“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I just…don’t want you to stop.”
She moved her hands away, but he took them and brought them around his neck. Her bare breasts rested against his warm chest, and as soon as their skin touched, her arousal heightened. “I’ve never asked you for a future, Whitmore,” she breathed against his throat. “Not in all the years we’ve known each other. I would never make demands that you couldn’t give.” She hoped he would understand that this night was not a means of trapping him.
His hand moved down her spine, tracing a silken trail to her hips. His eyes were hooded, like a man on the brink of losing control. “You deserve better than this.”
“I want a memory to cherish.”
She leaned forward to kiss him, and he cupped her hips and drew her close to him. Against her body, she could feel his rigid manhood. It swelled, straining against the fabric of his trousers. His hands palmed her bottom, torment etched upon his face. Once more, she reached for the buttons of his trousers, and this time, he removed the rest of his clothing. Skin to skin, he embraced her, lifting her leg over his hip. The heat of their bodies evoked needs she didn’t know she had.
The iron ridge of his manhood glided against her intimately, and a breathless moan escaped her. Her body welcomed him, the slick moisture making her desire more.
“I want you, Emily,” he said roughly. “Even more now than I did ten years ago. But I don’t want you to have any regrets. We can stop this right now if you want.”
“The only regret I’ll have is if you leave me tonight,” she murmured. “Please don’t go.”
He lowered her to the bed, his body above hers as he kissed her collarbone, trailing his mouth upon her skin. She sighed with thankfulness, welcoming him. His mouth moved over the curve of her breast, his tongue swirling over her nipple. Teeth nipped the edge, before he suckled the tip. Her hands dug into his hair as he feasted upon her body, his warm mouth and tongue making her forget the devastating loneliness.
Between her thighs, she felt the thickness of his shaft, the head probing into her wetness. The foreign sensation startled her, and as he lifted her knee, he ran his mouth over the sensitive skin. Her hips spasmed at the shock, and he cupped her bottom, kneading the skin as he eased himself inside.
He was larger than she’d expected, and it was difficult for her to take him into her body. Emily fought to relax, but instead of thrusting inside, he began to move gently. Only an inch within, he used his manhood to caress her warmth. And when his mouth came down on hers, his tongue slid inside in the same manner. Slowly. Gentle and deep, he continued to move.
“Are you all right?” he whispered, and she nodded. There was nothing at all invasive about his lovemaking, only the deepest caress. His face was strained, as though he were fighting against himself.
He moved a little farther inside, and she felt her body trembling harder. He pressed his hand against her center, while sliding his shaft within. Emily gripped his neck, raising her knees to bring him closer. When he breached her virginity at last, she was so ready for him, the full contact made her shudder.
She let out a gasp as he withdrew, holding himself poised at her entrance. “No, don’t—“ she pleaded.
A knowing smile crossed his face, as he slid back inside. The feeling of his full length pressed within was intoxicating, a sweet hunger that kept building higher. Stephen palmed her hips, forcing her close as he kissed her mouth. Then he moved her hand to the hooded flesh above her womanhood, touching her fingertips to a sensitive place.
“Hold your hand there,” he commanded. He withdrew his length, and when he plunged inside again, she cried out at the delicious pressure. “Do you feel it?”
She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think clearly. His hard length filled her while the tight bud beneath her fingers seemed to intensify the pleasure. “As I take you, give yourself the pleasure you need.”
His mouth moved back to her breasts, sucking hard while he increased the pace. With each stroke, he brought her closer. The sensations building up inside her threatened to spill over.
“Let go, Emily,” he said. And suddenly his lovemaking turned from gentle to reckless. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her, thrusting deeply as she cried out. The pleasure poured over her, a violent release that pounded even harder as he pumped against her body. She spasmed against his length, tears spilling from her eyes as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
With one final thrust, he found his own release, and he entered and withdrew a few times more. At last, he rested his cheek against hers, their bodies still joined.
He fell silent, not speaking as he finally pulled away from her body. She couldn’t read his thoughts as he wrapped her in the heavy quilts, moving to the opposite side of the bed. The fire crackled on the hearth, making the only sound in the room.
And, God help her, she didn’t know what he must think of her now.
Chapter Five
Sometime,inthemiddleof the night, Emily left the bed. Stephen heard the clatter of pots in the kitchen and knew she must have gone to cook something. Likely she needed the distraction as much as he did. He rolled over, staring at the spot where her head had rested. The sheets were warm from her body heat, and he reached out to touch them. Never in all his years, had he done something like this.
He couldn’t quite grasp what had happened between them. Right now he should be consumed with guilt, furious with himself. He’d come here to look after her, to ensure her comforts. Not to seduce her.
He’d lost sight of everything when she’d begged him to stay. He couldn’t have denied her anything in that moment. And though Emily would likely hate him for taking her innocence, he couldn’t bring himself to regret it. Never before had any woman made him feel this way.
Now, more than ever, he intended to ensure that she had everything she ever wanted. He’d take care of her, seeing to all her needs.
Stephen got up and dressed quietly. It was too dark to see how snowy it was, but he didn’t doubt that his coachman would eventually return when the weather cleared. He walked downstairs and found Emily in the kitchen, attacking dough with a rolling pin. Her hair was wild, tangled across her shoulders, while she wore the gown she’d had on earlier. A long apron was tied about her waist.
She was crying.
Damn it all. He’d never meant to hurt her. He came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Emily.”
