Page 27 of A Spinster for the Rakish Duke
“Miss Bradford?” Herst called from the other side of the door. “The carriage has been prepared. It will be ready to leave at your word.”
Emma swallowed to clear the thickness in her throat, and she spoke up. “And Mr. Connor?”
“He has not arrived yet, Miss, though I have no doubt he will arrive as soon as he is able.” There was a pause. “Shall I fetch you when he arrives?”
“No,” Emma told the young man, her voice growing in boldness. “No, send him here to the room, will you?”
Another pause before Herst replied, “Yes, Miss, I will do just that as soon as he gets here.”
Her thanks were again meek as she heard the soft footsteps of Mr. Herst as he departed. What exactly did she have planned for Donovan’s arrival? She couldn’t confess or act on her feelings. She was far too shy to attempt something like that, not bold like her sister Martha encouraged her to be.
She couldn’t tell him about why she must marry Mr. Dole. She knew that hearing the words would be needlessly cruel. She did not need to speak those words to him. He surely must understand the nature of these things. So why did she ask Mr. Herst to send him to her? What would come of it?
They would be alone together, and she needed to be alone with him one more time. Get the chance to touch him one more time. Be held so close by the man she was falling in love with one more time. Her tears were almost burning hot against her cheek.
“Emma.” His voice was soft but still startled her from her thoughts. Donovan stood in the room in front of the open doorway. “I’m sorry, Miss Bradford, I knocked, but there was no response. I shall depart., he assured her as he turned back to the door.
“No, Donovan, please stay,” she said suddenly as she stood and moved closer to him. Instead of walking out, he closed the door.
“What will come of me staying?” he asked. “Nothing good, I can assure you.”
“But it's still what we both want, isn’t it?” she answered his question with a question.
“What is it that you want, Emma?” he asked, turning to face her. The question wasn’t angry or confused but genuine. As genuine as she ever heard Donovan be.
“I want you to touch me once more before I must depart. I can’t say for sure what will happen when I leave this place, but I know you can make me feel... here... and whole before I go.” She wiped a few more tears away from her face.
Donovan looked down at her and gently cupped her face in his hands, holding her and caressing her cheeks. “For now, in these few moments, we won’t think of anything but these moments alone. No future, just now.”
She looked up at him, eyes filled with adoration and longing. He made her feel like all those thoughts she had about living as a spinster were truly foolish, like her heart was moving a million beats a second and frozen perfectly still.
And then he kissed her.
The kiss was passionate and tender all at the same time, the perfect kiss, the type of kiss she had come to expect from Donovan. They intertwined with one another, pulling each other closer.
This was the first time they could touch where they were held back by neither apprehension nor physical restraint, and they tried to take full advantage of it in the short window that they had. Donovan grasped at her, squeezing and grasping at the gentle curves of her thighs and buttocks hidden within the foldsof her dress. Emma dug her nails into Donovan’s broad back, using his strength and demanding more of him, which he was happy to give.
Had Donovan even an ounce less self-restraint, he might have yanked her clothes from her body right there on the spot. Emma, at that moment, would have let him. Instead, knowing she would have to right herself before she departed, he opted for something a bit more subtle. He tugged at the collar of her dress, exposing her neck and collar bone. He was upon her, exploring with his lips, teeth, and tongue eagerly, wanting to have her in any way he could, while he could.
Emma was inexperienced. She had never been with a man to this degree, and although she wasn’t afraid, she was uncertain what to do.
“Donovan, I’ve never…” she said, face flushing even brighter than it was before which made her feel even more foolish considering the situation. “I want to make you feel good too,” she said earnestly.
Donovan smiled and considered her for a moment. Then he gently took her hand and led it to the outside of the front of his pants. “Just touch me. Feel me. Your touch will make me feel good, I promise,” he told her in a soft and encouraging voice.
Her touch was gentle but brave, trusting that Donovan would guide her if she went astray. She needn’t search long for what she sought with her fingertips was as firm and obvious as it had been when it had lain against her thigh. She felt him let out a hotbreath against her neck which turned into a light groan when she gave him a squeeze.
She had an approximate knowledge of the matter at hand, so to speak. Few women are ever truly ignorant, but most of her knowledge was from reading. She wasn’t fully sure what to expect, but she had to admit it felt... big. Something worth admiration, and she wanted to continue admiring it with her touch.
Donovan, encouraged by Emma’s touch, pressed his hands to her clothed form, searching out her sensitive areas through the layers. Emma had to stifle herself when Donovan found one of the sensitive spots that hid beneath her chemise. Donovan's fingertips toyed with Emma’s nipple, squeezing through her clothes and stimulating her in a way she never expected.
The excited urges that were unleashed from Emma only pushed her to do more. Where before she was exploring with one hand, she was now grasping with both, excitement and curiosity urging her on until Donovan’s hands gently stayed hers. He was smiling and looked very strained, but not necessarily in a bad way. “As much as I am really enjoying that, it would be unwise to continue at this moment,” he told her.
They were both reluctant to stop, but a quick examination of their states made it clear that if they went any further, they would have a very hard time covering it up. Emma’s hair was astray, and both of their clothes were disheveled. Donovan would also need a moment to compose himself before it would be appropriate for him to walk out of the room with Emma, lesthis excitement gave him away. Emma couldn’t help but find that more than a little amusing, if also embarrassing.
“Why are you smiling?” he asked her while he returned the gesture.
“I think we are being very silly is all,” she laughed, but the laugh also contained a touch of sadness.
