Page 47 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

He groaned suddenly, buried deep, and then his thrusts became frantic until he climaxed. She hugged him close as he shuddered and moaned, loving the heat of his skin and the heaviness of his hips against hers.

After a moment, he drew back and met his gaze.

“So that was lovemaking?”

“That was lovemaking,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It was a sweet and lovely gesture that made her smile.

“How long before we can do that again?”

“After we marry,” he said with a laugh.

Daisy pouted and drew swirls upon his chest hair. Her fingers drifted downward, intending to tease him until he changed his mind.

But he stopped her by slapping his hand over hers. “Or ten minutes, if you keep doing that.”

“I’m done waiting,” Daisy promised, kissing him deeply, so he was left under no illusions about the fact that what she wanted couldn’t wait.

Chapter Fourteen

“You’re scowling again,” Daisy complained four days later, digging her fingers into Max’s arm as they entered yet another ballroom together, but this time possessed of their great and wonderful secret.

“But not at you,” Max promised, glancing at her tiny hand upon his sleeve and liking it there.

“Just as well,” Daisy said, pouting just enough to make him want to kiss her lips and make her come again.

Max had no difficulty acquiring the special license to marry Daisy. He only had to work hard to keep the grin from his face tonight. They were set to wed tomorrow morning in her home. Everything had been arranged—witnesses, vicar, and wedding feast to follow.

He could not wait for tomorrow. For the wedding and an end to his bachelorhood. He wanted his family—Daisy and their merged households—all under one happy roof again.

The duke had written, demanding he present himself at the estate forthwith. He didn’t yet know about Daisy, but Max would not go there without his wife by his side. Honoria still wrote to him daily, speaking as if their marriage was a forgone conclusion. The woman was nothing if not determined to become a duchess.

Max covered Daisy’s hand with his, glad he did not have to face the woman alone, or those little girls, either. “I had hoped this attending ball nonsense could be over and done with now.”

“Hardly,” Daisy warned. “I want to dance with my handsome beau. Flirt with him quite shamelessly, too.”

“I do enjoy your flirting.”

“I can always tell,” she whispered, and then laughed. “Oh, Throsby, is it not a glorious night?”

“It most certainly is an improvement having you pleased with my company,” he noted.

His minx grinned impishly.

They had arrived together tonight in his carriage, and no one had taken any notice of that fact yet. But it was a miracle they had made it through the front doors at all. What Daisy wanted, Daisy pursued. Currently, that was him, and more kisses and orgasms for both of them.

Things had turned dangerously heated between them halfway here, and he’d made his coachman circle the block once before they’d been able to alight. Not that Max minded being seduced constantly. However, he had promised Daisy that they would attend this ball and dance together. Their first and last engagement as a betrothed couple.

Not even the Duke and Duchess of Mamble knew about them yet. They were attending a different ball tonight, and Daisy hadn’t had a chance to see her friend.

Following the wedding, they would enjoy a leisurely dinner with the Mambles in the late afternoon and share their happy news. Daisy, who still regretted her father was not alive to give her away, had asked that their wedding take place without any fanfare. Max had tried to change her mind but she promised that Gabby would understand her reasons. And then the fuss would die down and Max would settle back into life in Daisy’s cozy little home. He was looking forward to moving back.

“I did like it better when I didn’t have to dance and could simply watch you twirl about.”

“Would you prefer to watch me dance with other handsome gentlemen on the occasion of my first and last public appearance as your betrothed?”

He thought about that and scowled. “No, I would not.”

Her grin was decidedly smug. “Then ask me to dance, my lord.”