Page 46 of Lady and the Scamp

“For a friend of Prince Albert, these are rather modest accommodations,” she said.

Will was still staring at her, definitely for far too long at this point, and he hadn’t noticed she was surveying his quarters. “I don’t need much.”

That was true, but what was even more true was that he wasn’t a friend of the prince but an agent for an arm of the Foreign Office here to do a job. His quarters reflected that reality. His chamber was on the smaller size and held a compact desk, a dresser, washstand, and a bed. His gaze lingered on the bed, freshly made and calling to him. Earlier it had been calling to him to relieve his exhaustion. Now its appeal was slightly different.

Beside the bed was a small table with a bottle of wine and a glass. Will crossed to it, poured the wine, and offered Emily the glass. “Would you like some wine?”

“No, thank you.” Her eyes were that same odd shade of pale blue, but those who had called them icy had it wrong. Will could practically feel the heat in her gaze burning him. He drank the wine in one swallow, and her brows lifted. “Thirsty?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She lifted a hand to tug at the cords of her cloak. Will watched in breathless anticipation as she slid the garment off her shoulders and allowed it to pool on the carpet. She wore a simple linen chemise beneath. He didn’t need to wonder if she wore anything else. The chemise was thin enough that there was no question.

“I think I need more wine,” he said.

She stepped toward him, took the glass, and set it on the table. “I should be the one who is nervous.”

He clasped her hand, feeling her warmth.

She gazed up at him from under her lashes. “I haven’t done this in a long time.”

Holy hell. He hadn’t considered that this might be the first time she’d gone to bed with a man since her husband died. He might be the first man, other than her husband, she had been with. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want,” he said.

She smiled. “I just hope we have time to do everything Idowant.” She stepped into his arms and kissed him. Will didn’t know what had come over him. Usually, he was the pursuer. He took the lead. But Emily had turned his world upside down, and he was scrambling to find his footing.

The kiss firmed the ground beneath him. These were the lips he wanted, the mouth he’d enjoyed, the tongue that had teased him. His body knew what to do, even if his mind still reeled at having her here with him. His arms went around her, pullingher close. Holy hell. Her chemise was even thinner than he’d imagined. He could practically feel the silky skin of her waist through the material. He slid his hands down to cup her hips. They were rounded and curved into a firm bottom. Grasping that bottom, he pressed her against his erection and heard her indrawn breath.

Will pulled back. “I’m moving too fast. I should—”

She undid the ribbon of her bodice and let the garment slide down her shoulders.

Will’s mouth went dry as she shrugged out of the linen, revealing small, pert breasts with pale pink aureoles.

“Perhaps I’m not moving fast enough,” he said. She smiled invitingly and reached for the tie of his robe. He let her loosen it then discarded the robe, so he stood in his trousers, chest bare. Reaching out, he ran two fingers over one breast, feeling her nipple harden as he stroked it. “You’re beautiful.”

“So are you,” she said, her own hands exploring his chest then sliding around to run up and down his back. He pulled her to him again, liking the feel of her skin against his. She was so warm, her skin like molten heat as he touched her, kissed her, stroked her. She explored him as well, making him catch his breath as she ran her nails lightly over his back. Her other hand slid down his chest and into the waistband of his trousers.

Will caught her hand, lifted it to his mouth, and kissed it. For the first time since she’d entered, she looked uncertain. “I’d like this to last longer than two minutes,” he said, pulling her to the bed. He was aware of the clean bandages on her leg, and he moved slowly.

She saw his gaze and smiled. “It’s much better now. The queen’s physician treated it. He said it should heal completely, and I’ll have a small scar.”

“I’m sorry for that.” He lifted her onto the bed, watching as she fell back on the burgundy coverlet. It made a striking contrast to her pale hair and skin.

“I’m not.”

He bent over her but paused to give her a questioning look before kissing her. “No?”

“When I’m old and gray, I’ll look at it and remember this adventure. I’ll remember you.”

“You won’t need a scar to remember me,” he said, kissing her. She kissed him back, moaning as his hands roamed over her. He couldn’t get enough of touching her, tasting her. She had bathed before coming to him, and he could smell the scent of the soap she’d used on her skin, almost taste it when his mouth bent to her shoulder, her neck, her breast. He slid lower, kissing her belly then her hip, then opening her legs to kiss her there. He waited to see if she’d protest as he kissed her inner thigh, but her breath grew quicker, and her hands fisted in the bedclothes.

She wanted this, and he wanted to taste her. He’d been thinking about it for days now. He spread her legs wider, taking in the shades of light and dark pink. She was wet and perfect, and he used his tongue to stroke her. She gasped, jerking almost as soon as he found the center of her pleasure. She was definitely ready for him, but he wanted to take his time. He wanted to see what she liked.

And he did take his time, kissing and licking and teasing her. He’d bring her just to the point of climax then pull away. By the time he allowed her to fall over the edge of pleasure, she was panting and crying out. Her climax was almost violent, her back bowed and her hips raised to press her sex against his lips.

When she went still, the only sound that of her ragged breaths, Will loosed the tie of his trousers and slid them down.

EMILY COULDN’T THINK. She couldn’t hear anything but her own breathing or see anything but a swirl of darkness and pale gold candlelight. Willoughby Galloway had brought her to a shattering climax unlike any she’d ever felt before. She was utterly spent, her entire body limp and sated. When she finally opened her eyes and turned her head to smile at him, she saw him step out of his trousers.

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