Page 63 of An Innocent Maid for the Duke
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Held in Jake’s arms, Rose felt treasured. Being held had been a rare enough event in her life. Most of the people at the orphanage had been kind enough. They had done their best for unwanted children, but they’d had families of their own on whom to lavish affection.
This sense of being wanted, of belonging, was completely new. Even though she knew it wouldn’t last, she wanted to wallow in it. Pretend that she was the princess in a fairy tale, instead of the example held out to orphans of what would happen to them unless they were good.
While Jake pulled back the sheet, she clung on to his shoulders. When he set her gently on the bed, she opened her arms to him, welcoming him to lay beside her.
And when he untied his robe’s belt, she gazed in awe at his beautiful masculine body. Aroused for her. His lips smiling for her. Him needing her. At this moment she could pretend it was only her he wanted.
She welcomed him into the cradle of her hips, drawing him to her with her legs high about his waist.
He dipped a finger into her feminine folds and groaned. ‘So wet and hot. So ready.’
‘For you, Jake,’ she whispered in his ear. Only ever for you, her mind echoed back. She stilled. Was it true? Was he the only one for her? And what did that mean for her future? She pushed the unwanted doubts aside. All would be well, as long as she didn’t visit her own needs and desires on an innocent child.
His lips roamed her breasts, his tongue teasing and tormenting, his hands glided over her body in a trail of heat and sensual tingles.
The desire in her built until she could not bear it any longer.
‘I need you,’ she groaned. ‘Inside me.’
‘You are impatient tonight.’
Impatient. Yes. He had read her correctly. Meeting his sister, the Lady Eleanor, so beautiful, so cool and reserved, had given her an odd premonition that time was running out for her and Jake and she didn’t want to waste a moment.
Likely because his sister had agreed with his grandmother. Jake needed to wed. He seemed to take more notice of his sister’s words.
‘I want you.’ And no matter what happened in the future, one thing she knew for certain, if a child did result, despite all their precautions, she would never ever leave it to grow up alone.
He took her mouth in a searing kiss and she gave herself up to the pleasure she planned to hoard as if it was miser’s gold.
He broke the kiss, gazing down into her face. She sensed the deep weariness of soul he tried to hide from the world. Perhaps he, too, was feeling the future closing in. ‘Jake, is something wrong?’
He smiled and kissed her forehead. ‘What on earth could be wrong when I have you in my arms?’
What indeed. Whatever it was he did not intend for her to know and for some reason that made her feel sad. And distanced.
She wished there was something she could do to share his burdens. There was always this, of course. Whenever they made love he seemed to forget the outside world for a time. But she wanted to do so much more. To lessen the shadows she saw in his eyes.
She recalled the discussions of the girls at the V&V. Some of the naughty things they’d talked about doing with the men at the club.
Perhaps all men liked such things? Would he think her terrible if she offered?
She flattened her hands on his chest and pushed.
A look of disappointment crossed his face, but he obligingly broke the kiss and raised up on his hands. ‘Not in the mood tonight, sweet?’
The girls had been right. A real gentleman never forced himself on an unwilling woman, lady or not.
A wicked smile pulled at her mouth. ‘It isn’t that.’
He frowned and if anything looked more disappointed. ‘Indisposed?’
She tilted her head in question.
‘It is your time of the month?’
Oh, that. ‘Not until next week.’ She gave his shoulder a hard push and he rolled on his back, his erection arrowing up against his belly.
