Twice Tempted by a Rogue (Stud Club #2)(37)

Only act.

When she laughed at his rage, he wedged between her floating legs, pulled her lithe form flush against his angry bulk, and quieted her mouth with his own. No tenderness. No caution. Just raw emotion and need.

Now then, Merry Lane, he thought as he drove her jaw wide and made his best attempt at possessing her with his lips and tongue and teeth, just you try to laugh at this.

She didn’t laugh. No, she moaned with pleasure and clutched him to her shivering body. Gave back as good as she received, catching his tongue and pulling him deeper into the kiss. They battled with lips and teeth, each working to persuade the other. Eventually the argument slowed, deepened, became more of a thoughtful discussion, and then … and then, delicious accord. They moved in a rhythm, his tongue stroking hers, and she clung to him, throwing her arms around his neck and wrapping her legs around his hips. They fit together so perfectly, as though they’d been fashioned just for this. Even she couldn’t deny it.

He let her up for a quick breath, as a test.

“Rhys,” she breathed. “Yes.”

And then he kissed her again, triumph surging through his body and centering in his groin. He was hopeless with words, couldn’t sing worth a damn. Even the way he ate his food sent women fleeing. But when he kissed her, she went pliant in his arms. This mouth was good for something.

Their garments were soaked through, matted to their skin. He could feel every contour of her body, every rib and nipple and fingertip. And by the way she ground her pelvis against his, he assumed she could feel every hardened ridge of his. Despite the coolness of the water, heat smoldered between their bodies. Her thin muslin skirt and petticoat swirled around them on the water’s surface, leaving her bared beneath.

Her leg twined around his, and he thrust his hand under the water to grip her thigh. Encouraged by her soft moan, he slid his palm up the underside of her leg and cupped her backside. And once he’d gone that far … he couldn’t stop himself. He reached between her thighs to touch her sex.

Their kiss slowed now. He took his time, exploring her mouth gently with his tongue. Tracing her folds lightly with his fingertips. She shifted in his arms, giving him freer access, and he slid a finger inside her heat.

God, more mysteries of science. How could she possibly be wetter than water? But she was. Wet, warm, slippery, inviting. For him.

For him.

Gasping, she tore her lips from his. “Can you feel that?” she whispered, pressing kisses to his jaw and ear. “Can you feel how much I want you? I’ve wanted you for so long.”

If the evidence weren’t currently sheathing his finger, he could hardly have believed that she wanted him at all. But what did she mean, for so long? He’d barely been back in town a week. Though he’d give her that—it had been a damn long week.

Releasing his neck, she burrowed one hand in to the space between them, cleaving his waistband from his chilled abdomen. The wet fabric didn’t have much give, but her agile, slender fingers slipped into the gap and worked slowly downward. He froze, one finger still buried inside her. Her breath came hot against his ear. At last, her fingertips grazed the swollen head of his cock.

“Jesus.”

She swirled a finger around the tip, and pleasure exploded inside him. He bit her shoulder to hold himself back.

“I want you.” She licked his cheek. “I want you.”

“Merry …” The word struck a chord in him. “Say you’ll marry me.” He knew she was reluctant, but he had this one advantage. She wanted him. Against all sense and reason and laws of nature, she wanted him. He’d intended to wait for marriage, but he’d settle for a betrothal. Hell. Right now, he’d settle for just about any syllable out of her mouth that rhymed with “yes.”

He drew his finger out of her sheath, then plunged it deeper. “Say yes. Say it now.”

Now. Please let it be now. And then he could take her, right here. Slide straight into that slick, inviting heat. And for once in his life, it might feel right.

“Say yes.” He added a second finger, pushed deeper still.

“I …” Panting, she let her head fall to his collarbone. “I can’t marry anyone. My father. The inn. The village … They all depend on me.”

“Let them depend on me.” He cinched his free arm about her waist. “I’ll take care of everything. I’ll protect you, and your father, and the village. I’d never allow you to come to harm.”

“Rhys …”

He nudged back, forcing her to lift her head. The doubt was plain in her eyes. Why couldn’t she believe him? Perhaps it was too much to expect, after only a week—but damn. It still hurt that she didn’t.

And then, a horrible thought struck. Maybe she didn’t believe him because she knew it was a lie. He had allowed her, and her father, and the entire village to come to harm, long ago. He’d allowed them to suffer for the fourteen years since.

Could it be she knew something of the truth? He’d never spoken about that night, not to anyone.

With deep regret, he withdrew his fingers from her body and took her by the waist, setting her back on the boulder. She bit her quivering lip, and he rubbed his hands up and down her arms to warm them. He tried, very hard, to ignore the tight knots of her ni**les, thrown into stark relief by her wet gown.

“Merry …”