Chapter Thirteen #2
His shrug only lifted one shoulder. “I had to sign a deed to transfer one of my properties to him.” As he spoke, a muscle ticced in his cheek.
How odd. “What for? Papa didn’t mention anything about it to me.”
“He wouldn’t, of course, for it would make him seem like a gloating arse. And it was a stipulation in the marriage contracts.”
A wave of shock slammed into her. “You gave up a property for me? But you didn’t know me at the time.”
He closed the distance between them and snaked an arm about her waist. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Well, it does, though, for you hardly know me now.” Was that another mark against their relationship? Should they be further along by this point? Although, to be fair, they’d only known each other less than two weeks. It wasn’t much time at all, but then, stranger things had happened.
“I’ll wager I know you well enough.” William waggled his eyebrows as his eyes darkened. “And I wouldn’t mind knowing you again.”
Good heavens, he was too much the flirt. Another round of heat infiltrated her cheeks. “You know what I meant.”
“I do, but it is so fun to tease you.”
“Oh.” Despite her best intentions, her chin quivered as a wash of tears went into her eyes.
“I’m not worth that price of signing over a property.” Would he soon find that out too?
A frown tugged at the corners of his lips. “You may think that, but others do not.”
“You mean you.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes, of course.” Pressure from his fingers at the small of her back encouraged her body forward until it brushed his.
“I’m sorry all the same.”
“Well, I’m not.” As he cupped her cheek, he wiped away the tears on her skin. “You are more interesting than the hunting box. Which I hardly used.” Then, holding her gaze with his, he lowered his head and kissed her.
The mood between them was different than it had been before.
There was a sacredness there, a special feeling that had been absent all the other times she’d been in his embrace.
All too soon, the light, tender touches and explorations beneath various pieces of clothing had heat ramping and ardor climbing.
“Help me take off your clothes,” she whispered as she manipulated the knot of his cravat.
“There is no time for that, I think.” He swept her into his arms with a little growl, and when he trapped her against the hard wall of his chest and one of the bookshelves she’d yet to empty of books, her heartbeat accelerated.
“Tell me you want me, Charlotte. I need to hear you say it. Coupling is lovely, of course, but words are more powerful.”
“Yes, they are. I quite agree.” Her pulse rushed so hard through her veins she heard it in her ears.
Unable to deny herself from touching him, she stroked a hand along his jaw.
The close-cropped hairs from his beard rasped against her skin.
A muscle twitched beneath her fingertips.
With every beat of her heart, she feared she’d shatter from desire.
It was so easy to forget the remainder of the world, for in that moment, there was only her and him.
“I want you… because you are, well, you.”
After a soft cry of apparent victory, the earl crushed his mouth to hers, claiming her lips with a strength she couldn’t deny.
All her senses were consumed by him. The muscled length of him pressed into her softer body while the hard edge of the bookshelf cut into her back and hips.
His arms around her were like iron bands, his fingers were fire as he played them up and down her spine.
The warmth of his tongue when he tangled it against hers sent an urgent throb between her thighs.
She burrowed closer in a bid to feel all of him.
His citrus and cedar scent wafted into her nose and left an indelible stamp upon her brain.
The more they came together like this, the more facts she learned about him, the more she wasn’t ready or willing to give him up to fate or chance.
The future was theirs to forge; outer forces had nothing to do with it.
Charlotte threaded her fingers through the silky hair at his nape.
She stood on tiptoe in order to feel the full extent of his kiss.
Her hardened nipples rubbed against her clothing, and she moaned.
Would he touch her there and ease their ache?
It was surely insanity how much she wanted him.
He didn’t, but he traced her back. Bit by bit he drew the hem of her dress up.
Cool air circulated around her exposed legs.
Seconds later, the heat of his hands seeped into her rear as he gripped her arse.
His fingers feathered over her skin, and she shifted to part her legs, hoping he’d stroke her quivering button.
How fast I’ve become since meeting this man.
Not that she cared. When he drew abstract patterns over her buttocks, she wrenched away to pepper his chin with kisses. “Perhaps we should retire upstairs.”
“No, I want you here, in the midst of my library and books; all the things I enjoy the most.” He grasped her hips and ground his pelvis into hers. “No doubt you can feel how urgent things have become.”
“I can.” Daring much, she drew a hand between their bodies and caressed the impressive bulge of his shaft where it pressed against his trousers. His breath hissed. She smiled and rubbed her hand along his length.
“I won’t last if you keep on.” He lifted her off her feet, unmindful of her squeal, and let her back connect with the bookshelf.
“What are you doing to me, Charlotte? Never have I been as fascinated by a woman as I am with you.” As he spoke, William unbuttoned the front of his trousers and freed his member.
The engorged length stuck straight out, bobbing between them, rigid, dark-veined and waiting.
“It was inevitable someone would.” And yet it was her! How lovely to be told such. She wrapped a hand around his length. His hot girth filled her palm and jumped when she rubbed her thumb over its weeping tip. “Thank you for the confidence.”
Amusement warred with need in his green eyes. “I am trying to learn how to be a better man.” He dropped a kiss on her mouth. “I apologize that this joining will probably be quick. I’ve been randy all day thinking about you.” He grabbed handfuls of her skirts and bunched them around her waist.
She didn’t protest when he urged one of her legs up to rest on his hip. The head of his shaft rubbed along her sensitive folds as her body opened to him. A host of shivers fell down her spine and clashed with the ones invading her insides. “That is the risk we take at times.”
“I adore your outlook and the fact you speak whatever is on your mind.” He shoved into her passage without warning, and then Charlotte’s world dissolved beneath a wave of pleasure.
“Damnation, you feel so good.” He pulled out only to thrust again.
William groaned and held his position, fully sheathed.
His breath stirred the loose hair at her temple.
There were no words she wanted to waste on how he made her feel.
In this, she was undoubtedly a coward, for she wouldn’t speak everything on her mind.
She grasped his shoulders and tilted her hips, wriggled them in order to take him in as far as she could.
His thick, long length filled her, stretched her.
Each tiny movement on his part set off a flutter of sensation through her core.
Her insides tingled and tightened. She pulled him closer, wanting him to move yet hoping they could remain like this forever.
“This is wonderful,” she finally whispered, knowing in seconds she would fly.
She’d never felt such a bond with a man before.
Another little piece of her heart left to become his.
“As are you.” William held her steady with his hands at her hips. His gaze softened and a mixture of awe and pleasure illuminated his expression. He closed his eyes and moved within her. Each penetration sent glorious sensations through her body.
With every slow, gentle thrust, Charlotte surrendered to him.
“Surely this heat, this connection can’t last.” His whisper was barely audible as he slid his hands to her arse, holding her steady, while she clutched him closer with a leg around his hip.
“Even if it doesn’t, this is lovely and there will be other such lovely moments between us.”
He grunted, opening his eyes. “I don’t want our joining to only prove lovely.”
Oh, she could listen to his voice forever. “Then work harder, Your Lordship.”
“I’ll show you harder.” His rhythm increased as did his bid to claim her. Stronger. Harder. Faster. Each penetration sent her closer to the edge. With every stroke, they crashed into the shelf at her back. A few books came loose from their spots, then tumbled about them onto the floor.
“Send me flying.” Desperation filled her voice. Charlotte dug her fingernails into his shoulders as her spectacles slipped further down her nose.
“You wear me out.” Yet he pumped into her. Each thrust sent intense sensation racing through every nerve ending. Her soft mewling sounds of encouragement increased in volume.
Before she could say anything else, she gasped.
Her body stiffened and she half-shouted his name, clawed at his shoulders as she met his final drive.
Her inner walls squeezed around him in a series of frantic flutters.
His member shuddered and pulsed. William moaned and shoved deep.
Seconds later his shaft twitched. Warmth filled her core.
The whole, quick joining had her eyes filling with tears and emotions balling in her throat.
“Sorry, but that was lovely.”
“Ha.” As his ragged breathing and erratic heartbeat returned to normal, he let her leg slip from his hip. He backed slightly away. “I am trying to please you.”
“And get your rocks off, but I appreciate the sentiment.” Charlotte’s skirts fell into place, but she swayed on her feet, for this coupling had sapped the strength from her bones.
It had been the height of romantic that he hadn’t been able to control himself the second he saw her today.
She rather thought she was falling for him even if it was certain he would never return those feelings.
Would he even marry her? That was in doubt too, but for the moment, she reveled in merely having him. There was plenty of time for him to develop feelings for her.
“Poor thing.” The earl bundled her into his arms, held her against his chest. When she melted into his arms, he lifted her up and then carried her over to one of the leather chairs.
After seating himself, he held her close with her legs hanging over an arm.
The beat of his heart was fast but steady. “Rest now. We have nothing but time.”
Perhaps they did. With a sigh, Charlotte closed her eyes. Knowing he would protect her, she drifted into a light doze where she hoped she’d dream of him and a life they could have if they both weren’t so frightened of sharing real feelings.