A delicious shiver slid down her spine. She sank her fingers into his hair to pull him close. “Then why don’t you?”
His mouth claimed hers, his hands cupping her bottom to pull her tight against him. “Because you deserve so much more than I can give.”
He was trying to scare her away. It wouldn’t work. Noelle already knew the end of the story and was choosing him anyway. If her heart was destined to break, she would take every bit of pleasure while she still could.
“Give what you can,” she whispered. “Take what you please.”
His breath was ragged. “Noelle—”
“One night,” she said as she tasted his lips. “Unless you aren’t interested.”
“AllI want is you,” he growled. “But if I cannot offer marriage, I certainly cannot rob you of your virginity.”
“You cannot steal what is freely given,” she reminded him.
“It’s not honorable,” he said, want and indecision warring in his eyes. “A gentleman wouldn’t—”
“—say ‘no’ to a lady. Especially not if it’s what he wants, too.” She cupped his cheek. “If there won’t be a second chance, shouldn’t we take the one we have?”
He kissed the inside of her palm, her wrist, her lips. “Being with you is the one thing that makes me happy.”
She wrapped her arms about his neck. “Don’t we deserve one night of happiness together?”
“One night. Just for us.” He lifted her in his strong arms.
She held on tight. “A night to remember.”
In a few swift strides, they reached the bedchamber and tumbled atop the bed.
She pushed all thought of losing him out of her head and focused on being fully here in this moment. The soft down of her bed. The hard muscle in his body. The bright crackle of the fire. The matching flame deep inside her.
Her heart soared higher with each kiss. She had dreamed of this, dreamed of him. The weight of his body pressed against her. She thrilled at the sensation, at the knowledge that soon she would know him more intimately than she had ever dreamed.
When he slid to one side, separating from her, she tried to break the kiss to complain about the loss. Before she could do so, his hand lifted her breast from its bodice and words failed her completely. She felt beautiful. Cherished.
Her fingers dug into the mattress with pleasure as he toyed with her bosom. Each touch of her nipple sent waves of desire through her body. This was what she had longed for. True connection.
When he moved his mouth down to her exposed breasts, she flung her arms up over her head and arched into him. She gave her body to him and in return he aroused her more than she had believed possible. It was all she could do not to claw the clothes from their bodies.
As he teased her bosom with his mouth, he tugged the hems of her skirts from her ankles to her hips. She gasped at the sensation of cool air against her exposed skin, of his hot mouth over her nipple. When his hand cupped between her legs and dipped in teasing circles, her body responded at once. She gripped his shoulders, digging her fingernails into the material to ensure he did not cease his ministrations.
A tightness was uncurling deep inside her. A fullness, a wanting. Every lick of his tongue, every flick and dip of his finger brought her closer and closer to the edge. Every time he gave, she wanted more. It was heaven and torture twisted into one. Her body pulsed with need. Something was happening. Something like…
All at once, she could withstand the delicious pressure no longer and shattered against his fingers.
“More,” she gasped when she finally caught her breath. “Not your hand. I wantyou.”
He covered her mouth with his as he unbuttoned the fall of his breeches. At once, the weight of his shaft fell against her, hot and heavy, nestled perfectly against the juncture of her thighs. He reached between them, as if making certain she was ready for him.
She was more than ready. She was impatient. She wanted to give him the same pleasure he had given her. She wanted to find an even greater peak together.
As he eased into her, inch by inch, she wrapped her legs about him and brought him closer, deeper. Not just into her body, but into her heart. Into her soul.
The sharp stab of pain as he entered her was quickly replaced by renewed desire. Her pulse raced as she lost herself in his kiss.
Joining with him was more than she dreamed. But when he rocked his hips and started to move… She held on tight, allowing the sensations to run through her, opening herself to him completely, taking everything he had been trying so hard not to give. In return, she would share everything she had.
If only for one night.
