Piper dropped down until she was seated to the hilt and was rewarded not only by his hoarse groan but by a sensual rush of her own. Rising, she repeated the motion with more force. It was exhilarating, taking her pleasure on him. Giving it in return.
He met her with an upward thrust of his hips, his hands guiding her into a rhythm that left her delirious. Blood thrummed through her veins, tension coiled low in her belly.
“Oh, Connor, Connor.” His name was both a refrain of appreciation and a plea for more.
His fingers slid into her wet folds and ecstasy shot through her.
“Yes!”
Catching her by the nape of her neck, he pulled her forward to muffle her screams as nirvana called out to her. With a harsh curse, he slammed into her once more, flooding her with the searing heat of his release.
Piper collapsed, panting on his heaving chest, his heart pounding against her cheek. Her entire being pulsed with satisfaction. Her heart burst with joy.
Whatever else happened in the world, hers would always be secure on its axis as long as Connor was at her side.
He fondled her bare bottom. “Och, my vocal lass. I’m surprised the whole house dinnae ken ye’re in here now.”
Heat rose in her cheeks and she ducked her head, glad he couldn’t see it in the dark room. “I can’t help it. Keeping all you make me feel inside is impossible.”
“I adore every sound ye make.” Nuzzling her cheek, he exhaled with a contented murmur, “Ye unman me,mo chridhe. I’ve never kent of such all-consuming passion.”
The confession brought a smile to Piper’s lips. “Mrs. Davies is not at all supportive of your plan to keep me here,” she told him. “She feared this very eventuality.”
“This is nae time to argue propriety,” he grumbled. “Yer safety is all that matters.”
“As I said, you need a new mantra.” She snuggled closer to his side. “She may force you to marry me, you know?”
“Perhaps we should elope then? If ye’ll have me?”
“That sounds like a perfect plan.”
“Sleep,mo ghràidh.” A smile pervaded his heavy brogue. “The sun will rise before ye ken.”
As far as Piper was concerned, it already had.
Chapter 28
One of the women’s rights pamphlets Jane brought home with her says that ‘independence is happiness.’ Jane envies my freedom here. To that I would say that life here provides many things, however true happiness is not among them.
~ from the diary of Piper Brudenall, June 1893
“Wake, lass,” Connor whispered in her ear. He slipped an arm around her waist and hugged her tight.
Piper stretched along the solid warmth of his hard body. He patted her bottom with a low chuckle. “Och, none of that now or we’ll never leave.”
That would suit her fine. With a sigh, she slipped out of one side of the bed while Connor climbed out of the opposite side. A moment later, the light from one of the gas sconces broke the darkness, just enough to layer shadow upon shadow.
“Here.”
A stack of clothing was thrust into her arms and she sorted through it by touch. “What is this?”
“One of my suits,” he told her as he dressed. “It will serve us better if there are nae skirts to chase, aye?”
Piper dressed, finding his trousers snug around her hips and his shirt and jacket broad across the shoulders. After braiding her hair, she wound it into a tight bun at the back of her neck and fumbled along the table top until she found the pins she’d left there to secure it. Connor plopped a hat on her head as a light knock sounded at the door.
Temple slipped inside and surveyed Piper in the dim light. “The darkness will be to our benefit. No one would ever mistake you for a man.” He directed his next words to Connor. “Your brothers are making their way to the stable as we speak. They’ll have horses waiting for us at the bridge.”
Connor hefted Piper’s valise in one hand and took her hand with the other. With a nod, Temple slipped out the door and they followed. The corridor was dark as they hurried to the west servants’ stairs, sticking close to the wall. Temple descended first, vanishing into the spiraling blackness without a sound. She and Connor had gone no more than a few steps before he reappeared directly in front of them. Piper gasped in surprise.
