Jago had fallen asleep next to her, his large body stretched out taking up the whole of one blanket. According to him, the tide had travelled as far up the beach as it was likely to and would soon begin receding, so there was no fear of them being cut off. Still, she knew they would have to go soon if they hoped to getback to the house at an appropriate hour. But until then, the sun was warm on her face, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the unexpected heat.
After a short while, glancing down at her companion to check he was still sleeping, Charity surreptitiously undid the top three buttons of her dress, exposing her throat to the sun’s warmth. Sighing, she leaned back on her hands and let her head fall back.
But unbeknown to Charity, Jago was not only awake but watching her through half closed lids. The sight of her unbuttoning her dress and parting the material to expose her slender neck and shoulders caused an instant hardness in his breeches that almost had him groaning out loud. Dear God but she was lovely. He shifted restlessly, trying to hide his arousal from her, but the very action drew her attention. With a small gasp, her eyes widened, then flew to his. The expression in their soft brown depths was his undoing.
She wanted him. Every bit as much as he wanted her.
Without thinking, he reached up and grasped her shoulder, gently, insistently pulling her down to him until she lay sprawled on his chest. Jago could feel her heart slamming against her ribs, but she did not remove her gaze from his. After a second, he lifted his hand to cup her cheek, then slid his fingers around the back of her neck. Slowly, oh so slowly, he drew her head down, down until her lips finally touched his. The barest kiss. But it was enough. With a groan, Jago lifted his head and plundered her mouth. Holding her head still, drinking from her lips like he was dying with thirst. Charity met him kiss for kiss, her mouth demanding, seeking,meldingwith his.
Slowly, she slid herself atop him completely, pressing herself against the hard swell of his cock. With a low groan, Jagogripped her shoulders and shifted, taking her with him. In seconds, she was underneath him, the lithe give of her body moulded to his. His head dipped to her throat, his lips and tongue seeking the bare flesh below the neckline of her dress. She gave an incoherent whimper and threaded her fingers through his hair, holding his head to the swell of her breasts, seeking … something.
With a growl, he fumbled with the remaining buttons, pulling and tugging the fabric aside, until her breasts were exposed to his molten gaze. Then his mouth was back on hers, capturing her tongue with his, even as his fingers cupped her breasts, his thumb strumming across her already peaked nipple. Charity cried out against his lips at the entirely unexpected, exquisite shock of sensation. Instinctively, she lifted her hips, grinding herself against the hardness between her legs. Then suddenly his hands shifted, his arms sliding behind her. She sighed in protest until suddenly,shockinglyshe felt his lips close over one nipple.
She shuddered at the exquisite pleasure of it, her hands clutching his shoulders as the sensation shot through her.
Almost mindlessly, she felt his hand shift, seeking the bottom of her skirts, then sliding up her calves, her thighs, beyond the tops of her stocking to the vulnerable skin above. Skilfully his hand caressed the tender flesh as his fingers slid in featherlight touches inexorably towards the juncture between her legs. Without even thinking, her legs fell apart, allowing him access to that most secret part of her. In fact, Charity felt she might die if he didn’t touch her there,now.
And then he did. His fingers dipped, stroked. ‘So hot, so wet,’ he murmured, his voice hoarse with need. Helplessly she thrust her hips upwards, feeling herself slide towards a precipice. His mouth came down on hers again, his fingers expertlystroking, stroking. Restlessly, she shifted, instinctively seeking the hardness she somehow knew would give her release. ‘Please,’ she whispered against his lips, sliding her hands between them, fumbling with the buttons of his breeches. He groaned as her hand slid inside and touched him, even as she bucked under his own questing fingers.
Dear God. Jago threw his head back as her fingers closed over him, his whole body trembling, on the verge of spilling like a green boy. She stroked him once, twice using the same urgent rhythm as his stroking fingers. His breath came out in harsh gasps as he nudged her legs apart with his knees and…
He couldn’t.He couldn’t do this. Nothere, notnow. His fingers stilled, sought to pull out of her wetness, but she gave a violent shake of her head, and clasped his hand, holding him to her. Her eyes flew open, and she stared at him. Jago felt her body tighten around his motionless fingers, and he realised she was close to her release. Gritting his teeth with the effort of holding himself back, he rubbed his thumb against the small nub at the entrance to her core. Once, twice and that was all it took. Watching her face, hearing her cry out as her release crashed over her was the most erotic thing Jago had ever experienced.
And then it was over. Her faced suffused with colour, Charity kept her eyes closed as he gently slid out his fingers and pulled down her skirt. She didn’t move as he painfully adjusted himself and buttoned up his breeches. But when he sought to adjust her bodice, she suddenly pushed his hand away and scooted backwards. Keeping her head down, she fumbled with the buttons.
‘Charity, look at me,’ Jago murmured achingly. She gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head and continued to stare down into her lap, her hands now clutching and unclutchingher skirt. Sighing, he leaned forward and laid his large hand over the top of hers, stopping her restless twisting. ‘Look at me, sweetheart,’ he repeated.
Something in his voice must have got through because she slowly raised her face. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she murmured brokenly. ‘I… I swear I have never behaved so wantonly before. I don’t… I haven’t…’ she stopped, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Sighing, he fought the temptation to kiss away her tears. God willing, that would come later, but not too often he hoped. Staring at her mouth swollen already with his kisses, he couldn’t hold back a small, satisfied smile.
‘And so now you think it appropriate tolaughat me?’ Clearly the love of his life had recovered from her self-recrimination. ‘Undoubtedly you are the wors…’
‘Charity Shackleford, will you marry me?’
She sputtered to a halt and stared at him.
And stared.
Then, just when he was convinced he’d got the whole thing terribly wrong, she said, matter-of-factly, ‘That’s probably a good idea, and judging by my earlier performance, it would behove us not to wait too long.’
Then she threw herself into his arms.
Despite their intimacy, the journey back to Tredennick House was mostly silent. Charity repeatedly felt a hot flush of embarrassment every time she thought about her wanton behaviour. Who would have thought that she had within her a streak of shamelessness almost as bad as her sister Tempy?
Suddenly, she fought back a chuckle. The look in Jago’s eyes had been most gratifying. She’d meant what she said about them not waiting too long, or truly, the temptation to sneak into her fiancé’s bed might well prove too strong to resist.
‘I would like to keep our engagement between ourselves until I have spoken to your father formally,’ Jago suddenly announced into the silence. Charity looked over at him, abruptly afraid he might be having cold feet, but the sidelong glance he gave her was full of molten heat, and she felt her worries subside.
‘I also wish to advise my father of my intention,’ he continued before she had the chance to reply, ‘but would prefer to leave both conversations until tomorrow, with your permission.’ He paused, but she sensed he had something else to say.
‘I have an appointment to visit our solicitors in Falmouth tomorrow and thought perhaps you, your father and Percy might wish to accompany me. Once my business is concluded, I will meet you somewhere for lunch.’
‘I would like that,’ Charity responded, glancing at him with a smile. ‘Mayhap you will get the opportunity to speak with my father while we are out.’
‘Is he less likely to give me short shrift in public?’ Jago commented drily.
‘I do not think he would do such a thing,’ Charity answered. ‘My father has many faults, but I do know he desires us all to be happy. If it is my wish to wed you, he will not say nay.’ She gave him a shy sideways glance before finishing softly, ‘And it is my wish.’
