Page 76 of The Smuggler’s Escape

What condition would Richard impose on her now?

“Once the excisemen come into the cottage, get Tommy to the manor and have them call the doctor.” Richard whacked the pony on the rump, and Will and Tommy vanished into the wood. Richard hustled Noelle into the cottage.

Immediately, she turned on him. “If the condition is that I have to marry you, I refuse to accept it.”

“I haven’t decided what the condition is. Perhaps, in the end, I won’t care enough to require anything at all.” He picked up the remnants of the sheet and tossed it onto the bed, then removed his breeches and dropped them to the floor. “Difficult as it may seem, my love, you will have to pretend to enjoy my attentions.”

“That’s not what’s difficult, you idiot.” Noelle spread the sheet on the bed and pulled the coverlet over it. “Don’t you understand anything?”

“No,” Richard said, “it seems I don’t. But I expect I shall find that that doesn’t matter either. Get on the bed.”

She glanced doubtfully at his member. She might not have much experience, but she knew perfectly well this indicated a lack of interest.

Finally, finally, she’d become so scandalous that he could no longer care. She muffled a sob of despair and climbed onto the bed. She removed her wrapper and laid it aside. She shivered.

Richard read her thoughts. “No, you will not take off your nightdress. Whatever you may wish to pretend, you are in no way a whore. We can be quite convincing as is.”

Dieu merci.

He put the lantern on a table in the parlor and closed the bedroom door, then removed the flintlock pistol from her cloak. “I trust this is still loaded?” He laid the gun on the bed within easy reach and covered it with the cloak. “Just in case.”

He lay on his back on the bed. “Climb on top of me.”

What? “Why?”

“So I will be in a position to use the gun, if necessary. Come on, love, hurry up. They’ll come into the cottage any second.”

A flush of terror and desire crawled up Noelle, and settled low in her belly. “You want me to sit on top of your—your . . .”

“Almighty God.” Richard pushed her nightdress above her waist, lifted her, and settled her on top of his member, which, in the dim light of the candle, seemed to have grown slightly. He pulled the coverlet over his legs and partway around her back.

“Now,” Richard said, “rub yourself against me and moan.”

Noelle moved slightly. His manhood, larger now, nestled between her nether lips. Her heartbeat quickened, and restlessly, she moved again. “Must I moan?”

“You must feign pleasure.” His hands settled on her hips and rocked her gently back and forth. “You’re on fire with uncontrollable passion.”

Oh. She did feel a little flushed. And fiery.

Richard lifted her, spread her legs wider, stroked her sensitive nub, and settled her again. “Keep rocking. You’re an abandoned woman with your equally abandoned lover. The last thing we expect is excisemen interrupting our tryst.”

Obediently, Noelle rocked, breathing in time to the quickening throb of her heart and loins. She moaned softly, closed her eyes, and moaned again.

Fires licked through her. Richard’s manhood had grown alarmingly. His hot hands slid under her nightdress to fondle her breasts.

Oh. She threw her head back, and this time the moan wasn’t feigned. Richard’s thumbs played with her nipples. His hot hands gently cupped and squeezed her breasts. She thrust herself against him, rocking harder now.

Outside, the door was flung open and slammed against the wall.

She froze.

A pulse of sheer pleasure rocked through her, and she moaned again.

Richard laughed low and wickedly. He pulled her down to kiss him, and she kissed him back, open-mouthed, drawing pleasure from pleasure. One hot hand caressed her neck, while the other stole between her legs to stroke her again.

Oh, but no, it wasn’t his fingers rubbing her, fondling her opening. She heard rough voices in the next room, but—

Richard thrust inside her.