She leaned against the door. I’ve done it! The fire on the hearth had burned down to orange embers and there was a distinct chill in the air. She lost precious seconds standing by the door, wondering what next to do. Adel curled her feet into the expensive carpet, seeking warmth. Why had she not thought to slip her feet into slippers?
The bed creaked slightly.
She frowned. “Mr. Atwood?”
Maddening silence. Then a soft rumble rose from the bed in the far corner and she muffled a startled squeak. Swallowing a nervous chuckle she peered, trying to make out his form in the darkened room. Drifting closer, she muttered an unladylike curse as she stubbed her toes on something hard. She stooped and felt around.
It was the bed. How had it moved from that corner to here? Confusion rushed through her and she lurched upright. The sudden move made her dizzy and she stumbled, landing on the bed in an undignified heap onto a very hard body.
Good heavens!
…
Edmond was roused to full consciousness by the lightest caress. There was a soft weight on his shoulder, the heated press of a palm. The delicate tips of a single finger skimmed over his naked chest, the touch was tentative, curious even, a gentle foray that spoke of inexperience, yet his cock surged to life with painful immediacy. The betrayal of his body froze him, and he remained still as the caress became firmer, even more seductive, causing his length to flex, his heart to jerk, and his mouth to go ridiculously dry. Impossible.
He subtly inhaled. Her fragrance was clean and sweet. No cloying perfume, simply the fresh scent of lavender soap and roses. His reaction to this stranger was thrilling and unpardonable in equal measure.
“Are you awake?” The voice was raspy, seductive, and a bit fearful. Before he could respond she spoke, “Your body is harder than I imagined it would be.”
The awe in her voice was evident, and a fleeting smile touched his lips.
“Why are you sleeping without a nightshirt?” The pique in the tone was glaring.
Delicate fingers glided over his chest, dipping low, skimming over his tensed abdomen to stop at his hip. Edmond frowned as everything in him reacted. His cock twitched, his heart raced even more, and hot and urgent desire coiled in his gut. He savored the barest of touches, not realizing how desperate he’d been for a woman’s enticing embrace. Warring needs swirled inside of Edmond. He wanted to push away this unknown woman that smelled like temptation, but the need was also there to sate this surprising hunger—a hunger he had long denied.
Three years and seven months.
It was the desperation that grounded him, and allowed him to tamp down on his sudden lustful urges. He would never allow such emotions to hold sway over him again. He shifted with all intention of leaving the warm confines of the bed when the figure tumbled forward. A warm kiss pressed into the hollow of his throat, and soft feminine curves arched into him.
Edmond couldn’t help it. He groaned. Breathing slowly, he calmed himself, willing his body to relax. Who would be so bold? Lady Evelyn? Damned unlikely. The light glowing from the embers of the fireplace were too low for him to ascertain her features. Hell…was he even truly awake?
“I missed you today. Why did you not ask me to dance at all tonight?”
Ah, so this was a dream, the result of imbibing a few more glasses of brandy in the cold loneliness of the library before retiring. A dangerous need rode Edmond, and the temptation to slake his hunger in her willing warmth was overwhelming.
A gentle nip at his throat as if punishment for being absent, then a kiss soothing the sting. A whiff of her sweet breath teased his nostrils. Sherry. So his intrepid seducer had consumed liquor to shore up her fortitude. Was the lady drunk?
A sigh wafted from her on a soft moan. “You smell different… I like it, very much,” she whispered almost shyly.
As if they had a will of their own, his hands searched, found her hips and tugged her closer. His body hummed with eagerness and desire heated his blood. Edmond drew her up to him, and dipped his head. He lightly grazed her cheek with his lips, and pressed a light kiss down to her neck. So damn tempting.
“I believe I want you to kiss me,” she gasped, astonishment rife in her tone.
She nuzzled into his chest and his control began to fray, thread by thread. Edmond pressed an open mouth kiss to the tiny pulse flickering wildly above her collarbone and inhaled her scent into his lungs, wanting to trap the refreshing fragrance. As he nipped at her tender flesh with his teeth, she shivered violently, and a soft moan slipped from her.
“I…I feel…warm, and there is a strange feeling fluttering in my stomach.”
His body was rebelling at his self-imposed celibacy and his cock was leading the charge. With a muttered epithet he drew her closer, wanting to dip his fingers beneath her gown to find out how passionate a woman she was. Through the fog of lust shrouding his logical thoughts, common sense reared its head. He’d never had a faceless liaison, and he was not about to start. But devil take it. He felt something other than blinding pain and emptiness for the first time, in what felt like a lifetime. Before he could decide how to handle his unexpected companion, the softest of lips settled on his. Sweet Christ. Rational thought told him to push her away, but everything burned under the tide of excruciating lust.