Page 51 of Entrancing the Earl
Then he yanked her against his hard body, so she could feel his conflict as well as smell it.
“This is the reason I’m taking you to the school,” he muttered, bringing his mouth down on hers.
She wanted this so very much—
Twenty
Gerard knew betterthan to kiss this woman he craved, especially in a private room. He had experience and understood how easily the flames of lust could soar into a conflagration.
But by tomorrow, Iona might be gone. He would never have another chance to touch and hold her, to explore the richness of her kisses or the lushness of her curves. In that foolish gown, her breasts rose above the neckline, taunting him with their perfection.
He wanted her to remember him as he would always remember her.
He didn’t need the voice in his head to mutterstupid.
But he couldn’t resist her enthusiastic response to the thrust of his tongue. She didn’t back away when he held her close but clung tighter. He ran his questing hands down her back, to the annoying bustle that prevented him feeling her natural curves. He couldn’t undress her... but he wanted to.
Undeterred, Iona worked her fingers beneath his waistcoat, scorching him through his linen. How would it feel to lie with her all night, her nakedness against his? Instead of her usual roses, fragrant herbs wafted from her skin, and he wanted to taste her all over. He longed to see how far her boldness would take them.
He carried his kisses along her jaw, to her ear, and she pressed closer, moaning encouragement. The fool woman knew no fear. He was a man with tight control, but not all men would respect her innocence. To prove to himself—and to her—that this had to stop, he caressed her breast above the corset, where he could relish her softness.
She practically climbed up him, covering his jaw with kisses and letting him take his fill. He was so engorged, he feared he’d rip his trousers. She didn’t even know to be afraid.
“Damn, I know I’ll regret this,” he whispered as he lifted her against the wall. He buried his face in the enticing curve of her neck, planted kisses on the ripe curves above her lace. She wrapped one leg around him as she had before, instinctively pulling their hips together.
He wouldn’t take her like this. He wasn’t that kind of cad. But he pushed her skirts up, rubbing his thumb along the fine linen of her drawers. He would buy her silk, if he could.
At the intimacy of his caress, she didn’t shove him away but arched into him, almost begging for the caress he craved as much as she did.
All the voices in his head stilled as he located the slit of her drawers and rubbed her where she was wet and willing. It would be so very easy...
Gerard steeled himself, refusing to take advantage of an innocent who had no clear idea of what she was doing. Kissing her, he used his fingers to teach her, until he was muffling her screams and holding her as she bucked into his searching hand.
He continued to hold and kiss her as she melted and went limp. He let her skirts fall back in place. Once she merely leaned into him, shuddering slightly, he stepped away.
“That is only a sample of what a husband can give you. Do not throw yourself away,” he warned, stepping over to the washbasin to clean up and steady himself.
When he turned back to her, he saw a tear streak down her cheek, but she was already straightening her attire. She swung to check her hair in the mirror, rubbing surreptitiously at her eyes.
“I will find lovers,” she said boldly. “I will be like a man and take what I want.”
“Women have babies.” The thought of her in a brute’s arms caused him to run cold, but he had no right to dictate her future. “Women cannot behave like men.”
“Your aunts will welcome me at Wystan,” she taunted. “They love babies. And they will teach me how not to have them. Why should I be tied down to one man?”
He could see it now—she was entirely right. He might go to Wystan one day and see her coddling another man’s baby, and his tenants cooing over it as if it were their own.
“Because you are loyal and loving and being tied down happens. Come along, we need to take you to the school before it’s dark. I have to meet Rainford.” Gerard picked up the cloak and helped her into it.
She silently fastened the hood and waited for him to grab her satchel. She refused to take his arm as they stepped into the corridor. “I’ll meet you at the train station.” She walked rapidly toward the servants’ door.
The entire hall smelled of sex to him, but at least her cold taunt had made it possible for him to move without crippling himself.
The philosophical soldier in his head remained silent.
Iona sat as farfrom Lord Ives as the hansom allowed. She was a wanton. She should be thoroughly ashamed of herself—but she had enjoyed every second of that marvelous encounter and wantedmore. If just touches could produce such exalting sensations—what would actual coupling be like? She grew up on a farm. She knew there had to be more.
But Lord Ives was an automaton with clockwork control of himself. She ought to be glad of that. If he controlled everyone else the way he did himself, he’d succeed at obtaining the reward and setting her free.
