Page 88 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“If you are worried about me being alone, have Oscar stand guard,” she said.

“And deprive him of much needed sleep?” Erroll shook his head. “I think not.”

“If he knew you were alone with me he would have your hide.”

“I am enjoying an innocent talk with you, Miss Crenshaw.”

“Nothing about you is innocent,” she muttered.

“Nothing?”

“Not a blessed thing.”

“So I shall pay the price, guilty or not?” Erroll asked.

“Oh, you are guilty as sin.” She plopped down into one of the chairs. “And you’ve ruined me in the bargain.”

“If we are judged guilty, perhaps we ought to commit the crime?” Hadn’t he said something like that the first night in her room? She didn’t reply and Erroll realized she hadn’t heard him. He really was losing his touch if he couldn’t keep a woman’s attention while trying to seduce her. “Miss Crenshaw, are you all right?”

Her eyes focused on him and she frowned. “What? Why are you here, Rushton?”

So it wasn’t ‘Lord Rushton’ or ‘my lord.’ He was now ‘Rushton.’ At least that was a step up, even if she seemed to have lost interest. She’d certainly been interested at Lady Grendall’s party, he thought with frustration.

“Grace won’t be long up top,” she said. “It is best if you are not here when they return. She would not be happy to find us alone and I am sure Lord Somerset will consider it quite improper.”

”I suspect Somerset will take his time with her.”

A stricken look flashed across her face and her eyes glistened with tears.

“Miss Crenshaw.” Erroll closed the distance between them and pulled her up and into his arms. She twisted in an effort to break free, but he held her firmly. “Shh,” he soothed.

She gave a halfhearted push, then slumped in his arms.

“Did I misread things? Miss Crenshaw?” His chest tightened. “Do you love Somerset?”

“Don’t be an idiot,” she said through tears.

“I am a man,” he said. “We’re all idiots when it comes to women.”

“Yes, you are,” she readily agreed.

Erroll’s chest relaxed a fraction. “Do you want to tell me what is the matter?”

“You,” she said through a sniffle. “You are what is the matter. You’ve ruined everything.”

“Yes,” he agreed with a sigh, “I suppose I have.”

She looked up at him. Confusion washed across her features, then her eyes widened. Erroll knew exactly how she felt and lowered his head. When their mouths touched, she gave a small gasp. Her scent enveloped him and a jolt of lust drew his bollocks so tight his breath caught. The compulsion to toss her on the bed, yank up her skirt and thrust into her with all his might startled him. He froze, uncertain for a terrible instant if he would be able to resist doing just that. Then she leaned into him. Erroll urged her back until they fell onto the bed. They landed, him on top, and her curves accepted his body as if they were one.

She gripped his shoulders, but didn’t push him away and Erroll ruthlessly pressed his advantage, seaming her mouth with his tongue. Her lips parted and he thrust inside with quick stabs. Slowly, her arms slid around his shoulders as Erroll slanted his mouth over hers again and again, so hungry for her he feared it wasn’t possible to get enough.

Did she want him as much as he wanted her? She moaned and the sound reverberated through him like a shock wave. He had to touch her. Erroll flattened a hand on her ribs and slid upward until the side of his hand encountered the edge of her breast. His cock thickened as he molded his fingers to the curve of soft flesh and grazed the stiff nipple.

She drew in a sharp breath and jerked so that his erection settled more snugly against the firm flesh of her pelvis. Blood roared through his ears. Erroll kissed his way along her cheek to her ear and gently nibbled on her lobe. She gave a small cry and lust growled in warning that it would devour him—and her.

“Eve,” he whispered, and again nipped gently at her ear.

She speared one hand through his hair and tightened her fingers. She wanted him, and by God he would oblige until he couldn’t think straight—and then some.