Chapter Nine #3
“You have not.” After uttering a soft growl, he pumped into her.
Each thrust sent stars behind her eyes. Dear heavens, he was as commanding in this as he was everything else.
Soft sounds of encouragement left her throat as she tried to meet his pushes the best she could in this position.
But it was too late, and she was fully gone into madness.
Seconds later, her body stiffened; she shouted his name, forgetting in the moment to keep things quiet.
She clawed at his shoulders and met his final drive as her body contracted around his shaft.
“God.” Even groaned. His member shuddered and pulsed. “You are exactly what I need, have needed.” As his ragged breathing evened, and she relaxed her grip from his shoulders, he let her leg slip from his hip.
When she slumped into him, he wrapped his arms around her. “That was…” Truly, there were no words. Hannah’s skirts fell into place, but her knees refused to hold her upright. “I guess you accomplished your goal.”
“Ha.” He bundled her into his arms, holding her. “Fair warning, though. We are not nearly done.” Then he claimed her lips in a gentle kiss. When he allowed her breath, he said, “For whatever reason, fate has put us together. I don’t intend to waste that boon.”
How odd that he’d said such a thing, for she thought it strange as well.
Once some of her strength returned, Hannah pushed at his chest. Immediately, he released her, and she put some much-needed space between them.
“Perhaps you should tell me why you are so keen on having me back in your life, beyond the physical. Didn’t you say this relationship has to be more than carnal satisfaction? ”
The grin he shot her sent flutters dancing around her heart. “I did, but clearly, I’m not perfect.”
“Mmm.” Neither was she, but she had to do better. Under no circumstances could she let her head be turned by him.
In truth, she could certainly fall for him again if she let herself, but she—they—were beyond that now.
Especially if he were to be a duke. She was a nobody in society and certainly not good enough for him, especially after how she’d lived her life the past several years.
The very thought of being a duchess nearly made her ill.
She had a past, and it wasn’t a flattering one.
Surely, that wouldn’t help his bid to regain his title.
As the captain crossed the room to the bell pull, she frowned. “What now? You didn’t need to kidnap me to gain my agreement to be your mistress. Nor was this session needed.”
He snorted. “Oh, it was definitely needed, and kidnapping you, spending time with you, served its purpose.”
“True.” Heat seeped into cheeks. “You must find a place to live. It will prove quite vital to your plans.”
“Agreed.” He nodded then shoved the fingers of one hand through his hair that apparently wouldn’t be tamed with popular styles. “I can’t keep on at the club. There is no privacy, and I require the services of a valet, besides.”
“You do, plus you will need a residence to make a good showing once you decide to court a woman for your duchess.” Yet he’d already said he wasn’t marriage minded.
While that might be so, once he became the duke, he would have to do his duty toward his title, and that meant aligning himself with a woman high in society, someone well matched who could grace his drawing room with elegance and charm while guiding society’s matriarchs.
Knots of worry pulled in her belly, for she was none of those things, and society already treated her like a pariah if she turned up at an event even if most didn’t know her real name.
A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth.
This was exactly why she didn’t want to feel anything beyond temporal pleasure from sex; it hurt far too much when realizing there was truly no place for her that didn’t involve scandal.
“That is not my immediate concern.” Evan yanked on the brocade bell pull. “I’ll need a refresh of tea. In the meantime, will you help me make plans to take my title back from my damned half-brother?”
Her eyebrows rose in shock. “You want my assistance?”
“I do. You are the most intelligent, clever woman I know. We will make a rather lovely partnership.”
For a time, of course. There was no forever between them. Shoving those thoughts away, she slowly nodded. “I would enjoy that.” Of course, eventually, she would need to tell him about the baby, but she couldn’t bring herself to relive that time. That hurt and pain. That loss.
Soon.
“Will we go back to your ship?”
Interest glittered in his eyes. “Do you want to?”
“Yes, at least for another night. I want to sleep in your bunk and watch the stars from there and pretend I’m on the seas.” She gave him a smile that felt a bit embarrassed. “You mesmerized me with your stories.”
He nodded, and grinned at her in return. “Then we will definitely go to my ship. Stargazing is something else I can teach you.” When he winked, heat went through her belly. “The world is so large, Anna. There is so much to see and do. I’d show it to you if I could.”
“For now, I’ll content myself with the stars.” Unexpectedly, another piece of her heart flew into his keeping.
You’re a stupid, silly goose, Hannah, for he’ll leave you again, in one way or another.