from her as he pressed close, the heat and hardness of him in exactly the right place.

Emmeline sighed and tilted her hips to meet his. Suddenly, he moved away, and she watched as Wrexham sat back on his heels. Emmeline pushed up onto her elbows, wondering what he was about and regretting the loss of his weight and his heat as his big hands arranged her, pushing her thighs wide. He shifted farther back and ducked his head, and she gave a little shriek, part shock, part delight as his tongue swept over her. She collapsed onto the pillows, ready to experience the marvellous sensations he’d shown her yesterday. To her regret, he was in no mood to linger this time and only toyed for long enough to ensure the way was prepared for him. He returned to his place between her thighs and Emmeline’s breath caught as she felt him nudge his way into her body. How strange, she thought wildly, how intimate and close, and….

She cried out as he pushed inside, sheathing himself inside her in one swift movement.

“I’m sorry,” he gritted out, holding still now. “Forgive me, pet. It will get better, I promise. I’ll make it better.”