“What has you out of sorts?”
“I did not like seeing Lady Edith in your arms.”
He stilled behind her, and they stayed like that for several contemplative moments.
“You’ll not see her there again,” he said solemnly.
Though relief writhed inside her chest, she did not feel particularly pleased with herself. “Though I do not like it, I have no right to feel as I do. It is silly!”
“You are my lover. You have every right. The notion of you in another gentleman’s arm, even if it is to dance, is causing my eyelid to twitch. So, my sweet, you are not alone in your madness.”
Theo smiled. He was outrageous.
“Where did you learn to shoot so well? Your club?”
“Growing up in Strafford, my favorite pastime was archery. Once I dressed as a lad to enter a local competition and won a fat piglet as my prize.”
“Ah…and how was the piglet?”
“Succulent.”
There was a pulse of silence.
“You ate the pig?” he asked in mock outrage.
Theo laughed. “To my mother’s annoyance, Peggy was my friend and remained a true, muddy friend until I was whisked away to London for social polish and to land myself a titled husband.”
Finally, she turned in the cage of his arms and looked archly up at him.
His gaze searched her face. “I missed you at breakfast.”
“I could not bear to come down!”
Her outburst seemed to astonish him as much as it did her. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips to hers in a slow, languorous kiss. A hot shiver pulsed through her belly. Theo almost sobbed against his mouth. How easy he made her want him.Was this goodbye?She couldn’t help noticing he made no mention of the next step in their unorthodox relationship. Would they continue being lovers? Or had their brief affair ended abruptly? Worse, Theo did not know what she wanted. Or for how long she wanted to be with the duke.
She pulled her mouth from his, breathing raggedly.
“Whatever can you be thinking, to bring such color to your cheeks?”
“That I’ll miss being your lover. Perhaps it will not be so extraordinary for us to be friends.”
“Ah, so you are ending our affair.”
She stared wordlessly up at him. “How long can it continue for?”
“For as long as we wish it, days…months…years.” He brushed his thumb over her lower lip. “I am not ready to let you go, Theodosia. I feel like we are just beginning. Why are you thinking of ending it?”
A breath shuddered from her. “What explanation did you give for my presence under your roof?”
Arrogance settled over his handsome features like a cloak. “I owe an explanation to no one. Who dares question me?”
How certain he was of his place in this world. “So no confession to your dastardly kidnapping,” she whispered, hating that she was uncertain in confessing she wanted more.So much more. Unable to communicate the longing bursting forth in her heart, she tipped onto her toe and mashed her mouth to his in a wild kiss.
Their passion flared too hot and too bright. Before Theo knew what was happening, Sebastian had her back pressed against a large willow tree and her dress bunched at her waist, and his delightful weight was between her thighs. There was a tug on her drawers, and then Theo felt a heavy, hot invading pressure and then he was deep inside of her.
“I love how wet you get for me,” he said in a guttural groan.
Weakness infused her limbs, and dark, wanton need seared through her. Their coupling was fast, fiery, and deeply satisfying. Not even a minute later, the tight coil of pleasure expanded through her and with a muffled wail against his mouth, Theo came with a sudden explosion of passion. With a few harsh pumps, he followed her in climax.