Chapter Sixteen
“So damned beautiful.” In the anemic moonlight that filtered through the tree branches overhead, a wash of silvery illumination played over her pale skin.
No, he wasn’t done with her tonight. Not by half, but he wanted this coupling to be memorable.
After all, it wasn’t every day that a woman asked a man to marry her.
“How can you think that?” As she watched him, Rose removed her gloves and then tossed them to the grass beside them. “I’m ruined, have given birth, have more curves than what is popular, have been tossed from society…”
“And none of that matters. All I want is you, not what anyone else thinks of you.” After he joined her on the grass, he struggled out of his jacket.
Seconds later, he removed the cape from her shoulders.
It fell with a whisper. Then he resituated them both so that she straddled his waist. Now that he was able to rove his gaze over her form straight on instead of from behind, his arousal grew more acute, but he tamped on the need to immediately claim her.
“You are incredible, do you know that?” Those breasts alone were enough to hold him captive.
“Do shut up, Captain,” she said with exhaustion flirting with her voice.
“It’s true. What you’ve managed to survive? And mostly by yourself?” Damn, but he wished they were both naked, yet that would take too much time. There were other nights ahead when he could explore every centimeter of her body. “I am in awe of you.”
“I suppose we are both fortunate since we almost died from various situations.” Her eyes sparkled as she peered down at him.
“It’s more than that.” As he spoke, he brushed one of her erect nipples with his knuckle, grinned when she shivered.
“You didn’t give up. Other women on your same path would have let the darkness claim them.
They would have hidden themselves away, let society’s judgment of them drown them with shame, but not you. ”
“At times I almost gave in.”
“But that isn’t the sort of woman you are.” Thank God for that, for she would need fortitude if they were to marry. It wouldn’t be the easy life she currently enjoyed as a viscount’s daughter. Unless her parents wished to assist them as they started their lives together.
For he would accept her suit… later tonight.
“I can only be who I am.”
“And lucky is the man who has chosen to be with you.” And she was exactly the balm he needed to help him heal. Perhaps he could serve as the same for her.
With the scant starshine touching her with the faintest illumination and a flush of pleasure kissing her cheeks and chest, and her hair wild about her shoulders as it tumbled from its pins, it was almost as if she’d stepped out of his dreams. Putting his hands on either side of her neck, he drew her to him and kissed her, slowly at first because he was in awe of her, and then once urgent heat roared through him, he deepened the embrace because he wanted her.
All of her. For a lifetime.
“Why is it that I come undone in your company?” Rose broke the embrace to explore beneath his jaw with her lips.
She nipped the skin there, licked everywhere she’d kissed, and one of her hands drifted to his chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.
The muscles of his gut clenched in anticipation.
“I can’t wait to explore you at my leisure.
” Then she suckled at his skin just above his cravat, and his world tilted sideways.
“We are always too rushed, and we have yet to see each other fully naked.”
“The night is still young, but that is an easy promise to make.”
Her eyes widened. “Does that mean you won’t leave tonight?”
“Perhaps, and again, it depends.” Not wanting to rush his fences, he remained silent on the matter.
Once more, he took her breasts in his hands, rubbed the pads of his thumbs along her nipples, then rolled those distended tips until she moaned her approval, and his shaft tightened painfully.
“First, though, I am going to make love to you and send you over the edge.” Needing more of her, he shifted his position to lay on his back.
His hands went down her sides and to her buttocks.
He held them, spreading her open, and he reveled in how she felt against him even though they still wore clothing. “Tell me you can’t live without me.”
“Haven’t we already established that?” Rose went onto her knees. A few tugs of her fingers had his frontfalls wrenching open. When his rigid shaft came free of the fabric, she took him in her hand. “After all, I asked you to marry me. Given my history with men, I didn’t make that decision lightly.”
“No, I’ll wager you didn’t.” That touch nearly had him shooting off his wad. Need shuddered down his spine. He curled a hand about her hip, and he certainly didn’t wish to talk just now. “Careful, sweeting…” A warning growled through his voice.
“Hush, Captain. Patience is a virtue.”
“I have had that in spades for far too long. It’s practically required in the military, but where you are concerned, though, I’m done with it.”
She tsked her tongue as she stroked her hand up and down his length.
Bliss was so close and held literally in her palm.
At his gasp, she grinned, leaned over him, then pressed her lips to his.
Just when he would have taken control and kissed her senseless, she fit the head of his member to her opening, and holding his gaze, she sank slowly, so damn slowly, onto his arousal until he’d fully penetrated her.
Oddly, the gentle joining brought moisture to his eyes.
It was like coming home, only this time, the home in question was her, and he never wanted to leave.
“This is different, but you feel so good. I adore when you’re inside me. ”
“I have no words.” Her honeyed heat was heaven, so snug and welcoming.
His breath stalled as he gripped her hips and guided her off his shaft merely for the wonder of thrusting upward into her body once more.
“Ah, Rose…” How could he explain what he was feeling when it was more than one emotion?
When he had never felt as loved as he did in this moment?
God, she really does love me… and I believe I love her as well.
“Agreed, with everything said and unspoken.” She slipped her hands up his chest, and when she clutched his shoulders, she shifted her stance and again leaned over him, rocked her hips, ground upon him, which sent him so damned deep into her body he never wanted to find his way out.
Their moans blended while heated sensations flooded him.
“I could become far too accustomed to this with you.” The words were breathless as she bounced awkwardly up and down his member, for they’d not coupled in this position before.
“So large. I didn’t appreciate that before, not until I could actually feel every centimeter of you in me. ”
Dear God.
Knowing he wouldn’t last at this rate, Laurence put his hands on her waist. He ignored the urgent throbbing in his shaft as best he could.
With tensed muscles, he flipped them both over, for he wanted greater control during the act and the chance to draw it out for as long as he could.
Once settled between her bent knees, he kissed her in the hope that would cool the heat in his blood, but being buried so deep inside her was both heaven and hell.
Once more Rose surprised him, for her hands were seemingly everywhere, and each flitting touch, every caress and nip of her teeth sent him careening closer to the edge before he’d properly claimed her body.
“Rose, this is going to go quick, teasing aside.”
“A pity.” He’d barely gotten his fill of teasing her nipples with his mouth when she’d sneaked a hand between their bodies to fondle his stones. Need tingled through those bits, and the gentle teasing she gave him added another layer to the already frenzied urgency surging along his nerve endings.
“Sweeting, you are playing with fire.”
“Well, it is a cool night…” she whispered against the side of his neck.
“You are going to lead me a merry chase, aren’t you?” he asked with a growl, for he was nearly gone.
She snorted. “Perhaps, but right now, please get on with it before I go mad.”
“So needy.” With a grin, Laurence encouraged one of her legs upward.
When he glanced at her, caught the soft smile curving her lips, his heart trembled.
She was the most beautiful vision, and he wondered how the hell a future between them would work when nothing was settled yet.
Then his mind was gone, for he thrust into her heated sheath once more.
And he groaned, for there was nothing quite like coupling with her.
The hold on his control snapped; he could keep back the inevitable no more.
Again and again, he stroked into her, went as deep as possible, imagined that he touched her soul with his.
She held onto his forearms as he anchored himself above her.
Once they found their usual rhythm, she canted her hips, met his pushes until they moved in a timeless, erotic dance, and one he hoped they would always indulge in.
Hot, frantic need slammed through his body.
Over and over, he claimed her, knowing beyond a doubt how he would answer her question.
“This is so good.” She shifted position, wrapping her legs about his waist, and he leaned over her.
The new angle was apparently pleasing, for she caught her breath, looped her arms about his shoulders.
Tiny pinpricks of pain from her nails digging into his skin through the fabric of his shirt urged him onward, as did the sounds of delighted pleasure she made. “Make me scream, Captain.”
With each word, with every gasp or sigh or utterance, his confidence soared, and he grew more and more certain of how he wished his future to look.