“When do you plan to show me my father’s will and the letter you say accompanied it? I would like to get on with my life and book my passage to America in case . . .” It amazed her that she could sound so cold and unfeeling. He could never know the deep love she had for him.
***
Thomas’s hand paused as he lifted the forkful of eggs toward his mouth. Emma’s soft voice had said the words he dreaded, booking passage to America. Why the bloody hell was he eating? The food tasted like hay; he swallowed and forced it down. And why was he being so mean to her this morning? Was he not trying to win her over?
If Thomas were a smart gentleman, he would run to his study, open his desk, and procure the will and letter that proved his innocence in the scheme her father had planned and played out. But for some reason he hesitated to do just that. He wanted to prove his innocence, but more importantly, he wanted to show Emma he cared for her deeply and would do anything not to hurt her. Reading her father’s letter would hurt her.
And if he were to win her heart, he would do it without providing the proof she needed. He wanted her to love him regardless of what happened in the past. Because, God help him, he loved her with an intensity that frightened the hell out of him.
Then he realized he’d never answered her. “I have them locked in my study. But before I show them to you, I hope you will let us spend some time together. I hope you will give me time to redeem myself and prove myself worthy of you.”
“I am not sure I can allow you this. I have a right to know everything. And if you think to distract me, you are mistaken. Meanwhile, I will think upon your request.” She curtsied. “If you will excuse me, I have things to take care of now.”
The lifeless tone of her voice shocked him. Thomas rose and followed her out into the main hall and hesitatingly touched her elbow to get her attention. “Please, Emma, come with me.”
Thomas led her into his study, ignoring the angry looks she cast his way. Then he did the only thing he could think of at the moment, the one thing he’d dreamed about for days. He snaked his arm around her waist, pulled her tightly against his hard body, and before she could protest, his mouth claimed hers in a demanding kiss.
***
Emma’s lips burned from the fierce contact. Thomas’s lips broke contact from hers just long enough to whisper, “Open for me.”
Foolishly she did. When Thomas kissed her, his tongue swept so thoroughly around the inside of her mouth that Emma had no control over her body. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she swayed into him. If she could crawl inside him at that moment, she would have. As close as they were it was not nearly close enough. Her body wanted things, yet if her mind were functioning properly, it would not have allowed them.
Her body won.
When his lips left her mouth and traveled lower they left a scalding trail behind. A moan escaped her lips as her bones melted and her hands tightened around his neck. He alone kept her standing.
In the back of her mind Emma knew she should stop Thomas as his fingers deftly worked the buttons on the front of her dress. But, dear God, just his knuckles making contact with her bare skin burned her. Before she could comprehend, she stood before him naked to the waist, her nipples hard and her breasts heavy, begging for his touch.
“Ahh, yes,” escaped her lips as his mouth clamped down on her sensitive nipple. He suckled it into his mouth and she gasped as heat shot between her thighs. All reason fled, and she begged him to touch her. With one swipe of his hand he cleared his desk and gently laid her down, lifted her skirts, pulled her pantaloons down around her ankles, and buried his head between her thighs.
Her body working on instinct, she wrapped her legs around Thomas’s head. At first Emma felt a little pulling in her stomach and a full sensation down low. Her body wanted to open itself up and take Thomas inside. She needed––oh dear, she did not know what she needed.
Her body tensed up, her back arched, and her hips thrust up against his mouth over and over. She sought, wanted, needed… And then it happened. Her vision blurred, the room spun, her body convulsed over and over, her knees clamped around his ears, and she moaned until she reentered her body and her surroundings became clear once again.
Emma waited for shame and remorse to hit her. They did not. Not even when Thomas smoothed down her skirts and grinned like a schoolboy who got caught doing something naughty.
Thomas’s hands went to the front of his breeches and unbuttoned the flap, and his erection sprung free. Emma gasped at the sight of it––her first glimpse of what would go inside her body. The size of it, hard and pulsing, intrigued her. And before she knew it, she’d wrapped her hand around his shaft.