What a Reckless Rogue Needs Part 29

"If I allow you to stay, you have to promise to be a gentleman."

"I'm always a gentleman in bed. Ladies first."

"You make no sense; you must have a touch of fever."

He placed his finger over her lips. "I won't lie to you. I want to kiss and touch you, but you can say no at any point, and I will stop." He nuzzled her neck. "Mmmm." Of course he knew exactly how to ignite the fire within her. Soon she would be so far gone, she would only realize her mistake when it was all over.

"If I said to stop now, would you?" she said.

He lifted his head. "Yes. It must be your decision." He would never force any woman. "Do you want me to stop?"

She bit her lip.

He sighed. "I'll go."

"No, stay."

"Angeline, I shouldn't."

She thought about all the lonely nights that might be ahead of her. She thought about his wicked sense of humor. Most of all, she thought about how he desperately wanted to possess Sommerall, because he could not bear for strangers to occupy the land where his mother was buried. He'd earned his rakish reputation, of that she had no doubt. But he'd sworn to stop at any point, and she knew instinctively he would honor that promise.

Tonight he'd enchanted her, teased her, and made her laugh. There were far worse things to fear, such as never knowing a man's ardent kiss in bed or the way it felt to have strong arms hold her. She loved him and knew that no matter what the future held, she would always cherish this night with him.

"Angeline, if the answer is no, you must tell me now."

She kissed him gently and then with more intent. He leaned over and returned it. "Do you want me to stop?"

"No." She opened for him and suspected the way he plunged his tongue inside her mouth was an imitation of lovemaking. He made her feel s.h.i.+very and hot at the same time. When he looked into her eyes, he pulled the covers down to her waist, and then he lowered his head and dipped his tongue between the hollow of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

She drew in a ragged breath, but before she could even think to stop him, he ran his tongue all along the inside seam of her s.h.i.+ft. He was very wicked, and very hard to resist. "Oh, my."

"Do you want me to stop?"

"Not yet."

He cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and circled his thumbs lightly over the fabric covering her nipples. She drew in a shuddering breath.

"Do you like it?" he whispered.

"You devil; you know I do," she said. "Oh."

"You'll like this even better." He slipped the straps of her chemise down her arms, exposing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He circled his tongue around one nipple and then the other. When he suckled her, she arched up to him. "Oh, my G.o.d, I had no idea."

He cupped her face and looked into her eyes. "I will say this only once, but I'm glad."

I love you.

He pulled her s.h.i.+ft up to her waist.

She caught his hand.

"Do you want me to stop?"

She swallowed. "No, not yet."

"I'm going to do something that may shock you."

"What is it?"

"I'll show you."

He put his knee between her thighs, and she grew very still. Could she let him?

He set her feet on the bed and slid down a bit. When he touched the folds of her s.e.x, she jerked.

"Shhhh," he said. "It's very wicked, but you will like it."

"I'm not so sure," she said.

He slowly stroked his tongue along the soft folds to pleasure her.

A feminine sound came out of her throat.

"You like it?"

"Oh, dear heaven. Oh, oh."

He repeated the long, slow stroke. Her back arched and she threaded her fingers in his hair.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"Do not dare stop."

He chuckled and did it again and again and again.

She bit her lip. He could feel the tension in her legs. He carefully inserted his finger. The erotic sound of moisture nearly made him mad with l.u.s.t. "You're tight inside and soaking wet."

When she looked at him, he said, "The wetness is preparation for coitus, but you can say no at any time."

"Oh."

He gave her three more long strokes of his tongue. Then he slipped his hands under her bottom and focused quick strokes on her sweet spot. She arched up until her head fell back. Then she came apart with a little cry and collapsed.

Her chest still rose and fell quickly. He smiled because he was rather proud of himself.

She opened her eyes. "Good Lord. No wonder virgins are kept in the dark. They would all be lifting their skirts for any man willing to...do that."

He burst out laughing. "That might depend on the man's skill."

"Yes, you clearly would earn high marks in the school of pleasure." She looked down at his tented drawers. "You are aroused."

He hesitated, knowing what he had to do, but when he looked at her sweet face, he realized how difficult it would be to rob her of something that ought to take place after the marriage vows.

"I'll take care of it privately." He got off the bed and pulled her s.h.i.+ft down to cover her legs.

"Colin?"

"Go to sleep," he said. He should have done it. He was giving up everything, but he couldn't. d.a.m.n it.

"Don't leave," she whispered.

He drew in a long breath. "My restraint is limited."

She touched him through the fabric of his drawers.

"Oh, G.o.d."

"Is there no way for me to pleasure you?" she whispered.

"It's messy."

She held out her arms to him, and devil that he was, he couldn't resist. He told himself he would only show her how to pleasure him with her hand. Nothing else would happen. He mustn't let it.

He removed his drawers and joined her in the bed. When she put her knee between his legs, he smiled. She planted kisses all along his torso until she reached his erect c.o.c.k. When she licked the length of him, his head fell back. He could not believe she had done it. He was ready to propose now, but he couldn't speak.

She continued the long strokes and cupped the sacs. He gritted his teeth as he got harder and harder. If she kept this up, he would explode any minute.

She took his hand and guided him to her folds. "I want you." She swallowed. "Inside."

"I'm trying very hard to be honorable for your sake."

"I don't want you to be honorable. I want you to make love to me."

She'd made it all too easy for him, but it was no longer selfish thoughts that gripped him. He hovered over her on his elbows. "Tell me no."

"Yes," she said. When she stroked him with her hand, he was wild to be inside of her. Then he showed her how to guide him.

He felt the barrier give way, and she gasped. He stayed very still until the tension inside her eased. Then he withdrew part of the way and entered again slowly. He kept his gaze on her as he rocked in and out in a slow rhythm. Soon he realized it would be more pleasurable for her if she rode him. "Hold on tight," he said. Then he flipped them.

She blinked. Then he showed her the rhythm. She started slowly but eventually she rode him faster. He pulled her forward and suckled her while she rocked against him. When he switched to her other breast, she cried out and her inner muscles contracted all around him.

He pressed her back to the mattress and entered her again. His heart was thudding fast in his chest, and his skin tingled. In some dim place in his brain, he knew he needed to withdraw at just the right moment. When she wrapped her long, soft thighs around him and squeezed, he strained and exploded inside her.

As his breathing slowed, he pulled the covers over them and gazed into her eyes. "Sleep," he whispered.

Chapter Twelve.

Colin awoke to find her watching him. "You are awake," he said in a sleep-roughened voice.

Her face grew hot.

"Is something wrong?"

She shook her head.

Clearly, she must be remembering the things they'd done in bed. "I'll announce our engagement when we return to Deerfield tomorrow."

She drew the sheet over her luscious b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "I beg your pardon?"

He plumped the pillow behind him. "Angeline, do not kick up a fuss. I had every intention of making a timely exit, but I lost control, and now it is quite possible we have created our firstborn."

She snorted. "It only happened one time. My friend Charlotte did not conceive for nearly six months."

"You're not Charlotte, and I'm not Portsworth. It only takes once, and I'd rather not have to face your father after your belly expands."

"You speak as if it is a foregone conclusion," she said. "Furthermore, if we announce an engagement tomorrow, our families will know what we've been doing."

He released a loud sigh. d.a.m.nation, he was still in danger of losing Sommerall. Of course she was right. He imagined Wycoff pointing a rifle at him. Granted the man was a terrible shot, but Colin knew he'd make an easier target than a flying bird.

"When will you know if there are consequences?" he asked.

"Oh, my stars."

"Angeline, after the things we did in this bed, I'm astounded by your sudden bashfulness."

"A week," she muttered.

"Ah, well it matters not one way or the other."

"How can you be so cavalier about it?" she said.

"Because, darling, I want to announce our engagement."

"You do not have my permission," she said.

"Angeline, it is true that we both will benefit from the marriage, but it is equally true that I took your virginity."

"Well, you can't put it back."

He laughed. "In all seriousness, my honor demands that we marry."

"What nonsense."