Page 74 of The Viscount's Unwanted Bride
He shuddered. He couldn’t lose her too. Not like Elizabeth. He wouldn’t be able to bear it.
Needing to reassure himself that she really was well, he rolled off her and stared at her face and neck in the dim light of dawn that filtered into the room around the curtains. She was unmarked, not a speck of blood on her. But seeing that wasn’t enough.
He shoved the bedding off them and reached around until he found the hem of her nightgown. He tugged it up, baring her lower legs, and ran his hands up and down them, verifying for himself that there was nothing amiss.
But what if the damage was hiding underneath her nightdress? People did die from gut wounds.
Even though the rational side of him knew that she wouldn’t have suffered severe abdominal trauma while in bed with him, he encouraged her to remove her nightgown so he could explore her torso.
He skimmed his palms over her belly and breasts, then around her back and down her arms. Finally satisfied that she was in no danger of sudden death, he stopped searching her, his breath coming in great heaves as he tried to get the ferocious hammering of his heart under control.
Sweat beaded at his temples, and he held Kate’s hips more firmly than he probably should. His fingers formed indents on her lily-white skin, and he couldn’t bring himself to move them in case she suddenly disappeared. Right now, he was anchored to her in a way that neither of them could deny.
He needed more, though. He kissed her, savoring her taste—sleepy woman with a hint of sweetness—and breathed in her scent, so warm and alive. Simply seeing she was well wasn’t enough. He needed to feel her, smell her, taste her, hear her.
His tongue delved into her mouth, and he groaned, needing to be closer, but he didn’t know how.
Kate turned her face away, separating their lips. “How are you feeling?” she asked gently.
He raised his eyes to hers and held her gaze, relieved once again by the spark of life he saw there. “I need...”
Her lips pursed, and she cocked her head. “What do you need, Theo?”
Suddenly, it was beyond obvious what would make this disconcerting panic go away. He needed to bury himself inside her over and over again, feeling her heat smother him and getting her scent so far up his nostrils that it imprinted itself on his brain. Surely, then, the nightmare would lose its hold on him.
“I need to make love to you,” he rasped, removing one hand from her hip and slipping it between her legs. He caressed her until she moaned and then slid his other hand to her waist.
She frowned. “But didn’t you say that’s risky?”
“I changed my mind.” There was nothing more life-affirming than sex. He needed it. Now.
He delved into her, finding a trace of slickness that proved she wasn’t immune to his touch, and he pressed firmly against her, pleased when she trembled.
She circled her hips, riding his hand, and he supported her weight as best he could so she could get a better angle. Her head fell back, and his gaze finally dropped from her eyes to those perky breasts of hers. He knew the areolas were dusky pink, but they were shadowed in the darkness, the space between them a tempting valley.
She raised her head, her eyes slumberous, but there was a look of fierce concentration in them as she asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Until he was inside her, he wouldn’t rest easy. He needed the comfort her body would provide. “Do you want this?”
She watched him with hooded eyes, then nodded.
Thank God.
He continued caressing her until she was wet enough that he was comfortable giving her more. He kissed her to distract her as he pushed one finger inside her. She gasped at the intrusion, inadvertently exchanging breath with him.
“Does it hurt?” he asked through gritted teeth, praying that she’d say no.
“No, it’s just… strange.”
He tilted his hand to cup her sex, and she immediately rolled her hips, seeking friction. After a while, she’d relaxed enough for him to add a second finger, and then a third. He may be desperate, but he refused to hurt her.
After what felt like an eternity, he crawled over her and slotted his cock against her entrance.
“I’ll go slowly,” he promised. “If it’s uncomfortable, tell me.”
“I trust you.”
Fuck, those words took the breath from his lungs. He couldn’t help feeling that any trust she had in him was completely misplaced.
