Page 63 of A Scandalous Proposition
‘No one’s ever endangered themselves for my sake before,’ he said, stroking a stray strand of hair away from her face.
‘Not even your soldiers?’
‘They don’t count because they have to do as I tell them. But you…well, I can’t imagine you doing anything anyone tells you to unless it suits your purpose.’ She giggled but he silenced her by placing a finger against her lips. ‘And yet you did this for me. I am overwhelmed.’
‘Then why were you so cross with me?’
‘Because I still don’t believe you fully appreciate what would have happened to you if I had not intervened.’
She shook her head against his chest. Adam sighed and gave up attempting to explain. Instead he dropped his head to claim her lips with a possessive hunger more eloquent than a thousand words.
‘Do you understand a little better now?’ Adam broke the kiss and gazed down into eyes cloudy with passion. ‘When Christine told me you’d gone to King’s estate, I knew what he would force you to do and I was ready to commit murder. Him first for daring to touch you, and then you for being such a fool.’
‘I hadn’t realised quite how debauched it would be. Thank you,’ she said meekly. ‘I’ve caused you endless trouble for no good purpose.’
He kissed her again and this time his hands roamed over breasts primly covered by the fabric of her serviceable gown. His physical reaction to her emotional turmoil was entirely predictable and he made no effort to conceal it from her. She was his now. No other man would ever touch her, of that he was fiercely determined.
The deep passionate nature of the feelings he entertained toward this creature was like nothing he’d ever known before. How could he ever have mistaken the tender affection he’d once felt for Philippa as love? Adam was deeply and desperately in love with Florentina. As soon as he resolved the problem with Dawson, he’d find a way to tell her so.
But would she have him? She was concerned about the state of affairs in her own country. Worried about her elder brother and determined to discover if he was still alive. Would she return to her duties as a scout for the British army once she’d seen her younger brother and sister settled into positions here? Much as he admired and could identify with her patriotic sense of duty, the possibility was unthinkable.
She moaned as his fingers gently caressed the soft mound of her breast.
‘Adam, we can’t. Not here.’
He laughed aloud. ‘Darling, we’re in a brothel. We can do anything our hearts desire and no one will think anything of it.’
‘But someone might come in. Christine, she?’
With an impatient sigh Adam released her, turned the key in the lock and pulled her back into his arms.
‘Are you saying that you don’t want me?’ He affected a hurt expression.
‘I’m indebted to you for rescuing me.’
‘And you always pay your debts.’
Her luminous smile, the sound of her soft, sultry laughter, melted his already vulnerable heart. ‘Always. But I thought you prefer for people not to know that we?’
‘Be quiet.’
He kissed her harshly, possessively, reaching for the ties to her bodice as he did so. His fingers closed over one breast, now only covered by the thin material of her chemise. Her breathing became more ragged as he deepened the kiss, and she leaned heavily against him. Adam, still kissing her with barely controlled passion, scooped her into his arms and carried her to a settee. He broke the kiss and tumbled her onto her back in a flurry of petticoats and strangled protests.
‘Now then, Mrs Smith, about your punishment.’
She was a charming, rumpled mess, everything about her in disarray. She looked up at him, rueful mischief in her eyes, a gurgle of laughter clashing with her affronted expression.
‘Have you not already punished me enough, my lord?’
‘I’ve not even made a start.’ He raised his hand and pretended to bring it down on her rear. She squealed and tried to wriggle out of range.
‘Oh no, you don’t!’ He caught her ’round the waist and pulled her onto his lap. ‘Now, how am I going to impress upon you the importance of doing as you’re told?’
‘Nothing could be easier. Simply ensure that you don’t ask me to do anything I would rather not, that’s all.’
Her smiling lips were more tempting than they had any right to be. With a growl of frustration, he pushed her gown away from her shoulders, making short work of the chemise beneath it. Florentina wrapped her arms ’round his neck like an impatient child eager to see what treats were in store for her. Adam enjoyed the feel of her voluptuous body pressed so close against his own and had no intention of moving her aside in order to shed his clothes. Instead he lifted her momentarily free of his lap, unfastened his breeches and lifted her skirts.
She looked innocent yet wanton. Abandoned, curious and disconcertingly eager to follow his lead. It was a lethal combination that all but unbalanced him. He lowered her onto him, watching her face carefully for signs of distress. But the only emotion he could detect was one of happy anticipation as she sank down and took him inside her. He was still completely dressed and found the episode painfully erotic. So erotic, so profoundly sensual that he thrust up with more brutality than he’d intended. She responded by meeting him halfway, mumbling a constant stream of incomprehensible Spanish.
