Page 68 of A Necessary Wife

Her voice was soft but steady. “I am well, thank you.”

He could not stand to dance around the truth a moment longer. “About last night,” he started. “We must speak of it. This morning, I⁠—”

She shook her head quickly. “There is no need. I don’t know what came over me to behave so boldly last night. It will not happen again.”

He inhaled sharply. His stomach twisted a little to hear that. Did she not believe all their nights together could all be so erotic? “I feel⁠—”

“I understand. Truly.” But the faint flush in her cheeks, the way she couldn’t hold his gaze, told him she was embarrassed.

“I’m not sure you do.”

She shook her head again. “It would be easier if there was another chamber available for me to retire to. You would not feel driven to escape. To leave your own room because of me.”

Milo had never imagined he would feel protective fury over such a belief—but there it was. He immediately inched closer to her. “I left because I wanted your sleep to be undisturbed by my restlessness,” he growled. “That is the only reason I left before you woke. I could not sleep for wanting to touch you.”

Her eyes widened.

He lowered his voice. “Last night was unusual. It was…” He dragged in a breath. “It was more than I anticipated again. But I…I do not think it was wrong.”

She blinked, startled. “It wasn’t?”

“No.” He stood abruptly, unable to sit still. “Damn it, woman!” He raked a hand through his hair. “When I am with you, it is not like it has ever been with anyone else. With you, I feel…too much.”

Slowly, cautiously, she stood as well.

“And that part is wrong?” she asked softly.

“No,” he promised.

“But surely⁠—”

“I am affected by your passions.”

“Should we stop.”

“No!” he said immediately. What he wanted was to hold her tightly in his arms and never let her go. He wanted what every man wanted. To feel desired. To feel…

He shied away from that next awful progression.

He hardly knew Amelia. But the desire to be with her every moment of the day and night consumed him. To pull her close. Kiss her. Punish every person who had ever done her wrong. Spoil her.

He let out a shaky breath. Striving for control and slowly reclaiming his composure.

“I want…” He swallowed. “To be with you, now…” He lifted her hand and put it upon his chest.

Her breath caught.

“And here,” he added hoarsely. “In the garden.”

Her gaze drifted to his mouth. “No,” she whispered.

“Yes, here—and I don’t care if we are seen,” he whispered.

Her lips parted. His restraint shattered when a shuddering sigh escaped her lips.

The words, danger of discovery, it all excited her. It had last night, too, he would wager.

He drew closer to her and whispered, “Being wicked with me excites you, doesn’t it?”