Page 85 of A Lady's Past
“Is that what I am, a friend?” Disappointment sounded in his tone despite his attempt to remain unscathed.
“Friend, lover, are we engaged? I think we are engaged. Perhaps the laudanum fogged my mind. Did you propose?” She pressed her palm to his chest and petted him from neck to nipple.
The effect of her touch was immediate and damned uncomfortable. “I told you twice, I want to marry you. I also confessed to loving you.”
“It always seemed there was someone interrupting or rushing in at the worst moment.” She cupped his cheek.
“I wish I could see your face.” He ran his fingers along her braided hair, toying with the bit at the end.
Taking his hand, she pressed his palm between her breasts. “You might not be able to see my face, Jacques, but you can feel my heart. I love you. I need you. I never expected to marry, and your love is a miracle to me. When you said I could go and work for Francis if I wanted, I thought you meant to go back to before and live my life as an Everton lady. When I realized you were a man who didn’t mind if his wife pursued her own goals, I knew you were the only man whom I could ever marry.”
It wouldn’t surprise him if his heart exploded with too much happiness. “I am the happiest man alive.”
“My joy is equal to yours, sweet, sweet Jacques. You saved my life, too many times to count.”
“You saved mine as well, my love. More than that, you saved my heart when I thought it was dead to such emotions.” Careful not to put pressure on her right side, Jacques leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.
She sighed and threaded her fingers through his hair. She tangled her tongue with his in a dance as close to making love as they could come in their current circumstance.
She tasted like heaven, and he could snack on her all day. Never had anyone else’s kisses been so sweet. If he wasn’t careful, he would become a poet and bore all his friends.
Jacques longed for all of her, but feared hurting her.
Tugging her right arm from its sling, Diana cupped his cheek and deepened the kiss.
About to lose his mind in the passion of her kiss, Jacques pulled back. “You will hurt yourself, or worse, I might hurt you.”
“You won’t hurt me. That is the one thing I can always be certain of. I think you should go and bolt the door and then come back to bed.”
Unable to resist and truly not wanting to, he sucked her bottom lip between his and then the top. Her response was a low moan as she clutched at his blouse. “Do not move and do not change your mind.”
Her giggle was like bells. “I won’t change my mind.”
After an uncomfortable walk across the room, Jacques slid the bolt home. He took the candlestick from the table and lit it with a stick from the fire. It wouldn’t do to be deprived of seeing his goddess.
Placing the candles on the nightstand, he removed his clothes and climbed under the covers.
She rolled to him and her lips pressed warm and seductive against his neck. She ran her good hand up and down his chest while keeping the other still at his shoulder.
Easing along her waist, he found one perfect breast and caressed just under before molding her in his palm and toying with her hard nipple.
With a gasp, she turned her head and kissed him, her lips and tongue boldly asking for exactly what she needed.
Groaning, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight against him. “You have to tell me if you are hurting or even uncomfortable, Diana.”
She gripped him just as tight and pressed her center close, trapping his shaft between them. “I will tell you, but right now, my only discomfort is in wanting you.”
That needful desire was the most potent aphrodisiac. Running his hand down her thigh, he reveled in her softness. At her knee, he lifted so that her leg bent, then slid his hand along her inner thigh. Tiny gasps escaped her lips as he caressed between her legs. “You are all I want for the rest of my life, Diana.”
Arching toward him, she gasped. “I am yours.”
He rolled so that she lay atop him.
Her eyes widened before a smile pulled at her lips.
Helping her raise her hips, he positioned her at the tip of his shaft and let her choose the pace of their joining.
Slow and torturous, she slid over him. Her sheath tugged him in as she dug her nails into his shoulders.
