“Us,” she whispered back.
And he drove home.
He used his hold on her for leverage and destroyed them both, his pace punishing. She was warm and wet and wondrous, squeezing him, streaks of pleasure pulling at him. Heated skin slid against heated skin, tongues tangling, lips demanding, hearts pounding. Her nails dug into his back, uneven stuttered breaths exploding from her.
“Ash, oh God, Ash… I can’t—”
He couldn’t either.
They were nothing but sweat-slicked, slapping skin, desperate curses, and breathy groans. Primal and guttural and raw. Raw like the way his heart was being ripped apart at the seams.
Her walls fluttered on him and then spasmed, a cry flying from her lips. Her hands raked over his back, gripping him as tightly as her cunt clenching his cock. He nearly ground his teeth to dust as he held out as long as he was able before withdrawing, his hand shooting to his cock. He followed her over the edge, his cum coating her belly, burying his hoarse cry in her neck.
He collapsed against her, and her arms instantly curled around him, her thighs sliding up, squeezing against his hips. Like she wanted to latch onto him and never let him go. Emotion clogged his throat.
If only he could let her keep him.
29
Ash
Ashhadanuneasyfeeling today was going to be a bad day. A day starting off with him slipping out of Felicity’s bed and sneaking back to his room, never to hold her or touch her again, was guaranteed to be a depressing day.
So, he shouldn’t have been surprised when he tip-toed into his bedchamber only to come face to face with his smirking valet.
“Why, hullo, Ash,” Sam said, swinging his pocket watch around in a circle as he leaned nonchalantly against Ash’s four-poster bed.
Ash glared at his friend through the low light peeking through the curtains of his chambers, which only made Sam break out in a fit of laughter.
“Rumor has it Lady Felicity isn’t betrothed to Lord Wessex any longer. Would that have anything to do with you sneaking back into your room at the arse-crack of dawn practically glowing from what I can only presume is post-orgasmic bliss?”
“I amnotglowing,” Ash bit out, heat infusing his cheeks. So much for being discreet and keeping last night between him and Felicity.
“I would just like to say I am very proud of you. I wasn’t sure how many more schemes Barrow and I could devise to push the two of you together until you finally woke up and realized you should end that bloody betrothal and take her for yourself. Couldn’t exactly say the roads were impassible any longer now that Colborn decided to show up.”
Ash thrust his finger at Sam. “I knew you were up to no good as soon as you offered to play the pianoforte for our waltz. I swear, you’re worse than the mamas of the ton.”
Sam pursed his lips and nodded thoughtfully. “You know, I think I’d take that as a compliment if I didn’t hate the ton so much.”
Ash growled. Insufferable best friends. “And you have this all wrong. I am not taking her for myself. She is not something to take, Sam. She is a person. I had to explain that to Colborn yesterday, and apparently you need a lesson on the fact that women are people, too.” He turned and made his way to his bathing chamber. “Why does no one see that?” he muttered.
“Because we live in a world that is nearly devoid of decency?” Sam shot back, bitterness sharp in his tone.
Ash spun and eyed his friend. Sam’s genial grin was firmly back in place. But it was a little too stiff. A little too wide. His friend knew better than anyone the truth of his statement. Though it was rare that Sam let the ghosts of his past resurface.
“Poor choice of words on my part, Ash,” Sam said, pushing past Ash into the connecting chamber. “That’s not how I meant it, and you know I don’t agree with that way of thinking.”
Sam tossed a cloth to Ash, and Ash barely caught it before it hit him in the face.
“What I meant is you two are bloody perfect for each other,” Sam continued. “Your son is an arse-hat. I don’t know Lady Felicity well, but in the few days she’s been here, it’s been clear as clean country air that she deserved better. You know my opinion of the ton.” Sam’s jaw clenched, and his voice grew tight as he spoke through stiff lips, “She is a bloody rarity in a world of prejudice, arrogance, self-interest, and the flaunting of power. I would argue there are not many deserving of her.”
Silence, but for his friend’s slow exhale greeted Ash.
“But I know one man who is,” Sam said softly.
Ash’s eyes slammed shut, pain slicing through his heart. He spun to face his best friend, the destruction in his chest making his words come out harsh.
“Stop, Sam. She is not for me. Regardless of the fact that I let my restraint slip and allowed myself one night with her. Not only do you know why I most definitelydo notdeserve her, but I also cannot break off my son’s betrothal to marry the woman myself.” All the breath left him on an exhausted exhale. “It-it is just not done,” he said without inflection.
