Page 80 of Under the Earl's Wicked Spell

Chapter 16

Victoria had no idea what had happened, but when Blackmore kissed her, she didn’t want to push him away. Every part of her was aching to have him kiss her again, to touch her.

Her thoughts were in such a mess. He was the last person she should have anything to do with romantically, even if he was her husband. But the desire to have him touch her intimately was growing, and it was getting stronger than her hatred for him.

Victoria wasn’t even sure that she hated him anymore. Not when he made her heart race like this.

She had to be going mad. But this time, Victoria was willingly accepting it.

Blackmore’s kiss was sweet and gentle, nothing like the fierce, brutal one from their wedding day. But it still made Victoria feel weak at the knees. She found herself shuffling closer, reaching up to touch his chest. Blackmore stiffened, which had Victoria pausing. He broke the kiss, staring at her with eyes so dark they might have turned black.

“Victoria….”

“Please, don’t talk. Or I’m going to remember who you are.” Victoria ran her hands over his chest. He still felt as solid as he had that morning; that hadn’t been her imagination. “I must be mad to think of doing this.”

“If you want me to stop, I’ll leave you alone.”

“Will you?”

Blackmore swallowed.

“It will be really difficult, but I’ll do it. Whatever you want.”

What Victoria wanted was to not feel guilty for kissing someone who killed her brother. And, even then, that guilt was dwindling. Every time she was in Blackmore’s presence, it just kept deserting her.

She was getting tired of fighting it.

“Blackmore….”

“Rafe,” he rasped. “Call me Rafe.”

Victoria licked her lips, which had him focusing on her mouth.

“Kiss me, Rafe.”

Rafe groaned, pulling her against him as he kissed her. This time, he didn’t hold back. It was like he was consuming her, and Victoria felt swept up in his passion. He pinned her against the back of the settee, his hands sliding down her back until they settled on her waist.

His feet shifted, and Victoria gasped into his mouth as his thigh pressed up between her own. It was so close to pressing against the throbbing that was building between her legs, but the skirts were in the way. It was not close enough.

“God, Victoria,” Rafe panted as he broke the kiss, moving his mouth to her neck, kissing her jaw before sucking on her ear. “You have no idea how hard it is to keep my hands off you.”

Victoria didn’t know what to say to that. The sudden ferocity coming from him was both arousing and a little terrifying. She wanted him to ease up and go a bit slower, but also, she was desperate for so much more. The anticipation was twisting inside her, and Victoria was left feeling conflicted.

Her arousal won out when Rafe reached up and palmed her breast, the sensation of being touched there for the first time making Victoria moan. Rafe gave her breast a squeeze, moving his mouth over her collarbone. Was he actually moving lower? Was he…?

Just as Rafe was shuffling her skirts up and finally pressing his thigh against the part of her that desperately needed relief, there was a knock at the door. Victoria froze. Rafe growled and pulled away, stepping back from Victoria with a scowl.

“What is it?”

The door opened, and Manning stuck his head into the room.

“Lieutenant Millinchip is here, my lord.”

Victoria’s heart was still racing as Rafe adjusted his coat and dusted himself down. He looked as flushed as she felt.

“Show him in here.”

Manning vanished, and Rafe took a deep breath.

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