Page 64 of A Scandalous Proposition
‘Is this to be my punishment then?’ She closed her eyes for an expressive moment as she clutched him deep inside her. ‘If so, I might feel inclined to be disobedient more frequently.’
‘Florentina.’ He ground his teeth as she thrashed wildly about on his lap. ‘If you do anything as rash as you did today ever again, I’ll not be responsible for my actions. Do we understand one another?’
‘Yes, my lord.’ She spoke so meekly that he couldn’t help laughing aloud.
‘My God, but you’re a baggage!’
Adam watched the extravagant sweep of her thick lashes falling across her cheek as she rode him with a sensual innocence that belied their current activity. He took control of matters and within seconds she was screaming his name, her head thrown back, her tangled hair flowing over her breasts.
He didn’t think he would ever forget the tortured expression in her eyes as she opened them wide and looked directly into his. She tensed and then shattered about him, her head thrashing wildly from side to side. Her entire body trembled, her face was flushed, her brow glistening with perspiration. Fire lanced through him as he followed her over the edge, his heart full to bursting.
Afterwards, still conjoined, he cradled her on his lap and resisted the urge to tell her that he loved her. When he made that admission, it wouldn’t be done in a brothel.
‘Adam, may I ask you a question?’
He kissed the top of her head. ‘You may ask me anything you wish.’
‘But will you give me an honest response?’
‘I wouldn’t ever lie to you.’
‘Well then, will you tell me what you decided with Lord Madison? About Dawson, I mean.’
Adam was disappointed that such a subject would still be at the forefront of her mind at such a moment. Disappointed, but not surprised.
‘When he receives word that Dawson is to make landfall, we have agreed to take a small party of men and intercept him. Our aim is to release his captives and have him taken in charge.’
‘You make it all sound so easy.’
‘Well, we’ll at least have the element of surprise on our side.’
‘Not necessarily. Don’t forget that we’ve already made trouble for him. He will be alert.’
‘Up until now you’ve only saved the captives once they were confined to buildings ashore. He’ll not be expecting us to confront him when they’re being landed.’
‘But will that not be dangerous?’ She sat up, almost causing them to separate. ‘His men will be heavily armed.’
Adam grimaced. ‘So will we.’
She sighed and looked away from him. ‘I don’t think I could bear the responsibility if anything were to happen to you.’
‘Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m indestructible.’
‘That’s just the sort of arrogant assumption that will get you killed.’ She wagged a finger at him, which he promptly sucked into his mouth. ‘But it doesn’t signify since I shall be there to ensure that you don’t do anything rash.’
‘Out of the question!’ This time it was him who moved and separated them. ‘Florentina, have you not listened to one word of warning I’ve issued this evening?’
She giggled and then covered her mouth with her hand. ‘Forgive me, I must have been distracted.’
‘Then I will remind you.’ He glowered at her. ‘You will not, absolutely not, do anything to put yourself in danger. Are we absolutely clear about that?’
‘No!’ She jumped from his lap and stood in front of him with her hands on her hips, not appearing to care that she was still half-naked. ‘You don’t seem to realise that without me there you will have no chance of rescuing the poor girls. In fact, you’ll probably put them at greater risk.’
‘I don’t see how.’
‘No, of course you do not. You are so full of bravado that you’ve not stopped to consider my warnings. The girls won’t trust a strange Englishman! Not even one who speaks Spanish.’ She tossed hair away from her face. ‘However, there’s every possibility that I will be able to convince them without anyone getting injured.’ Annoyingly, Adam could see the logic in her argument but would rather risk the lives of the captives than knowingly put Florentina in further peril. She must have sensed his vacillation because she lost no time in pressing home her advantage. ‘I promise to stand back and only speak to the girls when it’s safe to do so.’
‘It will never be safe.’
