Page 70 of The Heir's Fortune
Madeline's fingers threaded through Gideon's hair, pulling him closer as their lips met once more. This time, their kiss was deeper, more primitive, more intense. As her tongue tangled with his, she whispered his name and it nearly sent him over the edge right there but he was able to hold himself back to see to her pleasure first.
He shifted back on the bed, leaning against the wall as he lifted her, gripping the firm swell of her bottom as she wrapped her legs around his hips. He began rocking her against him, back and forth, sliding her over his cock, closing his eyes and throwing his head back with a groan.
“I’m ready,” she said, and on her next rock backward she reached down and notched him against her before sliding him home.
“Gideon!” she cried out as she continued her movements, her strong legs pushing her forward and back along with his help, her pelvis grinding into his.
Perspiration beaded on his brow as she moved, and he knew that he would never tire of this, of her, for the rest of their lives. He had no idea what this woman was doing to him, but whatever it was, he couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Her movements became more urgent, more frenzied, as she began to tighten around him and he knew she was close.
He reached up and tweaked her nipples, which seemed to be what she needed as she was soon calling his name even louder, pulsing around him, causing his world to explode with hers as he spent into her.
When their movements finally came to a stop, she collapsed onto him, her head in the crook of his neck as her heavy breathing matched his while they stayed locked together.
“I cannot wait until we can do this every night,” he said with a sigh, brushing his hand down her hair.
“Soon enough,” she said softly. “It is hard to believe how fast everything can change.”
“Are you staying, then?” he asked as she lifted her head to look at him. “Or are you returning to London first?”
He wasn’t sure he could bear the thought of being apart from her for even a short period of time, but if that was what she wished, he would wait. He would wait as long as she needed him to.
“That depends.”
“On?” he said, hope sparking in his chest.
“On how soon you would like to be married,” she said with a small smile.
Gideon grinned. “The moment we have everything in order,” he said. “It’s time I go speak with your father.”
Her smile matched his. “Agreed.”
They found their clothing, helping one another, as playful in redressing each other as they had been when they had undressed.
Gideon’s breath caught as he watched her. She was more beautiful than anything he ever could have imagined in his life, but even more so, she fit him in ways he could never have guessed.
That, he supposed, was what love was.
And nothing could ever make him let it go again.
CHAPTER 27
Madeline was not surprised that her father was completely thrilled by Gideon’s request for her hand.
“What did you do to him, girl?” he asked her after, and she had to stop herself from rolling her eyes that he wouldn’t think that she alone was enough to cause a man to want to marry her.
“He loves me for me, Father,” she said, telling the truth. “Which should make you happy.”
“It does, of course it does,” he said, setting his shoulders as though he was the one who had captured such a prize. “A duke in the family. My goodness.”
“I do have one request,” she said, turning to her father and stopping in front of the dining room doors before they walked in with the rest of the guests for dinner. “Please do not do anything to bring further scandal to this family. They have been through enough and they are good people who deserve to be celebrated.
“Me, scandalous?” he said, placing a hand on his chest in mock horror. “Never.”
Madeline rolled her eyes as she caught Gideon’s eye from across the room, knowing that, no matter what her father did,Gideon wouldn’t hold it against her. They could count on one another to stand together, no matter what was to come.
Her father left the next day, as he had planned. Madeline stood in the foyer, watching him ride away, a strange sense of nostalgia as well as relief coming over her. She loved her father, truly she did, but she knew that she had been a burden to him, despite their love for one another and all that he had taught her.
