Page 565 of From Rakes to Riches

Very much.

She reached out and planted her hands before her, coming to all fours, her knees digging into cool stone, as she crawled forward across the foot-wide window casement.

And he simply sat back and waited for her to come to him.

Arrogant man…

Irresistible man.

It seemed, for her, the one only enhanced the other.

She inched closer. His legs fell to either side of the ledge, as she moved forward until, at last, she was between them…close enough that all she had to do was tip her head back and shift to touch her lips to his.

He tucked his thumb beneath her chin, as they each angled forward, his scent of sandalwood and man surrounding her, intoxicating her. So close was she now that his breath whispered warm across her parted mouth, sending shivers rippling through her, lifting the downy hairs at the nape of her neck, puckering her nipples into ripe cherries.

Their lips touched—firm…unyielding…tender—catching Gemma by surprise, for there was little doubt where this kiss would lead. But he took his time and kissed her thoroughly, with intention. She would’ve thought she wanted a hot, lusty kiss bursting to get on with what came next, but, really, her body—and a place deeper within her—wantedthiskiss. A tender, thorough kiss could be hot and lusty, too, for it touched places within her deeper than surfaces.

He tugged, and she swayed forward, her body pleadingmore. Tender thoroughness was all well and good, but her body had aches and needs that demanded attention.

Her hands found his broad shoulders, the muscles tensing beneath her touch as he grabbed her waist and pulled her onto him so her knees fell to either side of his thick thighs.

Carnal.

That was the word for how her body felt pressed against his—even through layers of clothes. Her arms around his neck. His manhood, rigid and thick, against her sex. His hands cupped her bottom and ground her against his length, her hips instinctively angling.

“Oh, Rake,” she cooed.

This feeling… It was delicious.

His mouth found her neck, and she tipped her head to the side, his kisses and the scratch of his stubbled chin blazing a trail of pleasure down her throat. Her fingers fumbled for his cravat and began unknotting it, his shirt falling open to reveal his chest and those defined muscles. He shrugged off his coat and waistcoat, granting her greedy mouth and hands freedom to explore his shoulders and chest, even as she continued to press againsthim…and ached for these layers of clothing to vanish and for him to be inside her.

He chuckled and pulled back enough to meet her gaze. “You know dresses do have their uses.”

“Like?” Gemma couldn’t think of one.

And, honestly, who was thinking about dresses in this moment?

“Like for an easy tup.”

Oh.In that case, she would much rather be wearing a dress right now. But her mind caught on a single word. “Would you like it if I were easier?”

His gaze searched hers for a heavy beat of time. The question could’ve been interpreted lightly. But it wasn’t a light question—and they both knew it.

“I like you as you are.”

And something incremental, but vital, shifted between them. Something she would think about later. But not now. Not when her body was demanding she figure out some way to get these layers of clothing out from between them.

But Rake’s fingers were already working her trouser buttons. “I’ve never unbuttoned the falls of a woman’s trousers.”

“To be entirely accurate,” she said into the sensitive skin of his neck. Her mouth couldn’t keep off him. “They’re a man’s trousers.”

Rake’s fingers faltered, and he groaned.

Gemma couldn’t help a laugh. There was so much seriousness and intensity in this act, but also so much delight.

Falls released, and Rake’s fingers feathered across the sensitive skin of her stomach, and lower, until they were slipping inside her trousers…sliding along her slit. “So wet for me,” he rumbled against her mouth.

His fingers glided across the magical patch of skin that made stars appear behind her eyes. When he found the entrance of her sex and pressed inside, she gasped.

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