Page 88 of Only in Moonlight
His hand slid between my legs, stroking me through the bunched-up layers of skirts. I arched against him, my fingerstangling in his hair as he kept kissing and sucking on my neck. My muscles tensed, a delicious ache building as the pleasure sharpened and intensified. Had it only been two days since he’d touched me like this? It felt so much longer.
“Valen!” I gasped, as he nicked me with his teeth.
“Too much?” he asked.
“Not enough,” I said. “I’m not ready for marriage, but I want more. I want—”
Heat rose in my face. I didn’t know why I suddenly felt as bashful as a sheltered maiden princess. I’d grown up in a brothel, for God and Goddess’s sake.
“Iwantyouinsideme.”
The words tumbled out in a rush, and I wanted to crawl into the deepest dungeon the Moonlit Court offered. Smooth seductress I was not.
But Valen didn’t look like I’d just embarrassed myself. He looked like a man who’d been offered paradise.
“Stars, Emmeline,” he breathed, clutching my thighs as he searched my face. “I’m—”
“Sir Valen?” the driver called. “We’ve arrived.”
Shit, the carriage had stopped moving. When the hell had that happened?
We broke apart, both breathing hard. Valen’s hair was disheveled from my hands, his lips swollen, and I probably looked equally wrecked. Of all the horrible timing. Couldn’t the driver have circled around the block for another ten minutes? Or sixty?
Valen needed a few moments for his bulge to decline. Then he helped me out of the carriage, the throbbing in my core making every movement awkward. Valen gave thanks to the driver as we practically ran to the front doors, but they opened before we reached them. Nin came out with several other servants trailingbehind her. Their faces were carefully neutral, but I caught the relief in their eyes. They’d been worried about their employer.
The least they could’ve done was let him get laid.
“Sir Valen, Emmeline,” Nin said. “Welcome home. Shall I have the cook prepare—”
“Later,” Valen said, his voice rough. His hand found mine, fingers intertwining. “We’re not to be disturbed.”
A thrill shot through me. So this wasn’t over.
Nin tried to hide it, but I caught the tiny smile. “Of course, sir. You must be tired.”
“Exhausted,” I agreed, my cheeks heating.
We climbed the grand staircase together, and by the time we reached Valen’s chambers, pent-up desire had me frazzled beyond belief. He closed the door behind us and turned the lock with deliberate precision.
Alone again. Finally. His chambers were every bit as extravagant and overlarge as they’d been when I’d first arrived, but now the vast bed looked tantalizing rather than pretentious. The crystal chandelier had dimmed, casting the room in moody shadows, and a cool breeze rustled the gossamer curtains over the windows as it carried in a flowery scent from outside.
“Now then,” he said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone that made my knees weak. “I believe I have a notorious thief to deal with.”
My pulse quickened. “Do you?”
He stalked toward me with predatory grace. “She’s been quite elusive. Slipped through my fingers more than once.”
“Maybe she wanted to be caught,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady even as he began unlacing my bodice with infuriating slowness.
“Is that so?”
The dress dropped to the floor in a puddle of fabric around my feet. His expert hands quickly freed me of my chemise, and I stood before him naked and nearly vibrating with longing.
Then he went to the nightstand, picking up the manacles he’d used to shackle me to the bed at the beginning of our partnership.
He smirked wickedly. “I think I should ensure you don’t escape again.”
“No deal.” I gestured at him. “I’m not surrendering until you take off your clothes, too.”
