What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(74)

“It will do no good to worry about what might happen or what happened in the past,” he said. “Think about the present.”

How could she not think about the past? Brentmoor had betrayed her, and she’d had trouble trusting anyone afterward.

“I can see the worry on your face,” he said. “Tell me what it is and I will do my best to reassure you.”

“We will both make every effort to treat each other with kindness and respect.”

He looked very serious. “I rather thought that was a given.”

“Of course,” she said, “but even the happiest of couples have disagreements.”

He lifted his palms. “You are worrying about something that has not even occurred. Do you not see that anticipating trouble at every turn will frustrate me and make you unhappy? Promise me that you will make every effort to curb this tendency. No good will come from it, Angeline.”

She nodded and knew he was right, but she also knew it would not be easy to put her faith completely in him all at once.

“Allow yourself to be happy,” he said. “You deserve it. We both do.”

“The rain stopped,” she said. “We had better dress.”

He donned his drawers and walked to the window and pulled the drapes back. It was still dim out, but the sun would rise shortly.

She managed to pin her hair in a simple twist. “Colin, I need your assistance with the stays, please.”

He captured her gaze and tossed the stays aside.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t get last night out of my head.”

“You are wicked,” she whispered. Evidently she was, too.

“You are as irresistible as sweet cream.” He was breathing faster. “I want to taste you again.”

Her breasts felt heavier, and she realized his words had made her slick between her thighs.

He took her hands and regarded her with concern. “Be honest. Are you…well this morning?”

Her heart melted. “I am well…and a little undone.”

He took her in his arms. “Are you sorry about last night?”

“No, quite the opposite.” She was happy and carefree for the moment. There hadn’t been many carefree moments for her in the last year.

“I’m glad,” he said.

She wanted to confess what was in her heart, but then he would feel an obligation to her, and she wished for him to want her for his wife. She could not bear it if he felt forced. Yet, she knew if she discovered she was with child, they would have no choice.

Angeline realized she was borrowing trouble again. She gazed into his eyes and told him as much of the truth as she dared. “About last night,” she said. “I failed to tell you something.”

His expression grew wary.

“I failed to tell you that it was wonderful, and I feel a little bemused this morning.”

His smile was as dazzling as the sun spearing through the crack in the drapes. He caught her hands and pulled her up to his chest. When he gave her a lush kiss, she found herself tingling all over. His hands slid down to her bottom. He lifted her up to her toes and pressed her against him. “Do you know what you do to me?”

His breath was as labored as hers. “I suspect the same thing you do to me.”

“This may be our last chance for some time. Will you let me make love to you once more?”

“Yes.” She wanted him again.

He kissed her like a starving man. She tangled her tongue with his and threaded her fingers in his hair. When he lowered his head, he suckled her through her shift, and she cried out. He pressed the straps of her shift down her arms until it pooled on the carpet. She loosened the ribbon on his drawers and shoved them off. He held her, and he was hard against her stomach. She reached between them and caressed him.

He drew in a ragged breath and touched her intimately. She was lost in the sensations, lost in the heat of his body, and God help her, lost in love with him. She kissed his chest where his heart beat rapidly, because she dared not speak the words that were in her heart. It would hurt too much to listen to his silence.

He took her hand, walked to the chaise, and sat in the middle. Then he pulled her onto his lap and entered her. He suckled her breasts as she found the rhythm and the pleasurable sensations crested quickly until she cried out.

He stood, carried her to the bed, and entered her again. As he pressed inside, she whimpered a little because he felt so good. She loved the feeling of sharing her body with him. He moved slowly and never let his gaze slip away from hers, and she loved him all the more for it. But eventually he seemed to lose himself in the pleasure and he thrust inside her faster and faster. She wrapped her legs around him and felt him throbbing inside of her. Afterward, he rolled to his side and smiled at her. “I hope this was not too much for you.”

Her face grew warm. “I think you know I liked it.”

He slid on his trousers. “You have enslaved me.”

She grinned. “Will you do my bidding?”

“I am yours, mistress, but you must let me recover.”

“I have high hopes you will rise to the occasion.”

He burst out laughing and hugged her. “You are wonderful.”

She loved being so close to him. “I will miss this when we return to Deerfield.”