Page 73 of A Rake's Redemption
Slowly, she turned her head. “Ye care?”
“Absolutely,” he answered and amazed himself once more for realizing the truth of that. “That’s why I wanted you to have a chance to back out of my plan. I don’t want to see you humiliated or embarrassed. And God help me…when the kitchen maid came down and said she thought you were dead… My blood stopped flowing.”
Inis studied him. “Then why do ye nae want to bed me?”
His wayward cock swelled even more, as if asking him the same question. He tried to ignore what was becoming painful. “I will not defile you, Inis, and I do not take virginal maidenheads.”
She frowned. “What if I were nae a virgin?”
Alex widened his eyes in surprise. “You are not a virgin?”
Inis shrugged. “I am two-and-twenty.”
He’d not even entertained the idea she might not be a virgin. Something similar to a knife seared his gut, and he felt an unreasonable surge of anger for whoever had debased her. Had it been someone who made false promises? Or worse…had she been forced to sell herself? He remembered she’d masqueraded as a boy when they first met. Perhaps the disguise had been a way to protect herself from unwanted advances. He hated to think she’d had that kind of life. But she was bold tonight…waiting for him naked. Would a virgin do that? Probably not.Of course not, his cock urged.
Alex took a deep breath. “If we do this, I’ll take care of you. I’ll set you up with a house and accounts and plenty of pin money. I swear I will.”
Her brows drew together. “A mistress is only a whore. I am nae that.”
“Of course you are not.” That had certainly come out wrong…and been misinterpreted. Perhaps if his damn erection weren’t so uncomfortably hard, he could have phrased it better. Right now, though, the head on his shoulders was working in tandem with his other head. Anything else he might say to explain would no doubt be equally affronting. He’d save the explanation for later. “I want to make love to you. If you’ll have me.”
Inis smiled and let the night rail drop. His gaze dropped as well. Her nipples were neither dark or coral, but more of a soft pink. He cupped one milky white mound in his hand, liking the fact it just filled his palm, and brushed his thumb across the lovely tip. It peaked immediately, and he heard a soft sigh escape her.
Lord, if she was this responsive…
He slid his hands up to cradle her head and covered her mouth with his. Her lips were soft and moist and parted willingly as his tongue glided over them. He practically tore his smallclothes off, freeing himself, before lying beside her. She arched her back as he molded his hand to her breast again and kneaded gently, rolling the nipple between his fingertips and then pinching the hard little bead lightly. He trailed kisses down her neck and across her collarbone before laving the other nipple with the tip of his tongue.
She raked her nails over his shoulders, driving him wild as her body reacted to his every touch. He skimmed his hand down her hip, found the tight curls at her apex, and slid two fingers along her sleek folds and inside her hot, wet heat. She groaned again and pushed her hips up against his hand. She was an aphrodisiac to him. Everywhere he tasted, he wanted more…
He moved downward and knelt between her legs, replacing his fingers with his mouth and lapping her juices. He heard her gasp and felt the tightening of her thighs. He pushed them farther apart, allowing himself full access to her most feminine parts. He flicked the tip of his tongue over the little nub that stood to attention. She writhed under his ministrations, her breathing becoming quick and shallow, her moans growing louder as he licked and teased the hardened bud. He slipped a finger inside her, closed his mouth over the jutting nub, and sucked hard. Her muscles contracted around his finger as she called out his name.
He must have died and gone to heaven. Only that could account for the complete euphoria he was feeling. Never had any woman affected him like this. He raised his head and shifted his body over hers, positioning his long-suffering cock against her hot, wet core. With one long, hard thrust, he buried himself to the hilt into that tight sheath.
Inis cried out, and it took his befogged brain a moment to realize she wasn’t moving, and another moment to realize why. He’d just broken through her maidenhead.
“You are…werea virgin.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The sharp pain of Alex’s initial penetration subsided, leaving Inis with the pleasant sensation of his thick, heavy manhood filling her. She wiggled her hips, wanting more, and then realized he’d stopped moving, too. She slowly opened her eyes to find him staring down at her.
“You are…werea virgin.” He withdrew and shifted his weight to the side of the bed, propping his head on his hand. “Why did you lie to me?”
She wanted desperately to tell him to stay buried inside her, but he’d already moved. Not only that, but his face could have been chiseled of marble.
“I dinna lie.”
“You said you weren’t a virgin.”
Inis shook her head. “I only said I was two-and-twenty.”
“You tricked me.”
“I dinna mean to.” She slid back against the headboard and pulled the sheet up.
Alex’s gaze followed the movement and a frown furrowed his brows. She sighed. At least that was better than his stony expression.
“Why did you do that?”
