Page 79 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
His hands wrapped about her upper thighs, firm and strong, his fingertips pressing into skin and muscle as he lifted her legs to his hips. He dropped to his knees, leaned her back and lay her down, the water on her skin probably staining the silk lining of the evening coat he put down for them earlier. He held her so carefully, it was as though he thought if he was too rough, she might break. Then he slid into her, pressing deep into her soul as well as her body.
‘I love you,’ he said as he withdrew to his tip and pushed back in, beginning a slow firm rhythm. He pressed kisses across her face, on her cheek, her eyelids, enthralling every inch of her.
‘Andrew!’ She called out his name as the inner sensations spun, whipping up into a whirlpool.
His movements became swifter and stronger. Pain and pleasure fought.
His movement changed to a shallow pulse that made her want to scream for his depth. Then his hands, fingers splayed, drew her thighs wider apart and his strokes became ruthless with unsatiable hunger.
‘Mary.’ He growled her name. ‘I want you undone. Have no restraint!’
A whirlpool raced inside her. The sensations spinning through her nerves. The soles of her bare feet pressed into the backs of his thighs as her fingertips clung to his shoulders, and her breasts rocked with his heavy thrusts.
Then… She slipped across the edge and fell. Crying out, with a long animalistic sound she would not have thought could come from her throat.
‘You are everything I have ever wanted,’ he said as his pelvis struck hers with a new force. His weight pressing down on her and into her repeatedly.
Her thighs trembled as she tried to push back against him, until she fell to her little death again.
He held still, his release pulsing inside her body as his head dropped, hanging down so that his damp hair brushed her cheek.
When his head lifted, he smiled. She smiled too.
‘You beautiful woman. You make me feel like a king.’ He withdrew and rolled onto his back.
She laid against his side, one arm and leg slipping across his body as her palm settled on his chest.
They laid in silence then. She could hear the music from the house. Someone must have opened all the French doors for the music to travel so far.
‘I wish we could sleep here, but someone will find us eventually. We must dress and go back.’
‘I am still wet, the water will ruin my dress.’
‘Then wear my shirt. We can go in via the servants’ hall.’ He got up.
‘I would horrify the servants if I walked in in your shirt. They will be tidying up after dinner and preparing for the morning, their hall will be full at this hour.’
He held out his hand to help her up. ‘Then go in through the front door and hope no one is in the hall. The choice is yours, sweetheart, ruin your dress or take the risk.’
She accepted his hand and he pulled her to her feet.
He picked up his trousers. ‘I will add that as I now love that dress, I vote for the latter option.’ His smile was wry.
She pouted, and made a face at him, that made him laugh. ‘You did not plan this as well as you thought.’ She huffed, then picked up his shirt. It fell to her mid-thigh, covering very little.
‘In the future, I shall include you in my planning.’ He gathered up the rest of their clothes, careful not to let her hair pins or necklace slip from the pockets of his coat. He in just his trousers, and she in just his shirt, with their other clothes under his arm, she held his hand and they walked towards the house, the white cotton of his shirt catching the moonlight and making her stand out in the dark meadow.
She hoped everyone was still at the back of the house, and no one was looking out from the front windows.
When they reached the gravel drive, she stepped tentatively on to it.
‘Wait.’ Drew slipped on his shoes. ‘Here, take these.’ He passed her the pile of clothing, then swung her up into his arms so swiftly she squealed.
‘If you are trying not to be seen, shouting is not the way to go about it, Mary, darling.’
When they reached the smooth stone steps of the portico, he let her feet fall, took their clothes back and held her hand again.
She turned the door handle slowly and quietly, hoping not to alert a footman. There was no one inside, and the noise from the drawing room was loud, meaning they were unlikely to be heard. She ran across the cold marble floor, smiling at their scandalous behaviour, and hurried upstairs with Andrew ahead of her. They encountered no one.
