Page 149 of While You Were Spying

“More,” he said.

Her heart swelled when he pulled her back into his arms, whispering the words of love again and again.

She wore only a satin wrapper, and he stripped that away, spreading it beneath her. His mouth claimed hers and his warm, solid body covered her. Her nipples peaked and hardened, and she moaned when he slid his hand between her legs to caress her already slick folds. Seeming impatient now, he rose to his knees. He hadn’t bothered with a shirt, and now he reached for the fall of his trousers. Francesca stopped him, covering his hand with hers.

She somehow managed to wobble to her own knees and ran her hands down his sculpted arms, moving his hands away and sliding her fingers over the waistband of his trousers. His gaze bore into hers as she slid the material apart and freed him, her fingers skating over the swollen flesh of his erection. He closed his eyes while she slid the trousers over his hips and down his buttocks.

He stood and stepped out of the garment while she admired his muscled form. “You’re beautiful,” she murmured.

He raised a brow. “I believe that is my line.”

“You tell me often enough. I thought it was time I told you.” She beckoned him, and he came down over her again, his weight supported on his forearms.

He stroked her cheek with a finger. “Do you believe it yet? That you’re beautiful.”

She smiled at him. “Yes.”

And she did. She finally felt beautiful. In his eyes she saw nothing but admiration, and in the role he’d given her as mistress of his house, she’d earned the admiration of all around her. She felt confident, intelligent, capable. For a brief time, she’d allowed her feelings of worth to be taken from her.

Never again.

Ethan kissed her, his lips gentle, his tongue probing until she opened for him and he could tease her into sighing and arching. His hands stroked her body, pausing in the places he knew she was the most sensitive until she was flushed and panting with need.

But just when he would have entered her, given her body what it craved, she took his shoulders in her hands and pushed him back.

“Not this time.”

The look of surprise on his features belied any protest and she pushed him onto the satin wrapper and straddled him. She’d never been so bold with him, and the dark golden hue of his eyes told her he liked it.

She leaned over, letting her long hair tease his chest and stroking his hard, velvet member.

“I want you,cara.” His husky voice shot a bolt of heat through her, and she positioned him at her entrance, taking him inside her slowly.

She tortured them both until he filled her to the hilt and she could rock back and forth, driving herself mad with the swollen feel of him against her too-sensitive flesh.

His gaze never left her face, and his eyes were filled with love and trust. He loved her, saw her, trusted her. At the moment he trusted her to bring him pleasure, but he’d also won the battle within himself. He trusted her with his heart. She could see in the way he looked at her that it was hers for the taking, hers to cherish and protect.

“I love you,” he murmured, seeming to sense her thoughts.

“And I love you.” She gave herself to him, taking all of him in turn, and when the climax came they shattered together.

She dozed, her head resting against his chest, her body fitted to his side, the crackle of the fire warming them, when a loud racket roused them. Tucking her wrapper around her, Ethan rose and went to the window, parting the curtains. He grinned when he turned to her. “Come and see.”

She wrapped herself in silk and joined him, gasping when she looked outside. The world was a fairy tale covered in white, clinquant snow. It glittered in the brilliant sunlight—a million diamonds winking at her.

In front of the house, some of the servants were having a snowball fight. Francesca had insisted that Ralph, Roxbury’s messenger, stay for the night, and he was in the thick of it. She turned to Ethan. “Let’s join them!”

He gave her a mischievous grin. “I hope you don’t mind the cold and wet. I won’t show any mercy.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of demanding any special privileges—not that a rogue like you would even grant them.”

They dressed quickly, and a few moments later Francesca breathed in the crisp, fresh air. Snuggled under the thick blanket of white, the world seemed new and full of possibilities.

Her life was new and full of possibilities too. The servants waved at them, still playing at their winter games, but it seemed to Francesca there was only Ethan and her. She glanced at Ethan and saw him watching her, his expression sober.

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

“More and more every day,” she answered truthfully. “Doyoutrustme?”

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