Page 28 of Tempting the Marquess

The sensation of his kiss was almost too much, like being swept up in a fierce whirlwind. His lips were hard and warm, his darting tongue tasted of brandy, and she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, could only shut her eyes, cling to his jacket lapels, and abandon herself to the scorching reality of her wickedest fantasy.

The poets were right. Kissing was the sun, the moon, and the stars.

And yet she wanted more. Her quivering, throbbing body was desperate formore.

Whimpering, Samantha stepped closer and wound her arms around William’s neck. Her breasts flattened and rubbed against his broad chest, but instead of easing her swollen, jutting nipples, it only intensified theache.

“William,” she begged. “Helpme.”

* * *

This was heaven.Andhell.

Samantha’s mouth was sweeter than he’d even thought possible. He could only imagine how her nipples would taste, those taut little peaks she was torturing him with as she pressed against his chest. Or her tight, soaked quim as he spread her thighs wide and buried his tongue insideher.

His cock jerked, straining to be free of his trousers. She was so close, he could tilt his hips and rub against her mound. Christ, he wanted to. To grind his erection against her clitoris, circling and circling and circling until she begged him to take her, to fill her so full, so completely, she would never want any otherman.

William sucked in a ragged breath. He had officially lost his mind. This was wrong, so very wrong, and the time and place couldn’t be more improper. But his body refused to obey. It had heard her plea—William, help me—and would do anything to meet thatneed.

“So soft. So sweet,” he murmured, leaving the pleasure of her lips and allowing his mouth to drift down the side of her neck to the curve of her shoulder. A wholly primitive urge overcame him and he lightly bit the satiny skin, then soothed the sting with a flick of his tongue.

“Please,” Samantha said, as she quivered and stepped closer, nestling against his chest. “Please.”

“What do you want? Tell me where you want me to touchyou.”

In reply, she brushed her taut nipples against him. His cock jerked again, protesting the barriers of fabric between it and paradise. But he wasn’t going to allow her to be coy. Not now. Nothere.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” he lied, nipping her shoulder a second time. “Say the words and I’ll give you what you want. I’ll make the ache goaway.”

Samantha moaned. “Don’t make mewait.”

Hell. Such a hungry, needy sound. This woman, this beautiful blonde goddess, would be the death of him. “Then tell me, sweet Sam, and I’ll oblige.”

She shuddered. Then finally, finally, she leaned back and met his gaze. Her cheeks were ruby, but she reached down, took his hand, and placed it on her right breast. “Here. I ache…here.”

“Very good,” William praised, cupping the lush fullness, and thumbing her nipple through the fabric of her gown. Even though it was near-killing him to go slow, he would do nothing that she didn’t want, nothing that might frightenher.

Panting, she arched her back, and in reward, he delved that same thumb down the front of her bodice and stroked the swollenpeak.

A low cry escaped her. “More.”

“You know the rules,” he said, a smile curving hislips.

“Harder.”

Obediently, he slid his forefinger inside her bodice to join his thumb, trapping her velvety nipple between them and lightly pinching. Then he moved his hand across and did the same to her other nipple. “Does that feelgood?”

Samantha gasped. “So good, William. I need…I need to touchy—”

The sound of broken pottery scraping the polished wooden floor was like being doused with a bucket of icy water. His head jerked toward the sound, to see Sir Francis’s foot give another involuntary twitch as he made a groggy sound ofpain.

Good God. He’d beaten a man unconscious, albeit a bastard friend of Claremont’s. Far worse, he’d seduced a virgin in a damned antechamber at Tony Hartley’s home. There were no two ways about it. He was dishonorable, a Whitehall failure, and a disgrace to the Hastingsname.

Removing his hand from Samantha’s bodice, he deftly maneuvered around her and away from the side table. “I am very sorry. What I did was inexcusable.”

His heart clenched as the passion and warmth faded from her eyes to be replaced by a dull acceptance. “It’sfine.”

“It is not fine. You’re a lady. Once upon a time I was a gentleman. I don’t blame you if you wish to have Stephen or your father call meout.”