Page 14 of Rakes & Reticules
“Is not the reason I started courting you.” He smiled. “I know what they say about your mother.” Roman pulled her into his arms. “Let me be clear. Even if that nonsense was true, I would not care. I would want you despite it, or maybe because of it. Either way, I don’t give a damn. The ton can go to hell for all I care. You’re the one thing I cannot live without. Do you understand?”
Athena sighed. “You might come to regret that.”
“No, love,” he told her. “I won’t ever regret you. I promise you that. The only things that are ever worth regretting are the things we do not do, and loving you has made me happy.”
Roman’s heart raced inside his chest. He had to make her believe that he couldn’t live without her. This all had happened so fast, but all he could do was be honest with her. In a more perfect world, they would have time to sort it all out. If the ton were not full of bigoted fools, she wouldn’t have run home. But none of that mattered in the end. As long as they were together, they could find their way through anything.
“You make me happy too,” she admitted. Athena licked her lips. “Kiss me.
“There’s nothing I’d like more,” he said. Roman had dreamed about kissing her every night since the first time his lips had touched hers. He wanted too much more with her, but this might not be the time for that.
He pulled her flush against his body and kissed her deeply. She sighed, and he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. Her clothes were soaked, but then again, so was his. He could kiss her forever and it wouldn’t be nearly long enough. Roman had to stop, though. “If we stay in these wet clothes, we might catch our death.”
Athena’s lips twitched. “Why, my lord, are you trying to seduce me?”
“I…” Roman was speechless. “No… I mean…”
She winked and then pulled her shirt free from her breeches. The white fabric was so wet it was nearly transparent. Her chemise underneath was the only reason he couldn’t see her plump breasts, but that wasn’t much of a barrier, either. Athena yanked her shirt over her head and undid the strings of her breeches. She pulled off her boots and let her breeches fall to the ground. “Don’t worry, love.” She stood before him in nothing but her chemise. “I want you to seduce me. Now it’s your turn. Take off those wet clothes and come keep me warm. I don’t know that we have any blankets to help with that endeavor.”
Sweet torture. She was so damned perfect. Roman had never stripped so fast in his entire life. Once he stood before her in nothing but his smalls he stepped toward her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he lowered his head to kiss her. He slid her chemise up and caressed her stomach and hips, then slid his hand up until he could cup her breast in the palm of his hand. She moaned as he tweaked a nipple between his thumb and finger.
“Are you certain,” he asked as he trailed kisses over her neck. He didn’t want to take advantage of her, but she was so damn sweet and irresistible.
“You said we only regret the things we don’t do,” she said. “I don’t want to have any regrets. Make me yours.”
Roman groaned and pulled her chemise off and led her over to a settee. It had seen better days, but it still looked comfortable, just worn. He lowered her on to it and then leaned down to press his lips to hers, then he moved down and licked a nipple. She moaned. He wanted to taste her everywhere. This would be her first time, and he wanted it to be good for her.
“I love you,” he said. Then he licked her other breast. Roman cupped her between her thighs and slid a finger through her folds.
“That feels…” She moaned as he rubbed her clit. “Roman, yes, do that again.”
He smiled and decided to taste her sweetness. Roman wanted to hear her scream his name as he licked her into her climax. He spread her thighs and kissed her sensitive nub. She began to writhe beneath him. Athena’s breathing became ragged. He slid a finger into her core as he sucked her sensitive nub into his mouth. “Roman,” she screamed as her body shook. “I’ve never…”
“You are perfect,” he said as he slid his smalls off. He had to be inside her.
“I’m not,” she said. “But I’m glad you think so.”
Roman joined her on the settee and started to kiss her again. “This might be uncomfortable. At least the first time.”
She nodded. “I know. I don’t want to stop.”
Thank heaven… He settled between her things and began to push inside of her. Roman kissed her as he slid slowly inside her heat. He had to make her feel good, but he couldn’t be certain she would enjoy this part, at least not the first time. Finally, he was all the way in. He gritted his teeth and stilled.
“That wasn’t so bad,” she said. “Is that all?”
He laughed. “No, love,” he said and pulled back out and then slid in again.
“Oh…” She moaned. “Yes. Do that again.”
She was so demanding, and he loved it. Roman thrust into her again and again until she writhed beneath him again. He was so close to his own climax, but he wanted her to find her release again. He wanted to feel her squeezing him as he came. Roman reached beneath them and rubbed her clit as he thrust inside of her. She moaned and shattered, and he quickly followed.
Everything went black as his own release spread through him. He’d been with other women, but it had never been like that. He rolled to his side and pulled her with him. “Marry me,” he said. He should have asked her before he’d taken her virginity, but he hadn’t been thinking clearly.
“I thought that was a given,” she said, then chuckled. “I love you, Roman. Of course, I’ll marry you.”
“Good,” he said. “Otherwise, I would be kidnapping you and we would make a mad dash to Scotland.”
She laughed. “I don’t believe an elopement of that magnitude will be necessary. Though you will have to speak with my father. I do want his permission, but I will add that on the chance he says no that mad dash would be acceptable to me”
