“That’s my girl,” he grunted and caught her buttocks, hoisting her up to position her ready for him. The rich scent of her need teased his nostrils and made his head spin.
The world had shrunk to black velvet heat. There was neither past nor future. Just this woman and her sumptuous passion.
“Oh, Robert...”
The sigh of surrender brought an end to restraint. On a long groan, he sank deep inside her.
”Yes,” he hissed in reverence, as she clenched around him in immediate, astounding female climax. She was quaking and gasping, her breath hot against the side of his face as she struggled to inhale through shuddering ecstasy.
He held on—barely—as the ripples of her pleasure gradually subsided. Then he thrust once, twice, and gave himself up to her in a gush of endless love and need.
Even when it was over, the remnants of that mighty release left him shaking. Panting, he released his bruising grip on her hips and shuddered anew as her legs slipped to the ground, breaking the union of their bodies.
In gratitude too extreme for words, he buried his head in her shoulder where he’d wrenched her dress aside. The sultry scent of satisfied female flooded his senses and calmed the mad rush of his heart. She stroked his hair and made a soft sound of contentment.
“By God, you deserved better than that,” he muttered.
He felt as much as heard her choked laugh. “I doubt I’d survive anything that was better than that.”
Their titanic encounter had held no tenderness. It had been all hunger and demand. Twice he’d taken her like a man starving to death. And he couldn’t swear that he’d be any more restrained in future. He wanted her too much. But this gentle massaging of his skull made him feel like melting into a puddle at her feet.
“Nonetheless I should have been kinder.”
“Next time.”
“Goddammit, I can’t keep my hands off you.”
“I know.” Her smugness soothed the lingering turbulence in his soul.
Finally, he dredged the shameful confession out. “I hated telling them about what happened to me.”
“I know you did. I’m sorry.” She paused, and when she spoke next, humor warmed her tone. “But, my love, if you’re going to feel an uncontrollable urge to swive your wife every time you describe what you’ve been through, I’m going to be awfully busy.”
My love? Did she mean it? She hadn’t yet declared her affection, and while what they’d just done proved that she wanted him, he needed more than her desire.
But he was achingly conscious that he’d been here less than a day. They were still finding their way back to each other. It was too early to insist on vows and promises. Good Lord, last night, she’d been frightened of him.
“I want you so much. All the time. It’s like a fever in my blood.”
“I want you, too.” Before he could respond to that, she went on. “Aren’t you going to the Admiralty today?”
Blast, he’d managed to forget the world outside this room, and he didn’t welcome the reminder. “Yes,” he mumbled, pressing closer.
He wasn’t yet ready to face his responsibilities. Home only made sense when he had his hands on Morwenna, so he was in no rush to return to the everyday. She felt like the one real thing in the midst of swirling chaos. God forgive him, in this place that should be familiar, but felt as strange as landing on the moon, even his family were like beings of another species.
“Would you like me to come with you? I could remain in the carriage.” Still she stroked his hair. Every touch seemed to whisper, “Welcome home.”
“I’ll be hours, I suspect.”
“I can wait.” Then in a lower voice, “And I’ll have something nice to look forward to on the way back. You’ll be ready for me again, once you’ve had to explain yourself to the Admiralty.”
He raised his head, curiosity getting the better of his urge to sink into her and never come up for another breath. “You really don’t mind?”
Wide dark blue eyes, shadowed with lingering passion, met his. “That you turn to me to ease your troubles? Of course I don’t mind.”
His lips twisted in self-derision. “Some women might feel that I’m not showing proper respect.”
That somber gaze didn’t shift from his face. “Don’t you respect me, Robert?”