Page 28 of Until I’m Safe in Your Arms

Emma’s low moan almost undid him, but he carried on, licking and sucking on her breast, rubbing himself against her nether regions until her shallow panting made him pause. “Darling, what do you want me to do now?”

“Oh, take me, Alex. Take me now.” She opened her thighs and wrapped her legs around him, resting her heels on his bare buttocks.

“Are you certain that’s what you want?” He’d believed she’d want more love play.

Her reply was to press her heels down and squeeze his cock against her nest of soft curls.

Alex needed no further invitation. Swiftly, he guided himself to her opening then plunged in, almost spilling himself there and then. Just barely, he pulled himself back from the brink—he wanted to make certain she achieved her pleasure before he did—then began a slow-moving rhythm designed to bring her to the pinnacle. “Do you like that, sweetheart?”

“So much, Alex. It feels wonderful—oh!”

He’d changed the rhythm for a moment, pumping hard and deep before returning to the steady thrusts. “And that?”

“Don’t tease me.” She pushed her hips up against him just as he drove forward, making him slip deeper into her hot channel. “Oh, yes, yes. Do that again.”

If he did, it would be all over. Alex snaked his hand down, found her mons and the little pearl inside it. Swirling his finger around the sensitive little nub, he pulled back then slid deeper again and again.

“Alex, oh, my love. Yes.” She clasped her arms around his neck, her hips slapping against his until, with a low moan, she shattered.

As her sheath throbbed around him, Alex thrust again, emitted his own bellow, and spent himself deep inside her. Joy and relief shot throughout him as he pumped once more, then stilled, hovering above Emma, propped up on his elbows. The glow of happiness on her face gave him almost as much satisfaction as the release he’d just achieved. Almost. He leaned down and kissed her lips, then rolled to the side and lay panting beside her.

Strange as it was, his thoughts strayed back to his bout with Uncle Jack and the gut punch that had laid him low. His uncle had been wrong, however. His feelings for Emma had nothing to do with emptiness, and everything to do with fulfilment. His cup of happiness was overflowing, and the sole reason was the woman lying next to him, a light sheen of sweat glistening on her beautiful body. If this was love—and he was now certain it was—he had to be the luckiest man alive. And he’d spend the rest of his life making certain Emma was the happiest woman.

Chapter Eleven

“Where are we going?” Emma peered out of the carriage window as the residential sections of London gave way to more mercantile establishments.

“I’m so sorry about that dinner you…didn’t enjoy that I wanted to make it up to you.” Alex took her gloved hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “I thought I’d do that by taking you out to dinner this time.”

Her eyes grew round. “An evening at a restaurant. How lovely, my dear. I’ve never eaten at a restaurant in public.”

“Well, we won’t actually be in public. I had to engage a private room, but I still thought it would be a treat.” It had taken him some time to find an eating establishment that would allow his wife to dine with him. Not being in the company of ladies overly much, he’d not realized women weren’t welcomed into most restaurants.

“But where are we going?” Emma leaned forward, looking from side to side.

“The Albion Tavern. Despite its name, it’s got quite a good reputation for both its food and the elegance of its rooms.” He certainly hoped it would live up to the extravagant recommendation he’d gotten from Mac. It had taken a solid month to reserve the room, and only after Uncle Jack had stepped in and put a flea in the manager’s ear. Having a peer as one’s relation often helped one along in life.

The carriage pulled to a halt in front of a wide brick and stone building front that towered four stories high. Alex jumped down to the sidewalk, the sharp November wind whistling by his ears. He handed his wife down and waited while she craned her neck to marvel at the building’s height before looping her arm through his and making quickly for the columned entryway.

A maître d’ opened the door and ushered them in amidst a blast of wintry air. “Good evening.” He took in Emma then glanced quickly to Alex. “Captain Bancroft, it is a pleasure to see you, sir. Your room is this way, if you will follow me.”

They moved swiftly through the main dining room, table after table of gentlemen eating heartily. Many of them, however, paused their conversations or suspended their dinners to stare at Emma as she passed by them. Blast, but he didn’t want her to feel like a beast in a zoo or a freak in a circus side show. Again, he’d not thought this through enough. He glanced at his wife, who didn’t seem overly upset, but had a slight smile on her lips. He’d have to ask her about that once they were out of the public eye.

Finally, they arrived at a series of doors and the maître d’ opened the one on the far left. Alex quickly ushered Emma inside, thankful to be out of sight of the other diners at last.

“Your waiter will be with you shortly, Captain Bancroft.” The maître d’ bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

“I’m so sorry about that, sweetheart.” Alex turned to Emma, who was gazing about the room, smiling broadly.

“About what, my dear?” She peered up at the huge stag’s head mounted over the roaring fireplace. “My, that’s a big deer.”

“The way the other diners were staring at you.” Such a lack of manners was intolerable. “If it wouldn’t have caused a ruckus, I’d have chastised them for their ill-breeding.”

Emma strode over to him and took his arm, squeezing it tightly. “Always my hero. But I’m glad you didn’t. We didn’t need to be more of a spectacle than they already seemed to think I was.”

“You are very kind to take it so well. I even saw you smiling.”

She giggled, making her look even more beautiful. “I was thinking they must never have understood a woman would like to have a meal out with her husband. Their wives must be so sad.” She gazed up at him and his stomach dropped at the love so apparent in her eyes. “My husband, however, knows what a wife likes very well.”