Page 63 of The Hellion and the Captain
Understanding her need, he unfastened her dress with deft fingers, baring her to his heated gaze. “So beautiful,” he murmured reverently, cupping her breasts and brushing his thumbs over the sensitive peaks.
Lost in sensation, Emmaline could only gasp and writhe beneath him as he worshipped her body with his hands and mouth. When he finally joined them as one, she had to bite back a cry of pure bliss.
They moved together in perfect sync, as natural as breathing. Rhys drove her higher with each powerful thrust, stoking the fire building within her. Emmaline clung to his broad shoulders, meeting him stroke for stroke, chasing the release she so desperately needed.
“Let go for me, Emmaline,” Rhys commanded hoarsely. “I’ve got you.”
His words were her undoing. With a silent scream, she shattered in his arms, waves of delight crashing over her. Rhys followed her over the edge, spending in the grass beside her amoment later, groaning his pleasure into the crook of her neck.
They lay entwined as their racing hearts gradually slowed, trading soft kisses and caresses. Emmaline had never felt so cherished, most shockingly by a man who seemed more rigid than any she had ever known. Yet in Rhys’s embrace, she found a sense of belonging she had always yearned for.
“I love you,” she whispered, surprising even herself with the depth of emotion in her voice. “I know it may be too soon, but I can’t help how I feel. You’ve become everything to me, Rhys Lockwood.”
Rhys’s blue eyes shone as he cupped her face tenderly. “Emmaline,” he said gruffly, “I am in love with you too. You’ve brought light and joy into my life in a way I never imagined possible.”
They sealed their declarations with a searing kiss, pouring all the love and passion they felt into the intimate embrace. No matter what challenges lay ahead, Emmaline knew they would face them together.
Rhys was her partner, her soulmate, her future in every way that mattered.
They dressed reluctantly, their outdoor haven lit only by moonlight. Emmaline didn’t know where the time had gone. She only knew that when she was with Rhys, it seemed to vanish.
He kept one hand on her back as he helped her pack up all that she had brought with her to the practice and insisted on taking it to the front door of the house, where he left her with one parting kiss.
“I don’t want to hide this from everyone,” she said, looking up at him. “I know we must for now, but I want to be together, in front of my friends. My family.”
“What will they think of a bank manager?”
“My grandfather is a businessman himself,” she said with asmile. “So, they can hardly pass any judgment. Besides, you have given me more than anyone else ever could. They’ll appreciate that. What of your family? Can I meet them one day?”
“Of course. As long as you don’t mind a trip to London. My parents are humble, hardworking people. But they will love you. As I do.”
He swiped his thumb over her face, his eyes roving over her, as though imprinting her image in his mind before he leaned in and kissed her swiftly on the lips.
“Goodnight, Emmaline.”
“Goodnight, Rhys.”
She watched him as he walked down the drive, so strong, confident, commanding, the memory of his support and devotion bolstering her.
She had the encouragement of her friends, which meant more than she could describe, but for a man to understand her ambition, what she wanted, and what she needed?
That was more than she could have ever asked for.
Chapter Twenty-One
The crowd’s roar was deafening as Rhys led his team onto the pitch. Today’s match against the Liverpool Rovers would decide who would advance to the next game, taking them one step closer to the FA Cup. The stakes had never been higher.
It had been a few weeks since Rhys had discovered Emmaline’s secret gathering in her clearing. Since then, about half of the women had remained interested in continuing with the club, showing up for one practice a week. Rhys enjoyed working with them, most especially because it gave him the opportunity to watch Emmaline step into a role where she thrived.
The next significant step was to find sponsors and make her club the reputable one she was hoping for, as well as finding another club to play against.
She and Rhys had also found a few stolen moments, but truth be told, he could hardly wait until he had the opportunity to court her properly. Yes, her father might kick him out on his arse, but he had a feeling that Emmaline wouldn’t let that deter her.
Until then, he would have to wait. In the process, if they won a Cup, that wouldn’t be so bad.
Rhys gathered the men and Emmaline for a final pep talk before the game began. His gaze lingered on Emmaline, as it always did, despite his best intentions, noting the determination burning in those unusual violet eyes he adored. They exchanged a subtle nod, an unspoken promise to leave it all on the field.
From the first kick of the ball, the game was a battle for dominance. Liverpool played with punishing physicality, but Manchester Central gave as good as they got. Rhys summoned the defense to do all they could to keep the ball out of their end, let alone their goal, barking orders and throwing his body in front of shots.
