Page 36 of A Marriage Most Convenient

She turned, presenting him with her back. “I do require assistance. I cannot contort my body in a way to reach the buttons back here.” She gathered the handful of strands of hair hanging from the coiffure, and held them up and off of her neck.

He resisted the urge to count the number of tiny buttons lining her back. It would be easiest to grab onto either side of the buttons, and just tear the material apart. Those delicate little nubs would fly all over his bedchamber with a solid yank. It would be satisfying to hear them ping around. But it was also unnecessary.

He slid the first button from its confines. Then the second, and so forth, until the plackets of the dress opened across her back. And that was where his patience ended. He shoved the gown off her shoulders and down her body until the fabric pooled at her feet. And then he ripped. First the underskirt. He grabbed a small knife he kept on his bureau and used it to cut through the laces on her corset.

“I’ll buy you new ones. I’ve tried to stay away from you, sweetheart. I’ve tried so damn hard.”

“Why?” She looked over her shoulder at him, her blue gaze searching his.

Why, indeed. To convince himself he didn’t want her? That he could be near her and not touch her? To punish her for being so damned tempting? Punish himself for continuing to lie to her?

He shook his head. Then spun her to face him. He ripped the thin fabric of her chemise until it fell off her shoulders. “I don’t know. Because I’m a damned fool.”

“But you do want me?” she asked, the words barely out of her mouth before she bit down on her bottom lip.

He took her hand in his and pressed it to the bulge behind the front of his trousers. “Yes, I want you.”

“Then have me.”

He tore at the fastenings on his pants. “This first time will be fast, and I apologize. I’ll make it up to you.”

She nodded her head, her pale skin flushed with desire, her nipples hard beads begging for his attention.

He dropped his pants, then grabbed her by the hips.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he told her as he lifted her and pressed her back to the door of his bedchamber. “Are you wet enough?” He reached between them, finding the slit in her bloomers. He’d run out of patience to remove all of her clothes. He thumbed through her folds. She was slick and hot. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmured. “But this first time, there’s not much that can be done to dull the pain. It will just be a second..”

“Edmond.” She grabbed his face and forced his eyes to meet hers. “I am your wife and I want this too. Please.”

It was all the encouragement he needed. He reared back and entered her slowly, pressing her back firmly against the door. Sinking into her wet heat was like coming home, and he didn’t want to consider what that implied.

He swore. “You’re all right? I’m not hurting you?”

Her fingertips dug into his shoulders and she shook her head.

He began to move, and with every thrust he must have hit a perfect spot because her eyes would round and she’d suck in a breath.

"Edmond!” she shrieked his name, her tone slightly alarmed.

Again and again, he moved, and she started chanting “yes, yes, yes...”

He wasn’t going to last much longer. “You feel so good, sweetheart, so damn good.” His climax raced down his spine and he pulsed into her, burying his face in her neck. She shattered around him, crying out and clawing at his shoulders.

When the pulses of pleasure had subsided, he cradled her bottom in his hands and pulled her away from the door. He carried her to the bed and placed her onto it, then climbed in behind her. He snaked his arm around her waist, then wrapped himself around her—her back to his front.

“Perhaps we should argue more often,” she murmured.

He chuckled. “Try to get some sleep.”

“But you said the first time. That implies a second time.”

“Are you going to always be this demanding and insatiable?” He nuzzled her neck.

“It’s definitely possible.”

“Give me a few moments to recover then.” His palm slid up, cupped her breast, and she arched into his touch.

CHAPTER 15

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