Page 72 of The Last Chance
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Aaron said, drawing her back to the loving man who was leagues above Lord Howard. “We don’t have to be lovers to make this moment memorable.”
We do because I’m in love with you, she longed to say, but had vowed to let her actions be her words, agreed they would not be bound by oaths and promises.
“I need you, Aaron. I need a beautiful memory I will never forget.” She would not let Lord Howard steal every shred of happiness, too. “Be the light in the darkness. I shall be the same for you. Nothing exists beyond our need for each other.” She cupped his cheek to reassure him. “I know you will be mindful. That you have my interests at heart.”
When they kissed again, it was deep and tender. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Her heart raced wildly, though she had never been so relaxed.
When he undressed her, slowly peeling off one item of clothing at a time, one would think he had days, not minutes, tocomplete the task. He stood still, rubbing his jaw as his greedy gaze devoured every inch of her naked body. He swallowed more times than she could count.
“I don’t deserve you,” he said, like the weight of his past deeds hung over him, a penance he had to pay. “I thought I knew my place in the world, yet you force me to challenge it at every turn.”
That’s what love is, she thought. It made people reconsider their hopes and dreams and prioritise what was important.
“This is a surprise to me, too,” she admitted, drawn to the raw carnality in his eyes, puzzled by her lack of urgency to cover her modesty.
“You’re so beautiful, I’m afraid to touch you.”
“Then I will touch you.”
She reached for his shirt, grasping the fine lawn and dragging the garment over his head. God, he was beautiful. She didn’t gape in awe of his rugged physique or weep at the sight of his many scars. Her hands were on him, pushing through the dark hair on his chest, smoothing a path across his broad shoulders.
The feel of his hot skin dragged a sweet moan from her lips.
“Aaron,” was all she could say, not the measure of her feelings, not a list of fine qualities that made him the most impressive man she had ever met. “Time is precious. Remove your trousers and sit in the chair.”
They both had hurdles to climb.
She needed to be in control at the beginning, to choose the moment he claimed her. Despite his earlier confession to have her in every conceivable way, to fit a lifetime of lovemaking into an hour, he was scared to hurt her.
Aaron released her to tug off his riding boots and slowly push his trousers down over his lean hips, each movement deliberate, as if relishing the intimacy of undressing while she watched.
Her gaze wandered over him, starting at the wide expanse ofhis chest, then gliding down to the taut muscles of his abdomen. She felt her pulse quicken as her eyes trailed lower, drawn to the solid length of his manhood, the burn of desire flaming with every passing second.
He tried to lure her to the bed, but she put her finger on his lips and guided him towards the seat. He was too big for the wooden chair, his shoulders broader than the back rail, his powerful thighs overhanging the base when he spread them wide. She glanced again at his engorged manhood. He was too big for her in every regard.
A hungry anticipation lurked in his gaze as he took himself in hand. “You’re the only woman who’s ever seen me like this,” he groaned, his eyes flickering like passion’s flames licked his skin. “So relaxed and carefree.”
“You’re the only man who’s ever looked upon me.” She touched herself, palming her breasts, a light twist of her nipples, the slow glide of her fingers through the damp folds of her sex. “The only man I want and need.”
The only man I’ll ever love.
“God, you make me forget a world exists outside this room.” Eyes as black as jet raked over her body, a visual caress that tugged at her insides. “You can trust me, Joanna. I’ll be careful. You don’t need to worry about a child.”
A pang of disappointment hit her squarely in the chest. If only she could leave England with a part of him growing inside her, a child to tie them together forever. But she could never be that selfish.
With tentative steps, she closed the gap between them. They were wasting precious time. “Tell me what to do. Tell me how to please you.”
“Straddle my thighs. Let me touch you.”
He closed his legs to make room on the chair.
She did as he asked, gasping when he clutched her hips and held her firmly on his lap. “Don’t let me fall, Aaron.”
“I doubt I’ll ever let go.” He held her while blowing gently on her nipples as they grew to solid peaks. “I see you like that, love,” he whispered darkly, sucking one hard bud into his mouth, the rapid flick of his tongue sending a bolt of heat shooting to her core.
Lust was a gnawing tension in her stomach, a fever in her blood. Every touch of his mouth on her sensitive skin made it impossible to sit still. The hard ridge of his erection rubbed against her sex, desire a deep quiver in her belly.
“I need you, Aaron. I need you now.”
