Chapter Sixteen #2
Truly, after what happened, she rather doubted it would have come back together anyway. By the morrow, gossip would burn through the countryside, and once again, his name would be talked about in drawing rooms and in taverns. It made her heart hurt for him.
For them.
“Why do you suddenly wish to return to London? Are you running in fear from what you did tonight?”
“Hardly.” When he gave her arse a swift spank and a squeal of surprise left her throat, he chuckled.
“I have had cause to think over the past days, and tonight merely drove it home to me. It’s time for me to be the husband you always wanted, the hero you deserve, the man you fell in love with all those years ago. ”
Flutters went through her lower belly, but it was the warmth and the extra beat that danced into her heart that made Emma catch her breath.
“I have already told you I’m still in love with you.
Those emotions have changed because we have both changed, of course, but it’s no less strong.
” She wriggled on his shoulder, but he didn’t release his hold.
“I am aware, sweeting.” The dear man didn’t waver from his intent, and by the time they reached the stables, she fought back tears and a myriad of emotions as he set her onto her feet in the yard. “Where are you going?”
“To secure the traveling coach and a driver. I’ll pay whichever man responds first double for going out after dark because it’s more dangerous, but I refuse to wait a moment longer.”
“For what?” After everything that had transpired tonight, she didn’t believe anything could surprise her.
“To start our life together with no boundaries or conditions this time.” After he brushed his lips over hers, he disappeared into the stable building.
Good heavens, why is he still so potent?
By the time the coach was ready and pulled around and a driver secured, Emma was frozen to her bones, but then Cecil was there, ushering her into the vehicle.
There were two heated bricks for her feet, a heavenly fur-lined blanket to wrap around herself and keep the chill at bay, and once her husband had settled into the squabbed bench beside her and she snuggled into his warmth, she couldn’t help but think all was right with the world.
Twinkling light from the lanterns affixed to the outside of the coach provided soft golden illumination, but Cecil had kept the ones inside dark. No doubt he wanted to preserve the cozy atmosphere, and that was fine with her.
However, before she could question him about that or anything else, the duke tugged her into his arms. He kissed her hard enough and with such authority her head swam, and every thought he she centered on him.
Perhaps she shouldn’t have been surprised, for that was how it always was with them.
Clouds of drugging passion came over her as she turned fully into that embrace. Several moments passed as the rumble of the coach’s wheels sent wild sensation through her body and worked to further arouse her.
“Will Galahad survive his injury?” she whispered against his lips.
“I imagine so. I shot him in the fleshy part of the shoulder, so the ball went clean through. No bones were broken, no arteries nicked,” he responded as he roved his hands seemingly all over her body. “I taught him a lesson, though.”
“And showed yourself that you are still fully capable of restraint.” Though that was a sticky point, it was a point, nonetheless.
Perhaps she shouldn’t belabor that. It could have been much worse.
Breaking their kiss, Emma slipped to the floorboards and kneeled between his splayed knees.
This desire needed an outlet, and quickly.
“What are you about?” Worry mixed with need in his expression, but it was the hunger in his stormy blue eyes that fed her own.
“Showing you how much I want you.” Quickly, before either of them could change their minds, she fumbled at the buttons of his frontfalls. “I have missed you this way.”
He chuckled, but it was a strained sound as he reached for her. “We coupled before the ball, sweeting.”
“Yes, but perhaps I’m feeling far too voracious these days.” And she wanted to stake her claim as he had done with her. When his hardened length popped free into her hands, all soft, heated silk over tempting steel, she sighed then licked her lips. “So lovely, so manly.”
“Either suck me off or don’t, but for the love of the gods, don’t ruin it with talking.” He groaned, in either defeat or frustration, and it was the most erotic sound she’d ever heard.
“Spoilsport.” She closed her lips over the wide head of his member.
The earthy taste of him, the heated feel of his skin in her hands spurred her onward.
“I could spend hours like this, but I rather think you wouldn’t last that long.
” With a giggle, Emma slid down his shaft, taking as much of him as she could into her mouth then she eased off.
Slowly, she swirled her tongue about his thick length while cupping his stones.
The warmth of him, the tickling hair covering those bits, the slightly salty taste of him all worked at her own undoing, and as she bobbed up and down on his hard, hot length, she imagined him employing that member inside her.
A whimper escaped her, and it must have transferred to him.
“Emma, please.” Desperation graveled Cecil’s voice. He straightened his posture, which broke their erotic connection. Need darkened his eyes. “Let us find pleasure together. Sucking me off can be done anytime.”
“You are no fun at all.” When had that happened? “Usually, you’d be thrilled for me to treat you to this.”
“Oh, I still am, but I’m not in the mood for that just now.” The duke drew her up onto his lap so that she straddled him. The crimson skirting of her Valentine’s gown pooled around them. Then he cradled her head between his hands and kissed her so thoroughly she swore he tried to touch her soul.
And it had unshed tears lodging in her throat.
The hard thickness of his length bumped against her arse, growing more insistent the longer he plundered her mouth, and it was all she could do to match him kiss for kiss.
There was something both exciting about being with him like this, yet there was also a strange peace that came with it, as if she was always meant to be here with him, after everything.
Never breaking their kiss, she rose onto her knees and, putting a hand between them to guide that rampant member to where she needed him, she slowly lowered herself onto it until she was fully impaled.
“I couldn’t wait any longer,” she whispered against his lips.
“You’ll hear no complaint from me.”
“Good.” Sensation swamped her as the feeling of fullness assailed her. It zipped through her body, setting fire to every nerve ending, and she let out a shuddering sigh.
“I understand that sentiment all too well.” He didn’t move and neither did she. “We are far too good together like this.”
“Mmm, agreed.” She kissed his lips, his cheek where the mangled skin continued to vex him, the side of his neck where a continuance of those scars ran deep. She executed a series of nips and nibbles beneath his jaw that caused his length to jump inside her and a groan to rasp in her ear.
“God, I adore when you seduce me,” he whispered as he pulled down her bodice, freeing her breasts from the layers of fabric. Then he teased her nipples into tight, aching peaks with his fingers and mouth until she squirmed on his lap with a cry of both surrender and encouragement.
“You bring out the best—or the worst—in me, and I revel in that.” Emma could hardly think enough to form words, so she stopped talking.
Instead, she moved up and down his shaft, slowly to savor the exquisite feeling of him filling her, hitting every sensitive point she possessed, and it was most amazing.
So much so that she squeezed her internal muscles on his shaft, and shivered.
He gasped. “Hold unless you wish for this to be over far too quickly.” Before she could reply, he tumbled her to the bench, breaking their intimate connection, but then he eased his body over hers and settled between her bent knees.
The weight of him was pleasant and comforting, and she craved him all the more.
How much did she want to explore his hard, honed form with her tongue and fingers?
With one hand cradling the back of her head, he eased the other beneath her twisted skirting.
Emma trembled. “Cecil…” She held her breath as he glided his fingers between her thighs and found the dampness of her arousal.
When he slipped two fingers into her channel, she gasped.
“Oh!” He pumped his fingers into her body, and each time he did so, he worried the swollen nubbin at her center with his thumb.
With each pass, she fell deeper into clouds of pleasure.
“That’s… oh yes, just there.” Heated pleasure slammed into her, and she shook from it.
“More. I need all of you tonight, Thornton.” Panting, she pressed a hand to his, guiding him, telling him exactly what she wanted.
“Haven’t I always given you that?” But shock reflected in his eyes.
“Yes, of course.” The laugh that escaped her was a throaty, smoky affair.
“But the company I’ve been keeping lately is having an effect on me.
” Then she was lost to the magic of his fingers until she bumped her hips against his hand.
Need and pressure coiled tight in her lower belly, and with the insistent pass of his fingers, she shattered.
As she bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming, she curled one hand into his lapel while the other clenched on top of his.
“Cecil!” She arched her back and let the wave take her. “Dear God, yes!”