Page 69 of To Steal a Kiss

Clutching at his shoulders, she wrapped herself around him, gasping as his erection nudged against flesh that was still aching with pleasure, slick with desire.

“I’ll be careful,” he promised, easing a little inside her. “Tell me if I hurt you.”

Alice nodded, still a little dazed and grateful for it, for the way her limbs felt heavy and pliant though that sated, weighted astonishment was leaving her as his body entered hers. So strange, and yet not strange at all as she held him to her. He moved slowly, with as much tenderness and care as he’d promised her as he joined them together.

His groan of pleasure fanned the embers of desire still hot in her blood, simmering beneath the surface as he heated her from within once more. Lifting his weight from her, he braced himself on his arms, looking down at her as he moved. He filled her completely as she gasped and clutched at him, surprise, pleasure, and pain merging all at once.

“Alice?” he said, her name as unsteady as his breathing.

“I’m all right,” she said, releasing a breath and giving a surprised little laugh at the realisation they were as close as two people could ever get. “Don’t stop.”

“Thank God,” he said, making her laugh again with the fervent nature of his words.

He was so beautiful, she thought, wondering how many scandalous couples were making love in the light of a summer’s afternoon. Though the curtains were partly closed, a little sunlight entered the room still, glinting on his golden hair and burnishing his skin. Her hands roamed his body, unable to stop touching him, to stop exploring him as that strange, dreamlike state beckoned again. Alice closed her eyes, chasing sensation as it tugged at her, urging her closer as his body moved inside her.

She arched and moved with him instinctively, following where he led, trusting him to show her the way, except that glittering peak remained just out of reach, no matter how she reached towards it.

“Nate,” she said, the word a plea, a cry for help. “Nate, don’t stop, please… please… I can’t.”

“I know,” he said, moving a hand between her thighs, seeking the source of her pleasure and guiding her towards the edge. His thumb caressed her so gently, yet that was all Alice needed to find the brightness dazzling her once more as she clung to him.

“Yes,” he said, a triumphant, joyful exclamation that filled her senses before he joined her, shuddering and crying out as he found his own pleasure, filling her with it, with his body, his love, as they clung together and gasped for breath, laughing and overwhelmed in each other’s arms.

Chapter 20

My word, Prue!

My word!

―Excerpt of a letter from Mrs Alice Hunt to her grace, Prunella Adolphus, Duchess of Bedwin.

The 29th June 1814. Half Moon Street. London.

“What time is it?” Alice asked, her head pillowed on Nate’s chest.

“Why?” he asked, his voice still lazy and sated. “Going somewhere?”

She snorted and shook her head, turning to press a kiss to his skin, still a little giddy that she could do such a thing. “Don’t be silly. It’s only….”

Nate shifted, moving her head onto his arm as he turned on his side so he could look at her.

“Only?”

“Only Prue said she’d sent my letter to my parents at five-thirty, to give them time to cancel Mr Bindley’s visit. I don’t want to cause them any more embarrassment than I must.”

Nate made a harrumphing noise that suggested he cared little for their or Mr Bindley’s embarrassment, but otherwise held his tongue.

“Do you think they’ll come here?” she asked, trepidation as scenes of her furious father hammering on Nate’s front door filled her mind and made her stomach twist.

“No,” he said, kissing her nose. “The deed is done, and I believe you told them we’d call tomorrow. Besides which, my staff have instructions to tell anyone with the temerity to ask that Mr and Mrs Hunt are out of town and are not expected back before tomorrow afternoon. They’ll never get past Jenkins in any case; most terrifying butler in London. He even scares me.”

Alice gave him an indulgent smile. “Mr and Mrs Hunt,” she repeated, grinning. “How wonderful that sounds.”

“It does,” Nate said. He reached out and tugged at a burnished curl, his expression growing serious. “There will be plenty who don’t agree though, love. I’m not good ton, you do understand that?”

She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Much I care for that. Besides which, you are invited to many of the best places. Matilda, too.”

“That’s because a lot of very powerful men owe me a great deal of money. Displease me and I might cut off their credit, or even call in their debt. That doesn’t mean I’m a welcome presence. They tolerate Matilda and I because they have little choice.”