Page 63 of Lord of Temptation
“Now enough of this maudlin talk,” he said as he eased over her, nudging her opening with his hard shaft. “I want you once more before I leave.”
She couldn’t deny him any more than she could deny herself. She lifted her hips to receive his offering and as he sank into her, she wondered if a time would come when she would ever not yearn for this joining with him.
Chapter 17
After he made love to her, lethargy settled in and Tristan fell asleep still nestled inside her with one of her legs draped over his hip. He didn’t think he’d moved for the remainder of the night, because she was still within the circle of his arms when he awakened. It bothered him to realize how comforting it felt. He wasn’t a man accustomed to comfort. Comforts, yes. A good bed, a sturdy ship, well-tailored clothes. But comfort, bestowed by another, was foreign. Yet he couldn’t deny the joy it brought him to find her near enough that with only a slight adjustment of his body he could be buried deeply within her once again. A lovely way to greet the day.
“Tristan?” She nudged him. “Tristan, I hear the lark. You must go.”
Forcing his eyes open, he greeted her concerned expression with a grin. “Twenty more minutes.”
“No. The sun will be up at any moment. I can hear carts jangling about in the street.”
“If we were to stay here all day—”
“No!” She shoved on him. “Please, hurry. I shouldn’t have let you stay. We can’t do this again.”
“But it was so worth it.” He planted a quick kiss on her mouth before rolling out of bed. He gathered up his trousers and put them on before grabbing his shirt and drawing it over his head. He peered over at her, sitting up in bed, clutching the sheets to her chest, her hair a tangled mess that fell around her. She looked decidedly improper this morning. He sat in a chair and began tugging on a boot.
“Come with me.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“Come with me. To the ship. We’ll set sail by noon and travel the world. I’ll show you water so clear that you can see the fish swimming along the bottom. I’ll show you islands that have not been touched by modernization and life slows to a crawl. I’ll take you to hidden coves where you can bask naked in the sunlight.”
She drew up her knees and pressed her chin to them. “How long will this idyllic journey take?”
“A year. Two.”
“And then? Upon my return, what shall I do with a tattered reputation?”
He sighed. There was the rub.
“No man will have me,” she continued. “My family will no doubt disown me. What will my future be?” She shook her head. “I want a proper life, Tristan. With a husband I see every day and children and a home on land.”
“Being proper brought you unhappiness. Being improper ... Princess, I’ve seen the way you smile afterward.”
“Being improper in bed is one thing. Being improper with my life is something else entirely.”
He shoved his foot into the other boot. He would never be happy here, in London, living within Society, with all its blasted rules. He’d always known the sea wasn’t a life for everyone. He couldn’t blame her for not wanting it. But damnation, it didn’t stop him from wanting her.
He snatched up his remaining clothes, bundled them up, and walked to the window. He should say good-bye to her, never see her again. Instead he heard himself ask, “What are you doing today?”
“Making some morning calls. Going to Hyde Park this afternoon.”
“Carriage, horse, or stroll?”
“Horse, I should think.”
He grinned. “I’ve never seen you ride a horse.”
She returned his smile. “Do you know how to ride one?”
“I’m a lord. Of course, I do.”
With that, he slipped out the window. He’d thought one more night and he’d have his fill of her. It was disconcerting to realize that before his feet landed firmly on the ground, he already wanted her again.
“By God, but I’m famished,” Tristan said as he strolled into his brother’s breakfast dining room and headed for the sideboard where an abundance of delicacies awaited his appreciation. He’d experienced far too many occasions when food was scarce on a ship. All the planning in the world couldn’t guarantee good winds and the absence of delay in reaching a port.
