Page 53 of The Heir's Fortune
The coolness of the air was in stark contrast to the warmth of her skin, the air thick with a heady mix of longing, blocking out the world that lay beyond the parlor door.
Gideon’s hands left Madeline’s face, roaming down her shoulders, delicately outlining her collarbones, tracing the curves of her bodice, waist, and hips, memorizing every inch of her that he didn’t already know. She leaned into his caress, and he revelled in her trust in him. He realized that as long as she was with him, his fears for what was to come vanished. The only one that remained was the possible loss of her from his life.
Their kisses grew fervent now as his hands cupped her bottom, pulling her in close between his legs, not hiding just how much he wanted her.
He leaned back, his breath coming hard and fast.
“Madeline,” he rasped, “I don’t know why it took me so long to see you, but now that I have, I know that I can never go another day without you before me. I’m finally free to offer myself to you, and I want you to be mine, more than I have ever wanted anything before. Will you… will you have me?”
She stilled in his arms, and he worried for a moment that he had read this all wrong, that she didn’t want as much from him as he did from her – but then her soft laugh erased all of his doubts.
“Of course, Gideon,” she said. “I wanted you before you found the fortune and I want you now. I am only grateful that we now have a way forward.”
He left her side only long enough to cross the room and ensure that the door was firmly shut and locked before he returned, taking her in his arms once more and moving her backward until they reached the sofa, although he didn’t lay her down just yet.
He knew he should take her to a bedroom, to make love to her the proper way, but he honestly didn’t think he could wait that long – and then there was all of their friends on the other side of the door who he had no wish to move through. They likely had a good idea of what was happening in here, but there would be no hiding it if they walked through them.
Madeline’s warm hands came to his cheeks, pressing against them, her lips soft against his ear.
“Make love to me, Gideon,” she whispered. “Make me yours.”
It was a request that he could no longer deny.
CHAPTER 20
Madeline was being more brazen than most young women should be – but she had known Gideon long enough now to realize that she didn’t scare him away.
At least, not anymore.
She sensed his pause, in which he was likely considering if this was the right thing to do, but after that brief moment, his lips crashed back down on hers, his intention clear. If the way he was currently making love to her mouth was any indication of how he would make love to her body, she wondered if she would truly be able to survive it.
The world around them seemed to melt away, leaving just the two of them, locked together in their passionate embrace. Her hands roamed his chest, over the hard muscle beneath his linen shirt and waistcoat, and he in turn explored every inch of her back and waist, tracing the line of her bodice with his fingers.
Madeline's heart raced as his lips travelled down her neck, leaving a trail of scorching kisses in their wake. She arched her back slightly, her breath catching in her throat as his fingers found her waist and began to methodically unfasten the small buttons at the back of her dress.
As her gown slipped off her shoulders, revealing her bare upper back, chills ran down her spine, and not from the coolness of the room. She shuddered, feeling exposed yet alive. Gideon's fingers danced over her neck, leaving fire in their wake. His breath was hot against her skin, the thickness of his desire in the air and pressing against her stomach.
As their lips met again, their tongues danced and explored, mapping out the familiar terrain of each other's mouths. She could taste the brandy on his lips, a reminder of the countless stolen moments they had shared. His hands roamed her bare back, his touch sending shivers down her spine.
He explored the small of her back before sliding his hands up her spine and reaching the delicate laces of her stays. She gasped, her breath hitching as he gently began unlacing the thin ribbons that held her undergarments in place.
As his fingers worked their way down her back, she erupted in gooseflesh, the heat of his hands searing her skin. His touch was tender, yet firm, sending shock through her body.
The world around them seemed to blur as they became lost in one another. The friction between their bodies as they moved together sent waves of heat coursing through her veins, igniting a fire deep within her core.
Madeline's breath became shallow and quick as his lips traced a path from her neck to her collarbone. Her heart pounded against her chest, her body trembling in anticipation as she reached her hands up and untied the cravat from around his eyes so that they could see one another when they came together.
"Gideon," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the distant sound of their friends' laughter. "I need you."
He didn't need to be told twice. He lifted her onto the sofa, her arms wrapping around his neck as he laid her down gently.
The candles flickered, casting an intimate glow over their bodies. Gideon's eyes were dark and intense, his gaze locked on her. The soft sofa beneath her body cushioned her as her legs wrapped around his hips. His hardness through his trousers pressed against her core, now bare to him but for her thin chemise, and she moaned softly into his mouth.
"Are you sure about this, Madeline?" he whispered against her lips, his low voice in such contrast to the shouts of the game outside the room. "You can change your mind."
She shook her head, her eyes locked on his. "I want this, Gideon. I need you. Now."
Her body was alight, her skin tingling with the anticipation of what was to come. She reached up and unfastened his fall for him, her fingers shaking with nerves and desire.
