Page 97 of Oddity of the Ton
She met his gaze, and his heart ached at the tears in her eyes. The pain in their expression told him of the risk she had taken in making such an honest plea—a plea from the heart.
But he couldn’t do that to her—no matter how greatly he desired it.
“Oh, Eleanor,” he said, his voice hoarse. “You know not what you ask.”
“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have presumed…”
“Sweet Lord, you presume right!” he cried. “But I cannot ruin you, Eleanor—and ruin you I would.”
“Do you think I care?” she asked. “I’m never likely to marry. I thought I might, once, but not now. Not after…” She shook her head. “Would you deny me this one request? It means so little to you—but to me…” She shuddered as she caught her breath. “It would meanso much.”
Her voice, an agonized whisper, spoke to his soul. He drew her to him, burying his head in her hair and inhaling her sweet scent.
“Oh, Eleanor—you’re so wrong,” he said. “How can it mean so little to me when I’ve thought of nothing else this past fortnight? My body and soul are in agony for the want of you. But if you yield to me now, we will cross the threshold beyondwhich we can never return—beyond which I’ll be unable to resist the urge to bury myself inside you until you scream my name.”
She tensed, and for a moment, he thought she’d bolt, like a spooked filly. But, slowly and carefully, she curled her fingers around his hand and lifted it to her lips. Desire fizzed through him as she flicked her tongue across the back of his hand.
Sweet Lord—what might she look like, kneeled before him, ready to worship his body, her eyes lifted to his?
“Please…”
That single word, spoken through her soft lips, was enough to breach his defenses. He swept her into his arms and strode along the hallway to her chamber.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Fear and excitementthreaded throughout Eleanor’s body as she clung to the man who had lifted her off her feet as if she weighed no more than a bird. She had now embarked on a path from which she could never return.
What previously unknown sensations would he awaken in her body?
What if he found her inadequate? He must have bedded all manner of women. All the women she’d seen on his arm—from sophisticated, hungry widows, to bright, beautiful courtesans—would know exactly how to pleasure a man such as he. Oh, how she’d envied those women! What pleasure had he given them—and received in return?
And now, she, herself, was on the brink of that pleasure.
But she knew nothing of such things. Compared to those women, she was a mere child—an ignorant creature unable to hold a conversation in a drawing room, let alone attract such a virile, powerful man.
He stopped outside her chamber door, and Eleanor cringed, anticipating the moment when he’d set her on her feet with a laugh, then saunter back to his chamber, leaving her alone.
But he did not. He dipped his head, and his warm breath caressed her cheek.
“Eleanor…” His voice, low and husky, reverberated through her bones. “Inside this chamber, I will give of myself…” Hebrushed his lips against hers. “Inside this chamber, I shall honor the gift of your trust, if you’ll bestow it upon me…”
Then he peppered her face with kisses, moving across her skin until he reached her neck, where he nuzzled her ear.
“Inside this chamber,” he said, his voice a low growl, “I will show you what it is to be loved—thoroughly, completely…andveryscandalously.”
He nipped her earlobe, and the notion of his claiming ownership in such a primal fashion sent a lick of pleasure through her.
Then he steered her into her chamber, closing the door behind them to shut out the world.
“Before we proceed,” he said, “I ask you to trust me—Eleanor.”
Her name on his lips, spoken so tenderly, threatened to unleash the tears that swelled within her.
“You have my word, Eleanor—I shan’t do anything that you don’t wish me to, or anything that you won’t take pleasure in. But I can do nothing without your trust.” He took her hand. “Your trust is a precious gift—and it’s not my right to demand it. It’s a privilege that I pray with all my soul you’ll gift me, if you deem me worthy.”
Oh, heavens!
It was all too much. The surge of sensations threatened to overwhelm her, and she closed her eyes to retreat from the world.
