Page 78 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

He went back to what he was doing. Her fingers threaded through his hair, pushing him against her as the drum beat increased in rhythm. She whimpered as his tongue danced inside her, causing something to build. She moaned. She panted. And then she tumbled gloriously as sensations overwhelmed her, an electricity that shot waves of pleasure through her, pleasure that she’d never known existed. It kept on and on until it finally subsided and her hands fell to her sides.

Luke kissed his way back up to her mouth as his fingers went where his tongue had just left. He murmured something against her lips but she couldn’t understand it. All her focus was on her core and what his fingers were doing to her. Again, that same odd, wonderful, incredible feeling built up and then crashed as she cried his name, over and over. It finally subsided and now she lay limp, unable to move.

“What have you done to me?” she asked, barely able to form words.

Those emerald eyes twinkled with mischief. “Hopefully, satisfied you. And now I’ll make you mine.”

He pushed up and she saw his manhood jutting from him, large and long.

“It only hurts once,” he said and before she could ask what, he entered her quickly.

Caroline gasped at the pain, clawing at his shoulders.

“Wait, love. You’ll see.”

She swiped at him twice more and then stilled. The pain was gone but she could feel how he filled her. Then he withdrew and pushed into her again. He repeated the motion. Suddenly, her hips rose to meet him, as if her body knew what to do. She wound her arms about him and he continued the long, slow thrusts.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes. But... can you go faster?”

He chuckled. “I can do whatever you wish.”

Luke increased his pace. His hand came between them and found the nub that caused her tremendous pleasure. Suddenly, she was crying his name as he called out hers. Then he collapsed against her. Caroline welcomed the weight that drove her deep into the mattress. She locked her arms about his neck and kissed him soundly.

He rolled until they were both on their sides and they kissed until she thought her lips might bleed.

When he finally broke the kiss, she... yawned.

“I’m sorry,” she quickly apologized.

“You are tired,” he said, smoothing her hair. “This was the biggest day of your life with the store opening.”

That might have been the case but what they had just done together would qualify as the most wondrous experience of her life. She would never, ever forget this.

“Let’s sleep a while,” he suggested, turning her until her back pressed against his chest and his arms held her safe.

*

They dozed brieflyand then began all over again. Luke made love to her twice more and then told her they should dress.

“I know Rachel and Evan were attending a ball tonight with Leah and Alex. We need to get you home and to bed before they arrive. You can pretend you went home straight after leaving Evie’s. They’ll never know the difference.”

He dressed first and then played lady’s maid to her. His knowledge of how ladies undergarments worked let her know she was only one of many women he’d coupled with. It didn’t matter, though. She had tonight. She would always have tonight. No one could ever take the memories away from her.

They exited the townhouse and he locked the door, returning the key to her, and then he walked her across the empty square. Standing in front of the door, Luke gave her a long, sweet kiss. Caroline took in everything. The cool of the evening. The feel of his muscular chest beneath her fingertips. The taste of him. She committed it all to memory. She would live on this the rest of her life.

“We have much to talk about,” he said.

Wanting to put him off, she said, “I will be busy at Evie’s tomorrow.”

“I won’t be there. Alex has asked me to go with him to look at some new horses he wishes to buy. They’re near his estate. We’ll go down to Fairfield early tomorrow morning and look at the stock, testing it. We’ll come back late Sunday. We can see each other Monday night at the Wilsons’ ball.” He kissed her. “I’m expecting you to save the supper dance for me.”

She hadn’t replied to the invitation she’d received but nodded as if in agreement. If everything worked out as she planned, she would be gone by Monday night.

And never see Luke again.

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