Page 47 of Lady and the Scamp

Her breath caught again. He was thick and hard and aroused. Her sex pulsed hungrily, and Emily felt another surge of desire. His gaze met hers, and she reached for him. That seemed to be all the permission he needed. He was above her in a moment, his lips on hers, his weight balanced on his elbows.

She wrapped her legs around him, feeling his hard member slide over her swollen intimate flesh. She couldn’t stop another moan, though a moment ago she would have sworn she was completely spent. He entered her slowly, his gaze locked on hers as he inched inside. It was too slow, too wonderful.

“More,” she said.

He obliged, stretching and filling her, and bringing her more pleasure as he did so. She raised her hips, taking more of him, and he swore as he tried to keep his composure, but she didn’t want him composed. He’d utterly destroyed her, and she wanted to do the same. Finally, seeming unable to resist, he filled her. She didn’t know what she’d expected next but certainly not the slow way he moved inside her. His breathing came fast, but his movements were measured and deep, the friction building until she was panting as well.

“Will,” she said on a breath, and he linked his hands with hers. She knew he must be on the edge of climax, but his gaze on her was intent, his control unbreakable as he edged her closer and closer to the peak. Emily couldn’t break the connection as pleasure speared through her. She gave herself over to it andwatched as he jumped off the cliff as well. And then he was gone, spilling his seed on her belly and groaning against her shoulder.

Emily let her legs and arms fall, too boneless to do anything but breathe. Her entire body thrummed with satisfaction. She was vaguely aware that he rose and returned from the washstand with a wet cloth. He cleaned her then pulled the covers over her and wrapped his arms around her.

“That was...” She didn’t know how to describe it.

“Yes,” he said. “Give me fifteen minutes, and we’ll try it again.”

She swatted at him, half afraid he was serious. She didn’t think she could survive if he pleasured her again tonight.

“How is your leg?” he asked.

“What leg?” she quipped. “I don’t feel as though I have any legs at the moment.”

“Good. Then you won’t be leaving any time soon.”

And yet they both knew she couldn’t stay all night. Neither of them wanted to be discovered and for rumors to circulate, much less reach the queen. Emily closed her eyes, hardly believing that in twenty-four hours she’d gone from being kidnapped to being worshipped. “Thank you for saving me today,” she said.

He looked down at her. “As though I would have ever left you.”

“I know. You wouldn’t have left anyone, but still, thank you. You’re a good man.”

He seemed to be at a loss for words momentarily, and then he muttered, “Damn it all to holy hell. I would have searched for anyone who’d been in your situation today, but I can’t pretend it was simply my duty. I was half-mad with worry for you, Emily. I couldn’t bear not ever seeing you again.”

She ran a finger along his smooth jaw. “Careful. You’ll make me believe you have feelings for me.” Her words were light, butinside her chest was constricted. She didn’t want to be hurt if her feelings for him were not reciprocated.

“How can you believe Idon’thave feelings for you? I thought I’d made it rather obvious.”

She studied his lovely eyes, the flecks of gold in them seeming to glow deeper in the candlelight. “You made it obvious you wanted me in your bed.” She gestured to the bed where they lay.

“I did want you in my bed, and I’d be happy if you never left. But there’s more than that. I care about you, Emily. You’re brave. You’re clever. You are amazingly resilient. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. How can I not have feelings for you?”

Emily’s cheeks were burning. She hadn’t expected such a passionate declaration of his feelings, and she wasn’t quite sure what to do about it. Except tell him how she felt too. But carefully. She wasn’t ready to be vulnerable yet. “You know,” she said, “you’re not at all like what I thought you’d be when I first saw you.”

“Oh?” His brows lifted and he propped himself on his elbow. “Do tell. What were your first impressions of me, Lady Averley?”

“I thought you were one of those ne’er-do-wells who flit about the Continent chasing courtesans and trying to corrupt young men. The prince is such a serious man at times that I was surprised at your connection.”

“I can be serious,” he said, tracing a finger over her shoulder and making her shiver. “I can be very serious.”

“I see that now,” she murmured. “You’re not the scamp I thought you were.”

“Scamp!” His head lifted off his hand. “I feel as though I should be insulted. And here when I first saw you, I thought you all beauty and grace.”

She felt her face heat. “I am not beautiful.”

He caught her chin before she could look away. “Why do you keep arguing with me? Who told you were not beautiful?”

“I’ve always known it.”

“So your parents told you.”

---