“Are you just going to keep staring at me?”
He gave his head a small shake.“What would my lady have me do?”
She took that bottom lip between her teeth again, and this time he did groan.
“Kiss me?Touch me?”She punctuated her words with her own caresses, drawing her hands down his chest before stopping at his waist.
He shifted, lowering his body over hers again.“As you desire.”
There was a hunger inside him that he was powerless to hold back.But he didn’t need to because Mary met that passion, her tongue surging into his mouth and her hands lowering to cup his backside.
He couldn’t wait.He wanted to, but he didn’t have that much strength inside him.He reached down to her folds, satisfaction and lust surging in his veins when he found she was already wet for him.
“I’m going to worship you with my mouth later,” he said against her lips.“But right now I need to make you mine.”
She shook her head.“I’m already yours.”She opened her legs, allowing him to settle between her thighs.
This woman was going to be the death of him.How had he become so fortunate?“I love you, Mary Trenton.”
He sank into her quickly, hoping that doing so would lessen the duration of pain.And from the way her face tightened, it was clear he’d hurt her.He stilled and began to kiss her again, hoping to distract her while he allowed her body time to adjust to him.
She threaded her fingers into his hair and kissed him back.
“I’m so sorry I hurt you,” he said after some time had passed.Probably not long enough, but he wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold back.Every part of his body was screaming at him to move.
She looked deep into his eyes.“Make love to me, Ashford.”
With a groan, he did just that, starting slowly.When she wrapped her legs around his hips and started to thrust back, he lost all control.Somehow he lasted long enough for her to reach her peak, taking joy in the way her head arched backward.He had the presence of mind to cover her mouth, which turned out to be a good thing because his Mary was a screamer.
He followed, burying his face in her neck and groaning into the warm skin there.
He stayed that way, breathing harshly against her while she continued to twine her fingers through his hair.She didn’t complain about his weight, but he knew he couldn’t stay on top of her for long.
Finally he rolled to the side.They lay face-to-face, their arms still wrapped around each other.
“That was quite nice,” Mary said.
He let out a bark of laughter, and this time it was Mary’s turn to cover his mouth.Her eyes danced with mirth.
He kissed her palm, and she slid her hand along his cheek.“You are an original, Miss Trenton.”
He moved onto his back, contentment settling over him when his betrothed rested her head on his shoulder.He’d have to get dressed and leave soon, but not just yet.He wanted to enjoy this moment a while longer.
He rubbed circles along her back as their heated skin began to cool, affection pulling at his heart when she hummed with contentment.
“I met with my solicitor,” he said.
She dropped a kiss onto his chest.“About?”
“You.Our marriage contract.”
She looked up at him.“I still have the funds my father left me for my dowry.”
“I know.But I wanted to make sure that money stayed in your name, for your use.”
The way her eyes widened told him he’d surprised her.“But it’s customary—”
He stopped her question with a kiss.“It may be customary, but it isn’t required.You spent far too many years subject to your sister’s whims.I couldn’t take away the small measure of freedom you’ve managed to gain.While I hope that wherever you choose to go, I’ll be at your side, I didn’t want you to feel as though you were completely reliant on me.”
“So we don’t need to wed?”The laughter in her eyes told him she was trying to get a rise out of him.It worked.
He flipped her onto her back and rose up over her.“Perhaps I need to give you further inducement to stay with me.”
He started to kiss his way down her body again, intent on wringing so much pleasure from her that she’d never again talk about leaving him, even in jest.