Page 84 of Indecent
“Wanting me and wanting to be saddled with me and a baby forever aren’t the same thing either.”
He moved his hand down her abdomen and pressed his palm flat against her. There was the child they’d created. He didn’t doubt its existence. For whatever reason, Bennetknewhe or she was there. Just as he knew he was terrified for them and their future. But sensing Prudence’s trepidation and hesitance, he wouldn’t share that with her. Not now.
Her hand crept over his, but she was still wearing gloves, and he wanted to feel her skin against his. “You truly don’t mind being married to me? I’m not what you could have wanted. Not just because I have no money. I’m a paid companion. Worse, I’m illegitimate.”
Bennet turned her in his embrace so that she faced him. He lifted her chin to catch her gaze, then caressed her cheek. “Not only do I not mind being married to you, I threw over another woman so that I could do so. My only regret remains that I mistakenly kidnapped you in the first place—and only because I put you through a terrible ordeal.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” she breathed.
He took one of her hands and tugged the glove from her fingers. “I recall what you looked like when you arrived. It seemed that bad. You were rather angry, and you had every right to be.”
“Fine, it wasn’t pleasant, but it could have been much worse.”
After dropping the glove onto the chair with her hat, he moved to her other hand, removing the glove and consigning it to the growing pile of her accessories. “Worse than being stranded here with me when you wanted to shoot me?”
“I never wanted to shoot you.”
He spun her about again to face the fire and began to unlace her gown. “You should have.” He kissed her nape, feeling her shiver as he worked her gown open.
“Why are you removing my clothes?” she asked. “We have to go downstairs for dinner later.”
“Aren’t you going to change?” he asked innocently before spreading the gown open and pushing it down to her waist.
“I brought one evening gown, and it hardly seems appropriate for dining in the common room downstairs.”
He slid his hands to her front and cupped her breasts through her corset and chemise. “I suppose I could help you put this dress back on. Or we could take advantage of your current state.”
“That was your plan all along,” she said, arching into his touch.
He flicked the laces of her corset, loosening the garment so he could easily slip his hand against her heated flesh. He caressed her, pressing his cock against her backside. “I admit it was.” He lowered his mouth to her neck, kissing her with a wild hunger as he pinched her nipple.
She gasped. “You are distracting me horribly. I wanted to talk to you about your family. That was my intent when we got into the coach, but then I fell asleep.”
“Ah well, they will have to wait. In fact, can we delay that conversation until we arrive at Aberforth Place? I want to spend our journey there focusing on just us. More specifically, I want to direct all my attention to your spectacular body and the wondrous responses I can arouse.”
He teased her breast while he licked and bit at her neck. She tipped her head, giving him free access to a silken expanse of her delectable flesh. He wanted nothing more than to sink into her and let all their stress and worry fade away.
“I think you’re trying to put me off. I might even wonder if you’re hiding something.”
Bennet froze a moment. He was, but he didn’t want to talk about this now. He knew he was delaying what he had to reveal, but they were in this together now—for better or worse as the vows said. He just hoped she wouldn’t think it was for worse.
He snagged her earlobe with his teeth. “The only thing I’m hiding is my unadulterated lust for you. But I think I’m doing a very poor job of it.” He pulled on her nipple.
“Very,” she said between raspy sounds of desire.
Bending his knees, he swung her into his arms and carried her to the bed, where he set her on the edge. He knelt, quickly removing her boots, but leaving her stockings in place.
“You’re not taking those off?” she asked.
“As you said, we only have an hour. Also, there is something undeniably erotic about a woman who is just partially clothed.” He pushed her corset down and tugged the neckline of her chemise over to bare one breast. “Like that,” he growled before dropping his head to draw her nipple into his mouth.
She clutched him, her fingers digging into his scalp.
If he’d doubted that she was with child, he wouldn’t now. Her breasts were so different—heavier and…firmer. There was no turning back.
Bennet tore his mouth from her and shoved her skirts up to her waist. Putting his hands on her thighs, he spread her legs and bent to taste her sex.
She cried out the moment his tongue touched her folds. “Bennet!”
