Page 94 of His Scandal
Chapter 24
For just a moment longer, Alex allowed himself the sight of Emmeline, her eyes glittering with passion in the firelight, her hair a tumbled glory about her face. Everything in him strained to press deeper between her thighs. He wanted their clothes off, to see her nudity shine beneath the stars.
But she was innocent, a virgin, and he’d ripped her gown in his haste to have her.
“No,” he said, somehow finding the strength to roll off her and into a sitting position, his hands dangling between his bent knees.
“No?” She came up on her elbows, bewildered hurt in her expression.
“You deserve better than a damp, muddy hillside, Em. I won’t have this be your first memory of intimacy. You’re frightened and overwhelmed,and surely only clinging to me out of desperation.”
“I’m not frightened, Alex, and please don’t imply that I would offer myself to any man who rescued me.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did, and I wish to know why. Why don’t you think you would be the man I’d choose inanysituation?”
“Go to sleep, Emmeline,” he said tightly, not wanting to hear another word of her ridiculous notions. “Pull your cloak about you.”
“If you don’t wish to discuss this now, fine, but there will be another day.”
He looked away, before her disheveled appearance made him forget his nobility. He lay down on his side, his back to Em, and hugged his arms against the chill. For a few minutes, all he heard was the crackling of the fire, the distant sound of crickets, and the rapid pounding of his own heart.
“I’m cold, Alex,” she said matter-of-factly. “I’m going to put more wood on the fire.”
“No, we can’t risk our camp being seen in the distance.” He sighed loudly. “Just—lean up against my back.”
He heard the rustle of her garments, then felt the press of her body from her shoulder to her hip. Her shivering didn’t stop.
“Alex—”
“Very well!” He rolled over and found her watching him. “Roll away from me.”
“Alex—”
“Stop questioning everything I ask and just do it.” He knew he sounded grumpy and rude, but wasn’t about to soften, not when he knew the torture he was about to face.
And itwastorture. He lifted the cloak, then reluctantly curled his body about hers, tucking his thighs behind hers, sliding his arm about her waist. Almost immediately her shivering lessened, and she gave a relieved sigh.
Alex closed his eyes and tried to pretend he wasn’t feeling what he was feeling. Then in puzzlement he moved his hand at her waist and felt the hardness of her boned corset.
“Emmeline? How can you possibly be comfortable in this?”
“I see no other choice,” she said stiffly.
“At least loosen it.”
There was a pause, and he barely heard her soft voice. “I can’t do it by myself.”
More and more, he was regretting his noble behavior. She would have had all of her garments off by now. Mumbling angrily beneath his breath, he reached between them and began to unbutton her gown.
Though she stiffened, she said nothing, even when he loosened the laces of her corset. When the garment didn’t immediately sag open, he gritted his teeth and worked the laces apart, touching the smooth skin of her back with each tug.
When he could feel at least two inches of flesh between the laces, he heard her inhale deeply and release a satisfied sigh.
“Thank you, Alex. Good night.”
He almost gave her a real reason to be satisfied, but instead he pulled her rather hard against him and did his best to sleep.
