Page 73 of The Heir
“You mustn’t think that!” Anna lifted her eyes to his, horrified at the honest self-doubt she’d heard in his voice. “You must believe me when I say the failing is mine; any woman would be pleased to have your attentions.”
“Any woman?” The earl’s smile was self-deprecating. “Guinevere Allen was none too flattered.”
“She was enamored of her viscount, and he of her,” Anna argued, coming to her feet. “I cannot allow you to think like this. You can have your pick of the last three years’ batch of debutantes, and you know it.”
“Oh, lucky me.” The earl rose, as well. “I can mince about with some child on my arm, one who fears her wedding night and dreads the thought of my attentions. And all the while, she will be hamstrung by my father’s machinations, to say nothing of the parents who staked her out in the ballroom like some sacrificial lamb. No man worth his salt wants a wife on those terms. What?” He returned to her side. “I cannot tell if you are horrified, stupefied, or maybe, just perhaps, impressed.”
“You understand,” Anna said, peering up at him. “You understand what it’s like to be that sacrificial lamb.”
“I do.” He nodded. “I also understand, Anna Seaton, if I cannot have more of you, this instant, I will not answer for the consequences.” He brushed his lips over hers. “The workmen are gone, and they won’t be back until the heat of the day has cooled. We have this time, Anna, and I would like to use it.”
“I will not lie with you.” Anna shook her head. “It would be… dishonest.”
“I will not lie with you then, either.” He kissed her again, more lingeringly. “But I would pleasure us both. Don’t for the love of God argue with me, Anna.” His arms slipped around her waist. “You need pleasuring almost as badly as I do, and there’s nothing to stop us.”
“There’s me to stop us,” she said, but she was kissing him back between her protests.
“Stop me later, then,” the earl suggested, shrugging out of his waistcoat while his lips cruised her neck. “Preferably much later.” He kissed her more deeply, but to her eternal consternation she was less committed to her protests than he was to his seduction.
For days she’d told herself physical pleasures were fleeting and an undesirable entanglement in her circumstances. She’d told herself she couldn’t miss something she’d shared with the earl on only a handful of occasions—a few kisses, some caresses, unimaginable pleasure and intimacy.
But she’d missedhimlike the land misses spring and the flowers miss the sun. She’d missed him like a soldier misses home on the night before battle and the night after. She’d missed him so…
“That’s it,” the earl coaxed when Anna’s arms went around his waist. “No more words, Anna. Unless it’s to tell me how to please you.”
He kissed her long and deeply, stilling her protests, stealing her will and making it his. Shedidwant to share these pleasures with him, with him and no one else, ever. She didnotwant to leave him, and yet leave him she would.
She rose up to press her body more closely to his, and he gathered her more tightly in his arms. All of her reserve and self-control went flying out the window, and in their place wasneed. Need for him, for closeness with him.
“Your clothes,” Anna breathed, arching against him.
“Yours,” he whispered back. Deftly, he began to undo the buttons down the back of her dress, even as she continued to drink in his kisses. He pushed the cap sleeves of her dress off her shoulders and bent his head to worship her neck with his lips.
“I love that,” she said. “The way you touch me there.”
“And here,” he murmured, shifting lower, “you taste like sunshine, and sweetness, and female.”
She was trying to get his shirt out of his waistband but couldn’t kiss him and make her hands work at the same time. Gasping, she stepped back.
She eyed him in frustration. “This isn’t working. Please take your clothes off. Now, Westhaven.”
He smiled anI thought you would never asksmile and pulled his shirt over his head, letting her watch. He arched an eyebrow, his hand going to the fall of his trousers, and Anna nodded, holding his gaze the whole time. With deliberate movements, he got out of his boots, stockings, and breeches, standing before her naked, aroused, and unselfconscious.
“Oh, dear…” Anna’s eyes went wide as she surveyed him. “You areveryinterested.”
He stalked toward her, his erection curving up against his taut belly. “While you are very overdressed. Clothes off, Anna. All of them.”
She nodded, knowing it would represent new territory for them. She had never been naked before him, not in the broad light of day.
“Lock the door,” she said, swallowing. His smile became feral as he complied with her command. He’dtoldher to strip for him; she deliberately used the imperative on him, as well.
“Quit dithering, love.” His tone was gentler, amused but only so patient. Slowly, Anna let the bodice of her dress fall forward then shoved it below her hips. She stepped out of the dress and stood in the middle of its billows, like Venus rising. While Westhaven watched from just a few feet away, she bent to undo her boots and stockings then let her chemise join the dress on the floor.
“Better,” he said, holding out a hand to her. “Much, much better.”
She took a step toward him then hesitated. He closed the remaining distance and caught her against him, letting her press her face to his throat.
“Shy?” he asked, amusement back in his voice.
