Page 63 of Ruined by the Wrong Earl

His love? Her eyes cracked open to see the colourful leather spines of the books on the shelves. She’d never look at a book again without thinking of this moment. Of him. Her world shattered in a single stroke of his finger.

When she slowly came back to earth, his possessive look made her heart squeeze. ‘You are lovely in your passion. You skin is flushed and your lips are swollen from my kisses.’

‘That was wonderous,’ she breathed.

His intense gaze raked her face. ‘That was just a beginning.’

Her longing for him had not eased. ‘Let me touch you,’ she said.

‘I thought you’d never ask.’

Her palm smoothed down his chest and lower. Curious about him, her hand wrapped around his hardness. A harsh breath exploded from him.

She pulled back. ‘Did I hurt you?’

‘God, no,’ his voice was gruff. Seeming to sense her uncertainty, he took her hand and returned it to his length. He showed her how to please him. She soon discovered giving him pleasure aroused her once again. She understood there was much more to lovemaking, and she wanted to experience everything…experience him.

‘I want more.’ Her voice was raw with emotion.

‘Are you certain?’ he asked.

She answered by pulling his head to her lips. At his groan of approval, he moved above her. He settled between her spread thighs and captured her lips. His shaft slid in place and rubbed against her swollen sensitive flesh. She arched against him, the feelings titillating.

‘I’ll try to go slow, love.’

He slid inside an inch. Then another inch. There was no pain and her nails dug into his backside as a flood of delicious sensations coursed through her. She arched her hips, hoping to release the mounting pressure. Then with one strong stroke, he thrust inside.

She gasped at a sudden stab of pain. He stilled. His face looked as anguished as she felt. ‘Are you all right?’

At the concern etched on his face her heart fluttered in her chest. She breathed as her body accepted his fullness. Reaching up, she touched his cheek. ‘Yes,’ she breathed.

More moisture pooled between her thighs as passion rose within her. Her eyes slid open, meeting his heated gaze as they began moving together. He was magnificent with the corded muscles in his neck and his slick, heated skin. Flesh against flesh, they were joined as one. As she held him to her, her heart squeezed in her chest. They moved together until passion rose in her like the hottest fire and she reached for the stars. Once, twice more he plunged within her, and he stiffened above her.

He rolled to the side and pulled her against his heated length. ‘Are you all right?’ he inquired again.

At his concern, she reached up and brushed a lock of dark hair from his damp forehead. ‘That was wonderous. Why did you wait so long?’

His broad grin tugged at her heart. ‘Had I known my wife was so demanding, I would not have waited.’

She laughed at the outrageous comment and he joined her. ‘Let me help you upstairs,’ he said. ‘Before we fall asleep and the staff finds us here in the morning. I can just imagine the shock on Mrs Hanning’s face.’ Another bout of laughter followed.

When they were finally in her bedchamber, and she sat on her bed, she held her hand out to him. ‘Stay.’

‘It would be my pleasure.’ He settled beside her.

Her hand rested on his chest, his heart beating strong. She nuzzled against him. Somehow things had changed over a meal and a night of passion. Even though she’d never wanted to marry, for the first time, she began to hope for a glimmer of happiness.

Chapter Nineteen

‘How are you are faring?’ Sara asked. ‘We all want to know, not just Mother.’

Nora sat in the drawing room with her two sisters the following afternoon. Candace smeared cream on her scone and Sara sipped her oolong tea. Both sisters looked at her expectantly.

‘You appear tired. Are you unwell?’ Candace said.

Nora almost choked on her own tea. ‘I’m well,’ she managed to say. If she appeared tired, it was from an evening of exquisite lovemaking. Who would have thought her husband was that skilled? If she’d known it would be earth-shattering, she would have knocked on their adjoining bedchamber door two weeks earlier.

‘Where is Ralston?’ Sara asked.