Page 56 of Married to the Lord

“You may be right, fool that he is.” He cupped her face, his palms warm on her skin. “My only concern was you,” he confessed. “I always thought Henry was what you wanted.”

“For a brief while, perhaps he was, but I did not know my own mind.” She returned his caress, smoothing a thumb along the slightly rough line of his jaw. “I do now, though.”

“God, Gus, I thought I'd go mad with wanting you,” he muttered before lowering his lips to hers.

She sighed at the contact, sinking into him and letting the waves of desire carry her along. His tongue delved, tasting her, sending flutters of delight swirling into her belly. She moved closer and shuddered at the feel of his firm body aligned so perfectly with hers. He groaned and shifted his hands down, down, down, following the curve of her spine, touching her hips then finally cupping her rear. His arousal prodded against her and she moaned into his mouth.

With a muttered curse, he lifted her. She latched her hands around his neck and her legs around his waist on instinct and a sound of delight escaped her. It took her a moment to realize it had even been her making such a noise. Her mind whirled, lost in a sea of need that had her desperate for more. Never in her lifetime could she have imagined such a moment. He pulled back briefly to meet her gaze and she saw the same emotion in him. His eyes were dark, his pupils wide. His breaths came raggedly and she felt the tension in his forearms as he battled for control. For the moment, she did not want him to have any.

“Miles,” she whispered.

He responded with a firm kiss, his lips sealing over hers and delving deep once more. He staggered back a few steps then twisted around, bringing her down onto the desk. He shifted one hand down her leg, the other cradling her back so that she was angled just perfectly so.

“Oh!” she gasped between kisses.

He moved against her and sparks of pleasure burst behind her tightly closed eyelids. Tingles raced along every inch of her body. She grappled at his shoulders, digging her nails into his shirtsleeves. No wonder she had been so confused, so lost to him. Nothing had ever felt so right.

Miles shifted his mouth from hers, leaving her feeling briefly bereft. She opened her eyes as he trailed kisses down the arch of her throat. She shivered while new sensations rippled down her spine. He nibbled briefly at her ear, then kissed the hollow behind it. More open-mouthed kisses followed, moving down, down, down...

Her whole body ached with need and she arched into him. His mouth lingered over the subtle rise of her breasts then came back up to press firmly upon her mouth. He drew back and she opened her eyes to find him staring at her with more passion than she ever thought possible. She pressed a hand through his mussed hair.

“If you stay here any longer, I cannot guarantee I will remain a gentleman.” He gave a gruff laugh and squeezed her leg. “Well, somewhat of a gentleman.”

She sighed and blew out a breath. “I almost would rather you did not.”

“We must speak with Henry first.” He tapped her nose with a finger. “You know we must, Gus.”

Biting down on her lip, she nodded. “I know.”

Doubt flickered in his eyes. “You drive me to the edge of insanity, do you know that?”

“I think you are trying to do the same to me.”

“I only hope I am doing the right thing by Henry. I owe my brother a lot.”

“So you would consign me to a loveless marriage out of duty?”

He shook his head with a half-smile. “I am too selfish for that.”

“I do not believe that.”

“Ah, Gus, must you always believe the best of people.” He ran his hands down her arms and took a step back.

“Only of you.”

“I shall endeavor to spend the rest of my days trying to live up to your expectations. Exacting though they are.”

She gave him a light tap on the arm. “Even now, you cannot help but tease me.”

He lifted his shoulders. “Call it a habit.” He aided her down from the desk but drew her straight into his arms once more, holding her close and running his gaze over her face. “I look forward to having the freedom to hold you like this whenever I wish.”

“Me too.”

“But for now, you had better return home.”

“And we shall tell Henry tomorrow?”

Miles shook his head. “Wednesday. I do not expect him to return from wherever he is until then.”

Two days. She could survive that she supposed. At least it would give her time to summon the words to explain to Henry what she felt. It was not going to be an easy road—breaking an engagement with one brother only to become engaged to another. No doubt it would invite some awful salacious gossip. She peered into Miles's intense gaze and smiled. It would be worth it, of that she was certain.

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