Page 85 of The Cornish Inheritance

Eventually, they had to come up for air, breathless and gasping. But neither released their hold on the other. “Nat,” Caroline whispered. “Oh, Nat…”

He couldn’t resist the sound of his name on her lips. He kissed her again, drowning in the depths of her mouth and the willing body pressed against his own. Oh, how glorious it would be to whisk her into his bedroom right now and throw her onto the bed. To remove her clothes bit by bit, to kiss each newly exposed bit of skin, to finally part her legs and let his hungry manhood slide inside her where it belonged. He had a feeling that right now she might do nothing to resist him if he tried this. With great difficulty, he remembered he was a gentleman, and gentlemen didn’t behave like that with any young lady, particularly not one of their employees.

He released her mouth and stepped back, disentangling himself from her arms. “I-I must apologize for my behavior, Caroline.” His voice came out hoarse still, and squeaky as though he was back to being fourteen with it newly broken. If only he were carrying his coat, he could have put it in front of his trousers. She must be able to see all too clearly what he was thinking.

“You have no need to apologize,” she said, her face serious. “For I enjoyed being kissed like that enormously.”

His cock twitched at her reply, trying to influence him again. He had to get it under control. “I am glad to hear it.”

She laughed, a gay, carefree sound in the glum silence of the house. “Oh, Nat, do not look so worried. I am a woman, not a goddess you fear defiling with your attentions.” Her eyes twinkled. “Come, kiss me again, for I fear I shall faint for wanting you to.”

This time his passions nearly got the better of him. This time he found he had her pressed up against the wall, his cock pushing against her stomach so hard he felt it might burst already and disgrace him. And she kissed him back with as much passion as he had himself. Her mouth hungry for his, her hands sliding up under his loosened shirt onto the naked skin of his back. Oh God, how much he wanted her to touch him all over.

A discreet cough disturbed them.

Oh my God. Hetty. She was standing at the far end of the gallery looking extremely interested in what he’d been doing. What they’d both been doing. A complete passion killer. No need for a coat to hide anything now. The shock had returned him to normal in a trice.

“Does this mean you’re going to marry Caroline?” Hetty asked.

Nat looked from her to the woman still in his arms. “Yes,” he said. “I think I am, if she will have me.”