Page 21 of The Taming of a Wicked Rogue

No, that was not right. Their shared kisses had always been passion-filled but never felt like this. Each inhale was raw in her lungs, each touch like fire. She needed him more than the next aching breath. She didn’t know what tomorrow held—if she would even find this diamond—but for once, it did not matter. Only his touch, his kisses mattered.

She needed more.

Digging her nails into his shoulders, she arched into his touch. He left scalding kisses on her skin and left her lips feeling swollen while he kissed her deeply. His touch made her gasp for more, drawing pleasure from her that spoke of the practice he’d partaken in.

Rebecca could not bring herself to care about his past and where he’d learned such techniques—not when he had her writhing in desperation against his hand until the sensations spiked, piercing through her with such suddenness, she nearly collapsed to the ground.

Leo banded an arm around her waist and scooped her up with such suddenness, she gasped. He set her down on the luxurious bed, the soft bedding brushing her face and the bare skin above her stockings, cushioning her.

The comfort lasted mere moments, stolen by the feeling of his hard body upon hers. She welcomed the weight of him, the almost suffocating sensation of needing him so badly. She splayed her palms over his chest in a desperate bid to feel him, but the layers of clothing prevented her from reveling in the true feel of him.

Though she resented their clothing’s interference, she could not bring herself to slow and peel off his clothing to give her a chance to admire the smooth muscles beneath. If she stopped, she feared she might put an end to this.

Caution tired her. It bored her. She’d spent so long living carefully, in case someone might recognize her or think her no better than her father. She longed for the wild, heady days of her romance with Leo when all they cared for was when they would see each other next.

“Rebecca,” he murmured, the word guttural.

He didn’t ask permission. He did not need it. She had given it freely before he had even kissed her really. He knew her well enough to know she was his, if not in soul then in body.

Maybe in soul too but she could not bear to think on that at present.

She arched her back in invitation, lifting her hips. A growl sounded in the back of his throat and he thrust up her skirts. Cool air tickled the skin above her stockings. His expression darkened, his Adam’s apple bobbed. He yanked the fabric higher, his moves uncultured and impatient. She closed her eyes while he kissed her hard and she felt something rip and his hand fumble between them.

Then the heat of him was there. His tongue tangled with hers, the heady mix of sensations making her mind whirl. The bed beneath her was soft, his body atop hers hard. His tongue demanded and she responded in kind, taking all she could from his kiss. She gripped his shirt tightly and he moved forward.

A gasp caught in the back of her throat when he entered her. He stilled and she felt his heavy breaths rising and falling in his chest, and the self-control making his arms tremble. Opening her eyes, Rebecca cupped his face and drew him down onto her.

“Good God,” he moaned and sank deeper into her.

He swallowed her responding cry. The world vanished in a tumult of sensations, the thickness of him deep inside her unlike anything she could have imagined. Joining so closely with him, feeling the sweet pressure swiftly easing the slight sting, had her entirely lost to him.

“Rebecca, I cannot—”

“Then do not,” she managed to reply.

He moved deeper into her, deeper than she thought possible, then harder and faster. She instinctively rose her hips and latched her legs around the back of his. He scattered kisses over her mouth, her neck and a bared breast, though she could not fathom when that had occurred. His hot mouth around her nipple added an additional layer of sensation that made her lids flutter closed. He thrust into her again and again.

“Oh.” She scrunched her eyes tightly shut and gripped him. The pleasure enveloped her, building higher than she thought possible until exploding through her in small, blissful caresses that had her shivering.

Leo rocked into her, drawing out the sensations, then pressed his mouth to her neck. He said her name in raspy tones and withdrew from her, groaning, leaving a hot whisper on her skin that she suspected had practically branded her. She would never forget the moment as long as she lived.

He eased slowly off her and inched her skirts down. She kept her eyes closed.

Coward.

For all her supposed courage and strength, she had none now. She felt him roll next to her and heard his harsh breaths. Between her legs ached in a strangely delicious way and she wished she could turn back time and relive the moment all over again.

Then she would be able to ignore her fiercely pounding heart and the fact remained—she could not stay. Not even if she loved him.

Which she did.

She still did.

She opened her eyes and braved a look at the canopy above, staring sightlessly at it, too aware of Leo next to her, silent as well.

There was no sense in denying it. She had always loved Leo, and she always would. But what possible hope was there for them?

Chapter Nine

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